Edmund Ashfield (Catholic agent)
Encyclopedia
Edmund Ashfield was an English Catholic from Tattenhoe
in Buckinghamshire
. He was educated at St Mary Hall, Oxford
. In 1599 he travelled to Edinburgh to meet James VI of Scotland. The resident English diplomat organised his kidnap and rendition apparently in the belief that Ashfield was an agent of James VI and working to further his succession to the English throne. In 1606, Ashfield was involved in the rebuilding of Ashridge Priory
for Sir Thomas Egerton. In 1612, the author Henry Peacham
dedicated his Graphice, or the Auncient Arte of Drawing and Limning to Ashfield, by then Deputy-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. An aunt or cousin Cecily Ashfield was married to the Lord Chancellor Sir John Fortescue of Salden
. Edmund's uncle Thomas Ashfield was a bailiff for the Earl of Oxford
in 1571, and Edmund was Thomas's heir in 1609.
died before him, and showing how he could gain support and rule. Ashfield obtained a pass to enter Scotland from Peregrine Bertie, Baron Willoughby called Lord Willoughby
, Governor of Berwick upon Tweed and was helped in Scotland by Robert Ker of Cessford
. Ashfield spoke to James VI twice, in Edinburgh and during the King's hunting at Colinton
. When Willoughby discovered Ashfield's plans he organised a kidnap. John Guevara, the Deputy Warden of the East Marches
and Willoughby's cousin, and three assistants were sent to Edinburgh. They met Ashfield on the sands at Leith
where he was riding with his Scottish friends and, it was alleged, gave him drugged wine, described as if "some opium had been given him with his sugar in his wine, which so bedulled his senses as he wist not what he did for the time." Then he was driven away to Berwick in the English ambassador's coach while thinking he was getting a lift back to Edinburgh. Guevara's team were armed only with the rapiers and daggers that they normally carried. Willoughby had also organised a ship to lie off Prestonpans
to give support if necessary. Ashfield's papers too were seized in Edinburgh and taken to Berwick. Willoughby wrote to Robert Cecil
explaining his actions on 13 June 1599, and refused to return Ashfield to Scotland.
James VI was unsurprisingly indignant at this activity and wrote to Willoughby on 14 June 1599 demanding Ashfield's return or an explanation for "the taking away violentlie out of the hart of our country and in sight of our chief palais and eyes of our counsale, ane Inglis gentilman." However, Willoughby reported that the Protestant clergy of Edinburgh were pleased with the taking of an enemy of religion. The English ambassador in Scotland, Sir William Bowes
, was forced into virtual house-arrest, and reportedly imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle. He was recalled and left Scotland shortly afterwards. Ashfield meanwhile was kept prisoner with two Yeomen of the Guard as his warders. James VI wrote to Elizabeth on 30 April 1601 mentioning Ashfield and the unfortunate consequences of his visit to Scotland. Ashfield was returned to favour in England when James became King, knighted at the Tower of London
on 14 March 1604, given the lease of Whaddon Priory
, and in April 1604 he was admitted as one of his Majesty's pensioners in ordinary.
Ashfield's abduction was recorded as a 'heist' in a near-contemporary Scottish chronicle. This continuation of the Historie of King James the Sext follows the English letters by describing Ashfield as favoured by James VI;
Tattenhoe
Tattenhoe and Tattenhoe Park are adjacent districts of Milton Keynes, England, in the ancient parish of Tattenhoe. It is located at the south-western edge of the city, not far from the ruins of Snelshall Priory...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. He was educated at St Mary Hall, Oxford
St Mary Hall, Oxford
St Mary Hall was an academic hall of the University of Oxford associated with Oriel College since 1326, but which functioned independently from 1545 to 1902.- History :...
. In 1599 he travelled to Edinburgh to meet James VI of Scotland. The resident English diplomat organised his kidnap and rendition apparently in the belief that Ashfield was an agent of James VI and working to further his succession to the English throne. In 1606, Ashfield was involved in the rebuilding of Ashridge Priory
Ashridge Priory
Ashridge Priory was a medieval abbey of the Brothers of Penitence.The seventeenth century historian Polydore Vergil said that Edmund founded in 1283 a monastery at Ashridge, Hertfordshire, for a rector and twenty canons of "a new order not before seen in England, and called the Boni homines"...
for Sir Thomas Egerton. In 1612, the author Henry Peacham
Henry Peacham
Henry Peacham is the name shared by two English Renaissance writers who were father and son.The elder Henry Peacham was an English curate, best known for his treatise on rhetoric titled The Garden of Eloquence first published in 1577....
dedicated his Graphice, or the Auncient Arte of Drawing and Limning to Ashfield, by then Deputy-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire. An aunt or cousin Cecily Ashfield was married to the Lord Chancellor Sir John Fortescue of Salden
John Fortescue of Salden
Sir John Fortescue of Salden was the seventh Chancellor of the Exchequer of England, serving from 1589 until 1603....
