It is well known how Charles, in the course of the next month, effected his escape to France; and about the middle of December following Colonel Lane and his sister felt it necessary to take refuge there also, to avoid the consequences to which their loyalty might expose them.

The manner of their flight and reception* is given in a little book, published soon after the Restoration, the particulars of which are honourable to the good feeling of the king and his family:

"In December, 1651, arrived at Paris the gentlewoman who had been instrumental in his majesty's deliverance after the overthrow at Worcester; of which, fearing danger, by the discovery of some unfaithful confidants, she went on foot, in disguise, to Yarmouth, and there took ship for France. She was conducted to Paris with great honour; the king himself, with the queen his mother, and the Dukes of York and Gloucester, going out to meet her. Upon the first sight his majesty took her by the hand, and saluted her with this obliging term: Welcome, my life!' The French court also regarded her with much respect and honour, together with her brother, Colonel Lane, who accompanied her thither."

There is also a letter extant from the king, the perusal of which will give pleasure as proving his sense of what he owed to her. It is without date, and runs as follows :—

"MISTRESS LANE,

"I hope you do not believe that hearing from a person that I am so much beholding to can be in the least degree troublesome to me, that am so sensible of the obligations I have to you; but, on the contrary, 'tis a great satisfaction to me to hear from you; and, for what Mr. Boswell is pleased to tell you concerning your giving me good counsel in a letter, and my making it public in my bed-chamber, is not the first lie he has made, nor will not be the last, for I am certain there was never anything spoken in the bed-chamber in my hearing to any such purpose, nor, I am confident, when I was not there; for I believe Mr. Boswell's end is to show his frequent being in my bed-chamber, which is as true as the

* Boscobel Tracts.

other. Your cousin will let you know that I have given orders for my picture for you; and if in this, as in anything else, I can show the sense I have of that which I owe you, pray let me know it, and it shall be done by,

"Your most assured and constant friend,
"CHARLES R.

For Mrs. Lane."

It is supposed that our heroine remained in France till the Restoration; shortly after which she married her brother's friend, Sir Clement Fisher, whose name has been already mentioned. A pension of £1,000 a-year was settled upon her by the king; and this token of his gratitude was accompanied by the gift of a gold watch, which, by his express request, was to descend by succession to the eldest daughter of the house of Lane for the time being. In 1830, this relic was in the possession of the dowager Mrs. Lucy, of Charlecot Park.

There is a portrait, by Lely, still in existence, of Jane Lane, the description of which gives the idea of great beauty. It is said strongly to resemble the portraits of Anne Bullen, in its thoughtful expression, as well as in the features and colour of the hair

"A pure transparent, pale, yet radiant face,
Like to a lighted alabaster vase."

LADY FANSHAWE.

LADY FANSHAWE's memoirs, written by herself, not only furnish an interesting contemporary history of the times in which she lived, but also give evidence of a very remarkable character in the writer. Sir Richard Fanshawe's leading position in the courts of Charles I. and Charles II. brought her into some of the most stirring scenes of the period, where her great prudence, courage, and presence of mind proved of inestimable service to her husband. The tender affection which existed between them was the motive and encouragement to every exertion, and made all troubles light; and perhaps a more engaging picture of conjugal happiness can scarcely be met with than is presented to us in these memoirs.

Without attempting any connected history of her eventful life, which would be out of place here, some of her adventures and anecdotes illustrating her position and character, shall be given; and in her own words;—for no other could express as well what she has recorded with so much force and spirit. With the advantage of so full and minute a history as hers, we cannot resist going into details which at first sight may appear irrelevant; because, where we have the opportunity, it is desirable not only to watch a firm and courageous character in action, but to trace the causes for that habitual self-possessed tone of mind which alone produces acts of true courage and heroism. Weak characters do not commonly obey a sudden impulse which would summon them to difficulties and dangers.

The memoirs are addressed to her youngest and only living son, who was less than a year old at the time of his father's death; thinking it good, as she tells him, to dis

course to him of the most remakable actions and accidents of his family, as well as the more eminent ones of his father, and her own life and necessities.

She was the daughter of Sir John Harrison, of Balls, in Hertfordshire a man of a very large fortune, which he spent freely in the king's service. The following very remarkable story of her mother, supported as it is by such grave testimony, ought not to be omitted: we leave it to our readers to give it what amount of credit they please :

"In that house (St. Olave's, East-street, London) I lived the winter times, till I was fifteen years old and three months, with my ever-honoured and most dear mother, who departed this life on the 20th day of July, 1640, and now lies buried in Hallowes church, in Hertford. Her funeral cost my father above a thousand pounds; and Dr. Howlsworth preached her funeral sermon, in which, upon his own knowledge, he told, before many hundreds people, the accident following:-That my mother, being sick to death of a fever, three months after I was born, her friends and servants thought, to all outward appearance, that she was dead, and so lay almost two days and a night; but Dr. Winston, coming to comfort my father, went into my mother's room and looking earnestly on her face, said she was so handsome, and now looks so lovely, I cannot think she is dead;' and suddenly took a lancet out of his pocket, and with it cut the sole of her foot, which bled. Upon this he immediately caused her to be laid upon the bed again, and to be rubbed, and such means as she came to life; and, opening her eyes, saw two of her kinswomen stand by her, my Lady Knollys and my Lady Russell, both with great wide sleeves, as the fashion then was, and said— Did not you promise me fifteen years, and are you come again?' which they not understanding, persuaded her to keep her spirits quiet in that great weakness wherein she then was. But, some hours afterwards, she desired my father and Dr. Howlsworth might be left alone with her, to whom she said I will acquaint you that, during the time of my trance, I was in great quiet, but in a place I could neither distinguish nor describe; but the sense of leaving my girl, who is dearer to me than all my children, remained a trouble upon my spirits. Suddenly I saw two by me, clothed in long white garments; and me

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thought I fell down with my face in the dust, and they asked me why I was troubled in so great happiness. I repliedO, let me have the same grant given to Hezekiah, that I may live fifteen years to see my daughter a woman! which they answered-It is done! And then, at that instant, I awoke out of my trance; and Dr. Howlsworth did there affirm that the day she died made just fifteen years from that time. My dear mother was of excellent beauty and good understanding, a loving wife, and most tender mother; very pious; and charitable to that degree, that she relieved, besides the offals of the table, which she constantly gave to the poor, money with her own hand daily out of her purse, and dressed many wounds of miserable people when she had health, and when that failed, as it did often, she caused her servants to supply that place."

"Now it is necessary to say something of my mother's education of me, which was with all the advantages that time afforded, both for working all sorts of fine works with my needle, and learning French, singing, lute, the virginals, and dancing; and, notwithstanding I learned as well as most did, yet was I wild to that degree, that the hours of my beloved recreation took up too much of my time; for I loved riding in the first place, running, and all active pastimes; in short, I was that which we graver people call a hoyting girl; but, to be just to myself, I never did mischief to myself or people, nor one immodest word or action in my life, though skipping and activity was my delight. But, upon my mother's death, I then began to reflect, and, as an offering to her memory, I flung away those childnesses that had formerly possessed me, and, by my father's command, took upon me the charge of his house and family, which I so ordered, by my excellent mother's example, as found acceptance in his sight.'

Until the time of the civil war, her family lived in uninterrupted happiness after this public calamity, domestic tranquillity could not be hoped for, and the whole course of their life was changed.

"My father commanded my sister and myself to come to him to Oxford, where the Court then was; but we - that had, till that hour, lived in great plenty and great order— found ourselves like fishes out of the water, and the scene