Edmund Ashfield (Catholic agent) facts for kids
Edmund Ashfield (born 1576, died around 1620) was an English Catholic gentleman. In 1599, he traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland, to meet with James VI of Scotland. An English diplomat arranged for Ashfield to be kidnapped and taken back to England. This happened because the diplomat believed Ashfield was working for James VI to help him become the next King of England.
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Who Was Edmund Ashfield?
Edmund Ashfield was from a place called Tattenhoe in Buckinghamshire, England. He studied at St Mary Hall, Oxford university. Later in his life, he became a friend of a writer named John Davies of Hereford. In 1612, another writer, Henry Peacham, dedicated a book about drawing to Ashfield. At that time, Ashfield was an important official in Buckinghamshire.
Ashfield's Secret Trip to Scotland
Edmund Ashfield wrote to King James VI of Scotland. He suggested that James should publish books explaining why he should be the next King of England after Queen Elizabeth I. Ashfield also offered advice on how James could gain support and rule England.
In 1599, Ashfield got permission to enter Scotland. He was helped by Robert Ker of Cessford, a Scottish nobleman.
Meeting King James VI
Ashfield met King James VI twice. Once in Edinburgh and another time when the King was hunting near Colinton. During one meeting, Ashfield talked about the idea of James becoming King of England. An English agent reported that a Scottish nobleman joked about how good the English land was, suggesting they would enjoy living there when they came.
Ashfield also wrote a paper for King James. In it, he explained how James could get support in England. He believed that English Catholics would support James if he promised to be more accepting of their religion in the future. Ashfield also thought that Queen Elizabeth might let her cousin, Arbella Stuart, marry an English man. If that happened, Arbella might become queen and continue England's rule by a female leader.
The Kidnapping on the Beach
When the English ambassador in Scotland, William Bowes, found out about Ashfield's plans, he decided to kidnap him. Bowes worked with Baron Willoughby, who was the Governor of Berwick upon Tweed.
The Plan to Take Ashfield
Willoughby sent his cousin, John Guevara, and three helpers to Edinburgh. Willoughby also had an armed ship waiting in the Firth of Forth (a large bay) near the Isle of May.
They found Ashfield on the sandy beaches near Leith, which is close to Edinburgh. Ashfield was riding with his Scottish friends.
Ashfield was tricked into getting into the English ambassador's coach. He thought he was just getting a ride back to Edinburgh. Instead, he was driven all the way to Berwick, which was an English town. Guevara's team only had their normal swords and daggers. Willoughby had also arranged for a ship to be near Prestonpans to help if needed. Ashfield's important papers were also taken from Edinburgh and sent to Berwick.
Willoughby wrote to Robert Cecil, an important English official, on June 13, 1599. He explained why he had taken Ashfield and refused to send him back to Scotland.
After the Kidnapping
King James VI was very angry about Ashfield being taken. On June 14, 1599, he wrote to Willoughby, demanding Ashfield's return or an explanation. James was upset that an English gentleman was "violently taken out of the heart of our country" and "in sight of our chief palace." However, Willoughby reported that the Protestant church leaders in Edinburgh were happy that an "enemy of religion" had been removed.
Diplomats in Trouble
Because of the kidnapping, the English ambassador, William Bowes, was almost put under house arrest. He was later called back to England and left Scotland. Another English diplomat, George Nicolson, was not involved but felt he was in danger. Meanwhile, Ashfield was held prisoner in the Tower of London in England.
King James VI sent James Sempill to London as an ambassador. Sempill was told to complain about Ashfield's arrest. English officials met at Nonsuch Palace and decided that James's complaint was not valid. They even said that Ashfield himself claimed he went willingly in Willoughby's coach.
Later, a man named Jonas Waterhouse asked for a reward for capturing Ashfield in Scotland. In 1601, King James VI wrote to Queen Elizabeth again, mentioning Ashfield and the problems his visit had caused.
Ashfield's Return to Favor
When King James VI became King of England after Queen Elizabeth's death, Ashfield was treated well again. He was made a knight at the Tower of London in March 1604. He also received a lease for Whaddon Priory and became one of the King's regular pensioners (someone who receives money from the King).
A Scottish history book from that time described Ashfield's kidnapping as a "heist" or a clever trick. It said that the English ambassador used "crafty gentlemen" to trick Ashfield, whom the King liked. The book mentioned that the King was "exceedingly angry" and had the ambassador's house surrounded. But the matter was "soon pacified."
A Poem About Ashfield's Journey
Thomas Wayneman, a servant of Willoughby, brought Ashfield to London. After James VI became King of both Scotland and England, a poet named John Davies of Hereford wrote a poem about Ashfield's trip to Scotland and being taken to the Tower of London.
The poem talks about how Ashfield once invited the poet to travel from Hereford to Edinburgh. Ashfield said they lived in a "scalld worlde" (a difficult world) where nothing could stop people from being greedy. The poet stayed, but later wished he had gone. However, when he heard that Ashfield was brought back by a "Wayne-man" (a play on Wayneman's name) and stayed in the "Towre" (Tower of London), the poet was glad he didn't go.
But then, after four years, everything turned out well for Ashfield. The poet then wished he had been in Ashfield's place. The poem ends with the poet saying that since Ashfield is now "grown fatt" (successful) and the poet is "leane" (not successful), he hopes to stay in Ashfield's heart.
Thomas Wayneman also wrote to the Earl of Essex about Ashfield's arrest and Scottish matters. He claimed to have found out about Ashfield's secret mission. Wayneman thought that Ashfield had tried to make the Earl of Essex seem like someone who would stop James VI from becoming the English King.
