King Charles II and Jane Lane Riding to Bristol. Jane Lane played a heroic role in the escape of Charles II in 1651.
She is portrayed in art primarily as a courageous and loyal heroine. In portraits, such as those attributed to artist Mary Beale, Lane is depicted in elegant 17th-century attire, with an air of dignity and calm, symbolizing her bravery and resourcefulness.
These portrayals often emphasize her role in the royalist cause, sometimes subtly alluding to her heroic actions through symbolic elements like subtle gestures or confident expressions. Although not as widely depicted as other historical figures, her representation in art highlights her as a key, albeit quiet, player in one of the most dramatic escapes in British history.
The main significance of her story is the key part that the escape played in forming the character and the opinions of Charles. Jane was the daughter of Thomas Lane and Anne Bagot of the parish of Bentley and Hyde.
Her parents had married at Blithfield, Staffordshire, in 1608. Their son, John, was born on 8 April 1609, the first child of what was 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. Her eventual marriage to Sir Clement Fi