To wave therefore all things that passed between his Majesty, the two houses of Parliament, and their armies, till the month of April 1646, I hold it fit to give the state of things: that when his Majesty's forces were reduced to the last period (which I take to be the time that Oxford was besieged), it was judged necessary, by all considering men, that his sacred person should not be liable to the success of an assault (for conditions or treaties seemed vain to be expected where the King was), but that some expedient should be found by an escape from thence to save his life, though nothing could be thought on in order to his flight, that, in point of danger, kept not equal pace with the hazard of his stay. Notwithstanding it was then first debated (as the King was pleased to tell me), whether it were not better for his Majesty to stay, than leave Oxford, &c."

After the Restoration, he was restored to his former post of Groom of the Bed-chamber, and was elected one of the Knights of the Shire for Sussex, to that parliament which met at Westminster, anno 1661. He lies buried in the chancel of Ashburnham church, under a noble monument of black and white marble, whereon lies the effigies in full proportion of a gentleman in armour, between his two wives; the one in a winding-sheet, and the other in a Baroness's robe, with a coronet on her head; all their hands elevated; and underneath are the figures of four sons, and four daughters, kneeling before a desk. Over all, in an arch of white marble, supported by two black marble pillars, is the following inscription on black marble, in gilt Roman letters:

"Here lies in the Vault underneath, John Ashburnham, Esq, of this Place, Son to the unfortunate Person Sir John Ashburnham, whose good nature and frank Disposition towards his Friends, in being deeply engaged for them, necessitated him to sell this place (in his Family long before the Conquest), and all the Estate he had elsewhere, not leaving to his Wife and six Children the least substance; which is not inserted to the least Disadvantage of his Memory (God forbid it should be understood to be a Charge of Disrespect upon him), but to give God the Praise; who so suddenly provided both for his Wife and Children, as that within less than two Years after the Death of the said Sir John, there was not any of them but was in Condition rather to be helpful to others, than to want support themselves;

May God be pleased to add this Blessing to his Posterity, that they may never be unmindful of the great things He has done for them. The wife of the said Sir John Ashburnnam, was daughter to Sir Thomas Beaumont, of Staughton, in the county of Leicester; she was very eminent for her great temper and prudence: she died in the seventy-fifth Year of her Age; and both the said Sir John, and his Wife, lie buried in the Church of St. Andrew's, in Holborn, London." Sir John died 1620, æt. 49.

"The said Mr. John Ashburnham married the daughter and heir of William Holland, of Westburton, in this County, Esq. who lies also here interred, and by whom he had these eight children. She made the first step towards the recovery of some part of the inheritance wasted by the said Sir John; for she sold her whole estate to lay out the money in this place. She lived in great reputation for piety and discre tion, and died in the seven and thirtieth Year of her Age. The second Wife to the said Mr. John Ashburnham, who lies also here interred, was the Widow of the Lord Poulett, of Hinton St. George, in the county of Somerset: she was daughter and heir to Christopher Kenn, of Kenn, in that county, Esq. who left her a great estate in lands, now in the possession of the Lord Poulett. She was worthy imita tion by all her sex, for her honourable and religious conversation: she brought great advantages to the family of this place, and died at the age of seventy years and four months; and her memory is precious to all considering persons that knew her. This Mr. John Ashburnham was of the Bedchamber to their Majesties Charles I. and Charles II. who when he had performed the service to God in building this Church at his own charge, died in the sixty-eighth year of his age, on the fifteenth Day of June, in the Year of our Lord 1671."

Frances, the first wife of the said John Ashburnham, died in the year 1649, and was buried at Ashburnham. Of their daughters, Frances, born anno 1632, was married to Sir Denny Ashburnham, of Bromham, in Sussex, Bart, from whom was descended the late Sir William Ashburnham, Lord Bishop of Chichester; and Elizabeth, to Sir Hugh Smith, of Long-Ashton, in the county of Somerset, Bart,

'. WILLIAM Ashburnham, Esq. the eldest son, died in the year 1655, and was buried at Ashburnham, having married Elizabeth, daughter of John Lord Poulett, of Hinton St. George, by whom he had issue, John, his son and heir, created Lord Ashburnham. And the said Elizabeth was, secondly, married to Sir William Hartop, of Rotherby, in the county of Leicester, and dying on August 18th, 1690, aged sixty, was buried at Ashburnham.

JOHN Ashburnham, FIRST PEER, born January 15th, 1655-6, was heir to his grandfather, as also to his uncle, William Ashburnham; and on the accession of King William and Queen Mary, was created a Baron, by the style and title of LORD ASHBURNHAM, Baron of Ashburnham, in Sussex, by letters-patent, dated May 20th, 1698," in the first year of their reign. His Lordship married, in Westminster-Abbey, July 22d, 1677, Bridget, only daughter and heir to Walter Vaughan, of PorthommelHouse, in Brecknockshire, Esq. and on August 19th, 1702, his Lordship was constituted Custos Rotulorum of that county. He departed this life at his house in Southampton-street, near Bloomsbury-square, on January 22d, 1709-10, aged fifty-four years and seven days, and was buried at Ashburnham, where also the remains of his lady are deposited. He left issue three sons.

