A Cyclopaedia of Female Biography/Fanshawe, Ann Harrison, Lady
FANSHAWE, ANN HARRISON, LADY,
The eldest daughter of Sir John Harrison, of Balls, was born in London, March 25th., 1625 Her mother was Margaret Fanshawe, of an ancient and highly respectable family; and, what was of more importance to her daughter, she was an eminently pious as well as accomplished lady. So well did this careful mother instruct her eldest daughter, that when the former died, the latter, though only fifteen years of age, took charge of her father's house and family, and fulfilled all her duties in a manner highly exemplary.
Ann Harrison married, when about nineteen, Mr., afterwards Sir Richard Fanshawe, a relation of her mother's. He had been educated a lawyer, but not liking his profession, went abroad, with his wife, and was finally appointed secretary to the English ambassador at the Spanish court. Mr. Fanshawe was a loyal follower of the house of Stuart, true to the falling fortunes of Charles the First, and the confidant and counsellor of Charles the Second, while he was striving to obtain the throne. During all the struggles and violence of those terrible times, Mrs. Fanshawe shared every danger and sympathized with every feeling of her dearly beloved husband. He was taken and imprisoned after the battle of Worcester, and during his imprisonment, she never failed to go secretly with a dark lantern, at four o'clock in the morning, to his window. She minded neither darkness nor storms, and often stood talking with him with her garments drenched in rain. Cromwell had a great respect for Sir Richard Fanshawe, and would have bought him into his service upon almost any terms.
Sir Richard Fanshawe was finally released, on a heavy bail, and they removed to Tankersly Park, Yorkshire, where the husband devoted himself to literary pursuits, which were also the taste of his wife. After the restoration, Sir Richard Fanshawe was in great favour at court, had a seat in parliament, was sent ambassador to Portugal and Spain; but in all these high stations the hearts of both husband and wife was centred in their domestic happiness. Sir Richard was recalled, unexpectedly, through some change of policy, and they were preparing to return, when he suddenly died. The Queen of Spain was so moved by the desolation of the heart-broken widow, that she offered her a pension of thirty thousand ducats per annum, and a handsome provision for her children, if she would embrace the Catholic religion. Lady Fanshawe was deeply grateful for this kind interest, but could not accept any favour with such conditions. Her own language will best portray her feelings under this severe affliction. She thus writes in her journal:—
"Oh! all powerful and good God, look down from heaven upon the most distressed wretch on earth. My glory and my guide, all my comfort in this life, is taken from me. See me staggering in my path, because I expected a temporal blessing as a reward for the great innocence and integrity of his whole life. Have pity on me, Lord, and speak peace to my disquieted soul, now sinking under this great weight, which without Thy support cannot sustain itself. See me, with five children, a distressed family, the temptation of the change of my religion, out of ray country, away from my friends, without counsel, and without means to return with my sad family to England. Do with me, and for me, what Thou pleasest; for I do wholly rely on Thy promises to the widow and the fatherless; humbly beseeching Thee that, when this mortal life is ended, I may be joined with the soul of my dear husband."
The body of Sir Richard Fanshawe was embalmed, and for several months his widow had it daily in her sight. She wished to accompany the remains to England, but could obtain no money from government; even the arrears due to her husband were withheld by the ungrateful Charles the Second, who lavished upon his worthless minions and mistresses what was due to his tried and suffering friends. At length Anne of Austria, widow of Philip the Fourth, gave Lady Fanshawe two thousand pistoles, saying with true feminine delicacy, "That the sum had been appropriated to purchasing a farewell present for Sir Richard, had he lived to depart from Spain." The mournful train reached England, October, 1666. The body was interred in the vault of St. Mary's chapel. Ware church, and Lady Fanshawe erected a handsome monument to her husband's memory. Their union of twenty-two years had been a pattern of conjugal truth and happiness; the widow continued as constant to the memory of the dear departed as she had been in her affection to him while he lived. Her whole aim and plan of life was to educate their children; and she wrote her own Memoir "for her dear and only son." She survived her husband fourteen years, dying January, 1680, aged fifty-four.