Ralph Clare." The duke of Buckingham is here meant, who had been assassinated on the 23d of August. But the calling Ashburnham the duke's nephew✶ is a mistake. He was however, though less nearly, related to the duke; whose mother was, also, of the above-mentioned most antient and distinguished family of the Beaumonts of Leicestershire.

But it appears from other documents that Ashburnham must for some time previous have been well known to the king: because a letter of his majesty's to the duke, when engaged in the disastrous expedition to the Isle de Rhé, dated October 1627, commences with-" I have received your "letter by Jack Ashburnham." And another— "Since I have understood by Jack Ashburnham." This already established familiarity accords well with the noble Historian's character of the king, "that he saw and observed men long before he "received them about his person."

In 1640 he was returned for Hastings: and in the earlier sessions of the "long parliament" seems to have been no inactive member: his name frequently occurring as on committees, and some

* Lord Clarendon says, that Ashburnham had been servant to the duke; but without specifying whether in, or out, of livery. Contin. of Life, vol. ii. p. 224.

†These letters are in the Harleian collection, and have been published in the late earl of Hardwick's State Papers.

times as a teller on divisions. There is no trace of his ever having spoken. That he was however an able reporter of speeches, we have the authority of lord Clarendon. For surely, when we are told, that the peculiar excellence of sir John Colepepper was, that "being of an universal Hist. vol. ii. "understanding, a quick comprehension, and a "wonderful memory, he commonly spoke at the “end of a debate: when he would recollect all, "that had been said of weight on all sides with

p. 94.

great exactness, and express his own sense with "much clearness; and such an application to the "house, that no man more gathered a general "concurrence to his opinion, than he." And when we are further told that "his greatest advantage Life, vol. i. 66 was, that he had an entire confidence and friend

ship with Mr. John Ashburnham; who, being a "member of the house, was always ready to report "the service, he did his majesty there, as advan"tageously, as the business would bear," a decisive proof is given of no mean talent. "Chi non "sa far bene da se, non potrà mai servirsi bene "delle cose d'altri ;"-is a recorded saying of the great Michael Angelo. In Shakspeare's opinion, A jest's prosperity lies in the ear

Of him, that hears it; never in the tongue

Of him, that makes it.

And it is clear, that, to the same cause, lord Cla

p. 108.

rendon mainly attributes the prosperity of sir John Colepepper, as well as that of his speeches.

In 1642 (Commons' Journals, April 18th) he was summoned to attend the business of the house, and (May 6th) it was ordered that he be proceeded against for contempt. On which the king wrote a letter to the Commons.

In 1643 (5th February.) "Discharged and dis"abled from being any longer a member of that house, for being in the king's quarters, and " adhering to that party."

14th September. It was " ordered, that his "estate be forthwith sequestered."

In 1644 he was appointed one of the commissioners at the treaty of Uxbridge.

In 1645, one of four commissioners, with the duke of Richmond, earl of Southampton and Geffry Palmer, proposed to be sent by the king with propositions to the parliament," which his "majesty is confident will be the foundation of a "happy and well grounded peace." (Lords' Journals, December 8th.)

Named among those to whom the king is willing to commit the great trust of the militia. (Lords' Journals, December 29.)

In 1646, March 2d. Employed by the king in an application to sir Henry Vane the younger. The letters are given in sir Edward Nicholas's

papers, edited by Mr. Bray: as they had before been by Dr. Birch in his preface to Hammond's letters.

April 26th, a commissioner with the earls of Southampton and Lindsay and sir W. Fleetwood, to treat for the surrender of Woodstock house to the parliament. (Whitelock's Memorials, p. 202.) April 27th. Left Oxford in attendance on the king to the Scots' army at Newark.

66

May 6th. "Ordered to be sent up as a delinquent for attending the king to the Scots' army. (Commons' Journals.)

May 16th. Escaped from Newcastle. (See Dr. Hudson's examination before the deputy mayor and others, justices of the peace. Peck's Desiderata Curiosa.)

1647. June or July. Returned to the king. November 11th. Attended the king in his escape from Hampton Court.

November 15th. "Ordered to be seized as a "delinquent by the serjeant at arms."

1648. January 1st. Dismissed from serving the king at the Isle of Wight. (Whitelock and Rushworth.)

May 19th. Seized and committed to Windsor Castle. (Commons' Journals.)

August 17th. Exchanged for sir W. Massam.

August 30th. Denied liberty to attend at the treaty of Newport.

October 13th. The king was desired by the parliament's commissioners, to grant his royal assent to an act declaring certain delinquents, who shall expect no pardon. Among these John Ashburnham, Esq. has the honour to be included. (Commons' Journals.)

After reading over the list of the commissioners at Uxbridge, it is not possible to suppose, that the name of Ashburnham should be found in it, if he had not in some degree been honoured with the good opinion, and even the consideration, of the most respectable among his contemporaries in point of rank, talent and merit: or that those, who were ministers of state, especially the inflexible sir Edward Hyde, should so obsequiously have complied with royal weakness, infatuation, and caprice, as not to have remonstrated, and protested against the humiliating admission, as their colleague, of a worthless favorite.

A similar observation may be not less fairly made, on the occurrence of the same name among those of the persons of highest note, in the two houses of parliament, as well as in the king's council of state, to whom "his majesty declared "himself willing to commit the great trust of the