Editing Lucy Walter (section)

=== Later life ===
[[File:Peter Lely (1618-1680) (after) - James Scott (1649–1685), Duke of Monmouth, KG, in Garter Robes - 1171154 - National Trust.jpg|right|thumb|James Scott, Duke of Monmouth, Walter's son, circa 1682]]
In June 1650, Charles left for [[Scotland]]. There was an attempt to kidnap Walter's son, who was missing for 10 days but was eventually found. Her mother took him to [[Paris]] for his safety, where she had an affair with [[Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford|Theobald Taaffe, 2nd Viscount Taaffe]] (later 1st Earl of Carlingford; circa 1603–1677). On 6 May 1651, she gave birth to a daughter, Mary, whose father was probably the Viscount Taaffe.{{sfn|Clifton|2006}} After the [[Battle of Worcester]] in late 1651, Charles [[Escape of Charles II|escaped from England]] and returned to the [[Dutch Republic]]. This time, he made it clear to Walter that their relationship was over, which she could not accept. For the next four years, she was involved in one scandal after another, causing much embarrassment to the exiled royal court.{{sfn|Clifton|2006}} During this time, she considered marrying Sir [[Henry de Vic]], 1st Baronet (circa 1599–1671), which eventually came to nothing.{{CN|date=May 2024}} She then returned to The Hague and became the mistress of Thomas Howard, brother of the [[James Howard, 3rd Earl of Suffolk|3rd Earl of Suffolk]].

In early 1656, when she was in [[Cologne]], some of the king's friends persuaded her to return to England by giving her cash and a pearl necklace and promising her a yearly [[Allowance (money)|allowance]] of £400.{{sfn|Clifton|2006}}{{sfn|Seccombe|1899|p=259}} She went to live in [[London]] with Lord Thomas, her children and a [[maid]], Ann Hill. They lived over a barber shop near [[Somerset House]].<ref>{{harvnb|Seccombe|1899|p=259}} cites Thurloe, ''State Papers'', v. 160, 169.</ref> She was suspected of being a [[Espionage|spy]], and at the end of June 1656, she and Hill were arrested and imprisoned in the [[Tower of London]]. After interrogation, they were released in July and deported back to the Dutch Republic. By this time, Lord Thomas had left her and she had no money to feed her children, as King Charles was unable to pay her allowance.<ref>{{harvnb|Seccombe|1899|p=259}} cites ''Mercure historique et politique''. No. 318.</ref> She threatened him with releasing his letters to the public if he did not pay. The king, wanting custody of their eight-year-old son, attempted to kidnap him in December 1657, and succeeded at capturing him in March 1658. James was then sent to Paris and placed in the care of William, Lord Crofts, whose [[surname]] he started using.{{CN|date=May 2024}}{{sfn|Clifton|2006}}

Soon, Walter also moved to Paris. She was dying from a [[Sexually transmitted infection|venereal disease]]. She made a [[General Confession]] of her life to [[John Cosin]], future [[Bishop of Durham]], insisting that she had married King Charles. She allegedly gave proof of this to Cosin, which he kept in a black box. This box was then supposedly inherited by Sir Gilbert Gerard, Cosin's son-in-law.{{CN|date=May 2024}} Walter died between 29 August and December 1658 and was probably buried in the [[Huguenots|Huguenot]] cemetery in the [[Faubourg Saint-Germain|Faubourg Saint-German]] district of Paris.{{sfn|Clifton|2006}} After his restoration to the throne, King Charles took their son James to England and created him Duke of Monmouth. Because of his complicated childhood, James never learned to read and write properly.{{CN|date=May 2024}}