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by C. Penruddocke. 287 
But, for the purpose of my story, one of the most interesting 
features of the place is Mr. Francis Bent, the park keeper, now 
resident at the old hall. He isa handsome man of eighty-eight years, 
blind and somewhat deaf, but in possession of an excellent memory, 
His father was eighty-six when he died, and his grandfather 
ninety; and a long list of Bents in the parish registers point to 
their continuous residence. 
Mr. Francis Bent is quite as proud of “ Mistress Jane Lane” and 
her loyal husband as any noble descendant of the Fishers, and he 
speaks of them with much enthusiasm. It is quite possible, in a 
long-lived family like his, and marrying early in life, that remarkable 
incidents were handed down from father to son with unusual exact- 
ness. He described to me the leading features of the King’s escape 
with Jane Lane as if he himself had been present, and more par- 
ticularly said that the King and Jane Lane, by invitation of her 
betrothed, Sir Clement Fisher, came to Packington to dine 
before they went to Long Marston, The King walked in the 
garden, and as a precautionary measure retired to a small secret 
chamber (shown to me) on an alarm. In the mean while Jane and 
Sir Clement went hawking (perhaps love-making) in the great 
park, and along the banks of the Blythe, and captured two 
partridges, which were cooked and served up to the King on the 
table aforesaid. From the cupboards of this table Mr. Bent 
alleges that Sir Clement took bottles of wine for His Majesty’s 
refreshment. In relating to me the incidents at Mr. Tomes’, at 
Long Marston, he said there was good reason for the cook’s anger 
as Charles had let the meat burn without winding up the jack, and 
in consequence she beat him with the ladle, and called him a 
Roundhead ! ! 
The oak trees grow like weeds at Packington, and some I saw 
must have been flourishing at the time of the King’s visit. 
I regret to hear that “ King Charles the Second’s 
W. A. M., vol. : 
xxvi., p. 36. Oak,” in Hyde Park, was blown down and carted 
Information, away some twenty-six years ago. 
Mr. Browne, : 
Superintendent And now I come to the portraits of Jane Lane. 
Parks, London. J have had the satisfaction of seeing the two at 
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