Mistress Jane Lane. 279 
the Duke of Orleans). The Parliament had not been idle, and had 
debated, amongst other things of more immediate consequence, as to 
whether the King should not be invited to marry someone—but a 
Protestant by preference. Sir Heneage Finch threw cold water 
upon the subject by saying it would seem strange if they confined 
His Majesty to Protestants. It was, however, understood at the 
French Court that the Queen Mother, instigated by the Lord 
Germain and the Abbé Montague, was prepared to propose Hortense 
Mancini as the future Queen of England, with a 
Anne of Austria, large sum of money from her uncle Mazarin’s 
eet de money bags! The King’s “ Zaisser aller” manner 
vol. v., p.95. caused this matrimonial project to be laid aside. 
acaba The secret marriage of the King’s brother, the 
Compton Library, 
Duke of York, with Anne Hyde, the Chancellor’s 
daughter, though recognized, and supported by the King, proved 
very galling to the dignity of the Queen-Mother. ; 
Sept. 13th and Two deaths in the Royal Family—that of the 
Dee. 21st, 1660, Duke of Gloucester and his sister, the widowed 
peel pc. Princess of Orange—added gloom to her short visit, 
which was terminated on the 2nd of January, 1660-1. 
Before she left England for France it is more than probable that 
she confided some of her anxieties and sorrows to the sympathizing 
ears of discreet Mistress Lane, together with the particulars of her 
ee ., return to France. It took her more than a month 
Anne of Austria, to reach Paris (February 20th), wd Havre de Grace, 
vol. v., p. 99, 100.. Fer a weary journey, which nearly included ship- 
wreck on the “ Horse Sands ”—the interim on board the “ London ” 
being filled up by a necessary attendance on the young princess, who 
had a bad attack of the measles! Disquieting reports had evidently 
- reached Mistress Lane about the Queen-Mother, and no wonder after 
such a journey with a bad sea passage and a sick child. The cousin, 
Broughton, mentioned in her letter was probably the son of the 
loyal Thomas Broughton, who married her cousin, 
Francis Bagot. He was created a baronet by the 
King, 1660-1, and is mentioned by the King in his 
letter to Jane Lane. 
W. A. M., vol. 
XXvi., p. 31. 
