[Asser's De Rebus Gestis is the main authority. Asser's authorship of the Life is impugned by Mr. Thomas Wright in the 'Archæologia,' xxix., and in the 'Biograph. Brit. Lit.' The whole question is very thoroughly discussed by Pauli in the introduction to his 'Life of Ælfred the Great,' and by T. D. Hardy in the introduction to Petrie's Monumenta.]
ASSHETON. [See Ashton.]
ASSHETON, NICHOLAS (1590–1625), a country squire who lived at Downham, near Clitheroe, Lancashire, is noteworthy on account of a brief diary which he left illustrating the character of the country life of that part of West Lancashire which is associated with the poet Spenser. He belonged to a branch of the Assheton family of Middleton, in the same county, and was the son of Richard Assheton, of Downham. He probably had his education at Clitheroe grammar school; he married Frances, daughter of Richard Greenacres, of Worston, near Downham; and he died 16 April 1625, leaving issue. His journal, which extends from 2 May 1617 to 13 March 1619, records his intercourse with his tenants and neighbours, with all their 'businesses, sports, bickerings, carousings, and (such as it was) religion.' It includes some interesting notices of James I's visit to Lancashire in August 1617, when the petition which originated the 'Book of Sports' was presented to that king (Nichols's Progresses, iii. 396-403). The original journal has been lost. It was first printed by Rev. T. D. Whitaker in his 'History of Whalley.' It was next edited in 1848 by Canon Raines, in vol. xiv. of the Chetham Society series, from the third or 1818 edition of 'Whalley,' and was accompanied by some excellent notes and an account of the Assheton family. In 1876 the diary was re-edited in the fourth edition of 'Whalley,' ii. 122-142. Harrison Ainsworth introduced Assheton into his novel of the 'Lancashire Witches,' book ii. chap, iii., as 'a type of the Lancashire squire of the day,' but both Whitaker and the novelist were mistaken in considering him a puritan.
[Assheton's Diary, as above.]
ASSHETON, WILLIAM (1641–1711), divine, was born at Middleton, Lancashire, in the year 1641. His father, who was rector of the parish, was one of the ancient knightly family of the place. After a preliminary education at a private country school he entered Brasenose 3 July 1658, where he is said by Wood to have had a presbyterian tutor, and to have been an attendant at the religious meetings held at the house of old Bessie Hampton, a laundress, whose piety was not of the antiquary's pattern. Wood hints that his change of views was due to the Restoration; but it is surely hypercriticism to discuss the consistency of a youth of eighteen, which would be Assheton's age at the Restoration. He gained a fellowship of his college in 1663, when he was B.A. Having entered holy orders and taken his master's degree, he became a frequent preacher. James, duke of Ormond, who was chancellor of the university, appointed him chaplain, and in that capacity he served both in England and Ireland. He had the degree of D.D. in 1673, 'at which time,' Wood is careful to remind us, 'he had nine terms granted to him by virtue of the said chancellor's letters.' Next month he had the prebend of Knaresborough in the church of York. The interest of his patron procured him the livings of St. Antholin's, London, and Beckenham, Kent, where he settled in 1676. A few years before his death he was solicited to become master of his college, but advancing age and infirmity forbade his acceptance. He died at Beckenham in September 1711, and is buried in the chancel of that church. He was a voluminous writer, and by no means free from the prejudices and superstitions of his own time; yet in one respect he was
keensighted beyond his time, and the modern system of life insurance must own him as a forerunner.
His writings are: 1. 'Toleration Disapproved,' Oxford, 1670; there were two editions in the same year, one of which was anonymous (B.M.), Oxford, 1671 (B.M.), 1736 (B.M.). 2. 'Danger of Hypocrisie,' London, 1673 (B.M.). 3. 'Seasonable Apology for the Honours and Revenues of the Clergy' (Judicium Carolinum), London, 1674, 1676 (B.M.). 4. 'The Cases of Scandal and Persecution,' London, 1674 (B.M. and 1676); this was answered by Baxter. 5. 'The Royal Apology,' London, 1684 (B.M.). 6. 'An Admonition to a Deist,' London, 1685, anonymous (B.M.). 7. ' A Seasonable Vindication of their Present Majesties,' 1688. 8. 'An Explanation of his Reasons for taking the Oath of Allegiance to William and Mary.' 9. 'Country Parson's Admonition to his Parishioners against Popery,' London, 1686, 1689, 1706 (B.M.). 10. 'A Defence of the Plain Man's Reply to the Catholick Missionaries,' London, 1688; two editions with some variations in the title. 11. 'The Substance of a late Conference with M. S. concerning (1) the Rudeness of Atheistical Discourse; (2) the Certainty and Eternity of Hell Torments; (3) the Truth and Authority of the Holy Scriptures,' London, 1690 (B.M.). 12. 'Discourse against Blasphemy,' London,