. Edmund's uncle Thomas Ashfield was a bailiff for the Earl of Oxford
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford
Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford was an Elizabethan courtier, playwright, lyric poet, sportsman and patron of the arts, and is currently the most popular alternative candidate proposed for the authorship of Shakespeare's works....
in 1571, and Edmund was Thomas's heir in 1609.
Mission to Scotland
Edmund Ashfield wrote to James VI offering the advice that he ought to publish books setting forth his title to the English throne if Elizabeth I of EnglandElizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
died before him, and showing how he could gain support and rule. Ashfield obtained a pass to enter Scotland from Peregrine Bertie, Baron Willoughby called Lord Willoughby
Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby
thumb|Peregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de EresbyPeregrine Bertie, 13th Baron Willoughby de Eresby was the son of Catherine Willoughby, 12th Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, and Richard Bertie. Bertie was Lady Willoughby de Eresby's second husband, the first being Charles Brandon, Duke of...
, Governor of Berwick upon Tweed and was helped in Scotland by Robert Ker of Cessford
Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe
Robert Ker, 1st Earl of Roxburghe was a Scottish nobleman. He was the eldest son of William Ker of Cessford , and grandson of Sir Walter Ker of Cessford , who fought against Mary, Queen of Scots, both at Carberry Hill and at Langside.He helped James VI against Bothwell...
. Ashfield spoke to James VI twice, in Edinburgh and during the King's hunting at Colinton
Colinton
Colinton is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 6 kilometres south west of the city centre. It is bordered by Dreghorn to the south and Craiglockhart to the north-east. To the north-west it extends to Lanark Road and to the south-west to the City Bypass...
. When Willoughby discovered Ashfield's plans he organised a kidnap. John Guevara, the Deputy Warden of the East Marches
Scottish Marches
Scottish Marches was the term used for the Anglo-Scottish border during the late medieval and early modern eras—from the late 13th century, with the creation by Edward I of England of the first Lord Warden of the Marches to the early 17th century and the creation of the Middle Shires, promulgated...
and Willoughby's cousin, and three assistants were sent to Edinburgh. They met Ashfield on the sands at Leith
Portobello, Edinburgh
Portobello is a beach resort located three miles to the east of the city centre of Edinburgh, along the coast of the Firth of Forth, in Scotland. It is now a suburb of Edinburgh, with a promenade fronting on to the wide sand beach....
where he was riding with his Scottish friends and, it was alleged, gave him drugged wine, described as if "some opium had been given him with his sugar in his wine, which so bedulled his senses as he wist not what he did for the time." Then he was driven away to Berwick in the English ambassador's coach while thinking he was getting a lift back to Edinburgh. Guevara's team were armed only with the rapiers and daggers that they normally carried. Willoughby had also organised a ship to lie off Prestonpans
Prestonpans
Prestonpans is a small town to the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the unitary council area of East Lothian. It has a population of 7,153 . It is the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, and has a history dating back to the 11th century...
to give support if necessary. Ashfield's papers too were seized in Edinburgh and taken to Berwick. Willoughby wrote to Robert Cecil
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury
Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury, KG, PC was an English administrator and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley and Mildred Cooke...
explaining his actions on 13 June 1599, and refused to return Ashfield to Scotland.
James VI was unsurprisingly indignant at this activity and wrote to Willoughby on 14 June 1599 demanding Ashfield's return or an explanation for "the taking away violentlie out of the hart of our country and in sight of our chief palais and eyes of our counsale, ane Inglis gentilman." However, Willoughby reported that the Protestant clergy of Edinburgh were pleased with the taking of an enemy of religion. The English ambassador in Scotland, Sir William Bowes
William Bowes (ambassador)
William Bowes was the English ambassador to Scotland.Bowes represented Elizabeth I at the court of James VI of Scotland.-References:...
, was forced into virtual house-arrest, and reportedly imprisoned at Edinburgh Castle. He was recalled and left Scotland shortly afterwards. Ashfield meanwhile was kept prisoner with two Yeomen of the Guard as his warders. James VI wrote to Elizabeth on 30 April 1601 mentioning Ashfield and the unfortunate consequences of his visit to Scotland. Ashfield was returned to favour in England when James became King, knighted at the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
on 14 March 1604, given the lease of Whaddon Priory
Whaddon, Buckinghamshire
For other villages with the same name, see Whaddon.Whaddon is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district, in Buckinghamshire.The village name is Anglo Saxon in origin, and means 'hill where wheat is grown'...
, and in April 1604 he was admitted as one of his Majesty's pensioners in ordinary.
Ashfield's abduction was recorded as a 'heist' in a near-contemporary Scottish chronicle. This continuation of the Historie of King James the Sext follows the English letters by describing Ashfield as favoured by James VI;
"Sir William Bowes, ambassador for hir majestie, used a slight (deceitful) stratageme by exposing sum of his craftie gentilmen to beare cumpanie with an Inglish gentilman of account whom the king favorit for certen secret occasinis betuix them, and heistit the man a cosh (on a coach), maid haistie depesh (despatch) of him towart Ingland, for the whilk his majestie was exceiding angrie; and therfore causit the lodging of the said ambassador to be ombeset at all partis (surrounded) least he sould escape. Bot that matter was sone pacefeit."