consisted of a son and a daughter: the former a man of fearless
courage and integrity, the latter a gentlewoman of good wit and
discretion, as will be seen hereafter. Consulting, amongst
themselves as to the best means of compassing the king's escape,
it was resolved Mistress Lane should visit a kinswoman of hers
with whom she had been bred, that had married one Norton, and was
now residing within five miles of Bristol. It was likewise
decided she should ride on her journey thence behind the king, he
being habited in her father's livery, and acting as her servant;
and for greater safety her sister and her sister's husband were
to accompany them on the road. Mistress Jane Lane then procured
from a colonel of the rebel army a passport for herself and her
servant, her sister and her brother-in-law, to travel without
molestation to her cousin Mistress Norton, who was ready to lie
in. With this security Jane set out, her brother bearing them
company part of the way, with a hawk upon his fist and two or
three spaniels at his heels, which warranted him keeping the king
and his friends in sight without seeming to be of their company.

The first day's journey was not accomplished without an exciting
incident. The horse ridden by Mistress Lane and the king--now
bearing the name of William Jackson--lost a shoe; and being come
to Bromsgrove, he must dismount and lead the animal to the
village blacksmith.

"As I was holding my horse's foot," said his majesty, when
narrating the story to Mr. Pepys, "I asked the smith what news.
He told me that there was no news that he knew of, since the good
news of the beating the rogues of the Scots. I asked him whether
there was none of the English taken that joined with the Scots,