The King's Smuggler: Jane Whorwood, Secret Agent to Charles I

Jane Whorwood was a confidante of Charles I and helped the Royalist cause by spying, smuggling gold, and organizing escape attempts. She also had a wartime affair with the king. Her marriage collapsed after Charles' execution, making her a forgotten key player in the English Civil War.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 07 April 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

Jane Whorwood ({PHONE}) was a close confidante of Charles I and played a significant role in the English Civil War. Born to Scots courtiers at Whitehall, she married an Oxfordshire squire and became involved in espionage and smuggling. During the Civil War, she spied for the king and smuggled at least three-quarters of a ton of gold to support his army. When Charles was captured by the Parliamentarians, Jane organized his escape, arranged money, correspondence, and even attempted escape attempts. She also provided astrological advice and arranged a ship to transport him to Holland. During Charles' imprisonment, Jane maintained a close relationship with him and even had a wartime 'brief encounter.' However, their marriage collapsed after Charles' execution in 1649, leading to one of the most public and acrimonious separation cases of the seventeenth century. John Fox provides a detailed biography of Jane Whorwood, highlighting her role in the English Civil War and her forgotten contribution to history.

Dimension: 198 x 129 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750999403
Edition number: 2 New edition