1. William, who succeeded him in honour and estate.
2. John, late Earl Ashburnham. And,

3. Bertram, who died in April 1743, unmarried.

Also two daughters; Elizabeth, married, first, to Robert Cholmondeley, of Holford, in Cheshire; and, secondly, to Seymour Cholmondeley, Esq. and died on January 26th, 1731-2; and Jane, wedded to James Hays, Esq. and died in August 1731.

WILLIAM, SECOND LORD ASHBURNHAM, born May 20th, 1675, married Catharine, daughter, and, at length, sole heir to Thomas Taylor, of Clapham, in the county of Bedford, Esq. but died (leaving no issue by her), on June 16th, 1710, and she on July 11th, the same year, aged twenty-three years, and were both buried at Ashburnham. To whom succeeded, his next brother and heir,

JOHN, THIRD LORD, and FIRST EARL OF ASHBURNHAM, baptized March 13th, 1687; he was by Queen Anne constituted Colonel and Captain of the first troop of Horse Guards; and in December, 1728, appointed Gentleman of the Bed-chamber to Frederick Prince of Wales, but resigned that office in June,

a Ex Collect. Greg. King Lanc. fecial,

Pat. 3 Geo, II,

1731; having the year before, on May 14th, 1730, in consideration of his great merits, been created Viscount St. Asaph, in the Principality of Wales, and EARL ASHBURNHAM. And on November 23d, 1731, was constituted Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard.

His Lordship married to his first wife, on October 21st, 1710, the Lady Mary Butler, daughter to James Duke of Ormond, who died without issue on January 2d, 1712, in the twenty-third year of her age, and was buried at Ashburnham.

He married, secondly, on July 24th, 1714, Henrietta, widow of John Earl of Anglesey, and daughter to William Earl of Derby, who died on June 26th, 1718, in the thirty-first year of her age, leaving an only daughter, the Lady Henrietta Ashburnham, who died unmarried on August 8th, 1732.

He married, to his third wife, the Lady Jemima Grey, daughter and coheir to Henry Duke of Kent; which Lady died on July 7th, 1731, leaving issue one son, John.

The said John Earl of Ashburnham departing this life at his house in St. James's-square, in the forty-ninth year of his age, on March 10th, 1736-7, was buried at Ashburnham. To whom succeeded the beforementioned

JOHN, his only son and heir, SECOND EARL OF ASHBURNHAM, born October 30th, 1724, one of the Lords of the Bedchamber to his late Majesty; and July 14th, 1753, appointed Keeper of Hyde Park, and also Keeper of St. James's Park. On the accession of his present Majesty, his Lordship was continued in those offices, until he resigned them in 1762; on November 10th, 1775, was appointed first Lord of the Bed-chamber, and Groom of the Stole to his Majesty, which he resigned in 1775. He is LL.D. He married, on June 28th, 1756, Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Ambrose Crawley, Esq. late Alderman of London: and by her Ladyship, who died at Bath, 6th February, 1781, had issue 1. George, Viscount St. Asaph, born on February 2d, 1758, and died on the 13th of the same month.

2. George, now Viscount St. Asaph, born on December 25th, 1760, and baptized on January 23d following, his Majesty, the Duke of Newcastle, and the Princess Dowager of Wales, being personally sponsors, married, first, August 28th, 1784, Sophia, third daughter of Thomas, first Marquis of Bath, by whom (who died April 9th, 1791), he had, 1. George, born October 9th, 1785, M. P. for New Romney, 1807. 2. Elizabeth. 3. Sophia. 4. John, an Ensign in the Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards.

He married, secondly, Charlotte, eldest daughter of Charles, Earl of Beverley, by whom he has, 5. A son, March 19th, 1803. His Lordship was summoned to Parliament on March 23d, 1803, as BARON ASHBURNHAM, and placed in the seat of his father's Barony of May 30th, 1689.

3. Lady Henrietta Theodosia, born November 8th, 1759.

4. Lady Jemima Elizabeth, born January 1st, 1762, married, February 26th, 1785, James, now Duke of Montrose, and died September 18th, 1786.

5. Lady Elizabeth Frances, born May 10th, 1763

6. Lady Theodosia Maria, born June 16th, 1765, married, June 4th, 1788, Robert Vyner, Esq. of Gautby, in Lincolnshire; and has issue.

Titles. John Ashburnham, Earl Ashburnham, Viscount St. Asaph, and Baron Ashburnham.

Creations. Baron Ashburnham, of Ashburnham, in Sussex, May 30th, 1689, 1 W. and M.; Viscount St. Asaph, in the Principality of Wales, and Earl Ashburnham, May 14th, 1730, 3 Geo. II.

Or.

Arms. Gules, a fess between six mullets, Argent.

Crest. Out of a ducal coronet, Or, an ash-tree proper.

Supporters. Two greyhounds, Sable, collared and chained,

Motto. LE ROY ET L'ESTAT.

Chief Seats. At Ashburnham, in the count of Sussex; and at Chelsea, in the county of Middlesex.