St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-11-25


Mrs. Jane Lane at this period, already
alluded 70, requires to be more infinitely
recorded. Bentley Hall, where this young
lady resided with her father, Mr.. Lane,
and be-, brother, Colonel John Lane, was
about fouc miles distant from Mosely,
the place of King Charles concealment:
which, owing to its owner, Mr.. Whit
greave, 'heing Roman Catholic, was con-
sidered an unsafe retreat The friends of
Charles accordingly proposed his removal
to Bently, Mr. Lane being {: a person Of
excellent reputation 70: his fidelity to the
k ii,ng '* and who, tits SAID, had already
diligently sought to discover where the
k1n:?: lsJjt, in order "that he might set him
tc lis house, where be was sufe he could
conceal n Aim till he might contriye his full
dellVesance:" This venerable gentleman
was the father Of nine children, of whom,
Coioael John Lane, the eldest; it was
talat s::sssssaestoa the plan of employing his
young sister, Jane, in the scheme for
escape, devised first Cor Lord Wilmot, but
afterwards changed for the king himself:
The young lady, weare tod, was possess
ed OF every good wit and discretion" and
was Every tit to bear a part in such q
trust 1t happened that at this time
Jace Lane was about to visit a friend,
| Mrs. Norton Of Abbotsleigh, in the neigh
boEhcod of Bristol, who was shortly
expecting her confinement; and for this
purpose, q pass had been procured from
an officer Of the parliamentary array for
herself and her servant It occurred to
Colonel Lane, that Lord Wilmot, who
much desired to reach Bristol, from
whence he could take ship, might easily
pe7sonate his sisters servant; and this
plan was entertained till, on the failure Of
scheme for Charles crossing the Severn
tor Wales, it was thought advisable that
he should avail himself of this means Of
escape instead. All this being agreed on,
in the dusk Of the evening Charlie babe
farewell to his devoted servants at Nose
ley, and was committed by them to the
care OF Colonel Lane, who. with the bor-
ses, lay in concealment near, to conduct
him to his house; where they arrived on
Monday night, the 9th Of September,
1861.
The kings personal appearance on his
arrival at Bentley is described as follows
h:s hair had been cut short at the ears,
and clipped away at the crown of the
mead even as near as the scissors would
go, though long flowing curls we're the
fashion Of the day. "Hes wore a very
greasy old gray steeple-crowned hat, with
the erizns turned up, without lining or
Maitland; green JUMP coat, t:areadbare,
Ieyen q the threads being worn white ;
and breaches Of the same, With long knees
down to the garter; with an old leathern
Edoublet, a pair Of white flannel stockings,
next his legs, which the king said were
ibis boot stockings, the embroidered tops
being cut Of to prevent them being dis
! covered, and upon them pair Of old
green yarn stockings, all worn and darned
at the knees, with. their feet cut off; his
shoes were old, all slashed, for the ease Of
his feet, which had been soreely CALLED in
his long marches;" he wore no gloves,
and his bands had been carefully covered
with walnut;juice, as a completion Of his
| disguise. Having conferred with Lord
| Wilmot and Colonel Lane, on next days
Journey, and supped, the king retired to
! PED, though his rest could be but short,
/ for at break Of day his host called him up,
| providing him with suitable disguise for
! the new character he was to assume He
was now to personate the son Of one Of
Colonel Lanes tenants, and to change his
name from Will Jones, which he had
hitherto borne, to William jackson. To
bear out this change, Colonel Lane pro-
Vlded him with a new suit and cloak, Of
country gray cloth, as near as could be
contr1Ved like the holiday suit Of a far
m m son, disguise more convenient for
tnelr present Intentions than that of a
servant would have been. His dress be-
ing now complete, Colonel Lane took the