THE KING’S SMUGGLER by John Fox (From The Oxford Times)

THE KING’S SMUGGLER by John Fox

8:30am Thursday 4th March 2010 in

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The political intrigues, sectarian hatreds and bloodshed of the Stuart period in England, especially during the Civil War, are vividly portrayed in this book.

Its central character is a feisty red-head called Jane Whorwood (1612-1684), whose face was disfigured by smallpox, and who lived at Holton Park, near Wheatley (above). Her loyalty to King Charles I was unwavering, and she repeatedly involved herself in plots to save him from the executioner’s block.

She had a German-born Scottish father, who had a senior position at the Royal Mews attached to the Palace of Whitehall.

During the Civil War, King Charles fled from London to Oxford and ultimately ended up imprisoned at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight.

During these years, Jane acted as his intelligence agent and, it seems, also briefly consoled him in bed.

Although this book contains too much complex genealogical and other detail, it will provide a fascinating read for devotees of British social and political history.

John Fox will be at the Oxford Literary Festival on March 26. Box office 0870 343 1001, www.oxfordliteraryfestival.com.