Jane Lane, Lady Fisher
Jane Lane (c. 1626 – 9 September 1689) played a heroic role in the escape of Charles II in 1651 after the Battle of Worcester. She rode with Charles, disguised as her servant, from Staffordshire to Somerset. Origins Jane was the daughter of Thomas Lane and Anne Bagot of the parish of Bentley and Hyde (near Walsall). Her parents had married at Blithfield, Staffordshire, in 1608. Their son, John, was born on 8 April 1609, the first of what were to be four sons and five daughters. There are several early christening dates for a Jane Lane in the International Genealogical Index which have been estimated by contributors, most probably based on a spurious date for her marriage. However she was known as 'Jane Lane' in 1651 and so was unmarried at that date. Known birth (and other) dates for Jane Lane's siblings are: John (8 April 1609 – 31 August 1667) a colonel in the Royalist army and, after the Restoration, MP for Lichfield Walter Lane—born May 1611 William Lane—baptised 7 August 1625 Richard Lane—youngest son (became a Groom of the Bedchamber) Withy Lane (married John Petre). Withy is stated in the book Flight of the King (Alan Fea, 1908, Methuen) as being the eldest daughter of the family. Jane Lane Anne Lane (married Edward Birch) Mary Lane—born 1619 (married Edward Nicholas) Elizabeth Lane In May 1644 her family home Bentley Hall was looted by parliamentary forces. The travel to Bristol with Charles II Following defeat at the Battle of Worcester on 3 September 1651, Charles II escaped and headed north into Shropshire and Staffordshire with several companions including Lord Derby and Henry, Lord Wilmot. A reward of £1000 was offered for the capture of the King. It is likely that the King and anyone helping him would have been executed for treason, if caught. The King had a distinctive appearance: very dark and six feet two inches tall (1.88 m). Furthermore, there were cavalry patrols tasked with finding the King. At this time it was illegal for Catholics to travel more than five miles away from their homes without a pass from the sheriff of the county. Helping the King would therefore be hazardous. Wilmot had gone to Bentley Hall in Staffordshire, the home of Colonel John Lane, who had been an officer in the Royalist Army since 1642. His sister was Jane Lane. She was described by John Evelyn as "an acute wit", "an excellent disputant" though "no beauty". Wilmot learned that Jane had obtained a permit from the military for herself and a servant to travel to the seaport of Bristol, to visit a relation, Ellen Norton, who was having a baby. Lord Wilmot saw the opportunity of escaping through Bristol in the guise of the servant, since no lady would travel alone. On learning of the King's failure to reach Wales, Wilmot decided that the King should take advantage of the military pass and travel to Bristol as Jane Lane's servant, and then find a