Simeon Ashe facts for kids
Simeon Ashe (who also spelled his name Ash) was an important English church leader who lived in the 1600s. He was part of a special group called the Westminster Assembly. He also worked as a chaplain (a kind of minister) for a powerful leader named Edward Montagu, 2nd Earl of Manchester during a time of big changes in England. He passed away in 1662.
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Simeon Ashe's Early Life and Work
Simeon Ashe went to Emmanuel College, Cambridge to study. After finishing school, he started working as a minister in a place called Staffordshire.
Standing Up for His Beliefs
Simeon Ashe faced a challenge early in his career. He was asked to read something called the Book of Sports during church services. This book listed activities people could do on Sundays, which many strict religious people (like Ashe) thought was wrong. He refused to read it and also disagreed with some other church rules. Because of this, he lost his job as a minister.
Luckily, a kind person named Sir John Burgoyne, 1st Baronet helped him. Sir John let Ashe use a special church in Wroxall, Warwickshire. Later, another important person, Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke, also protected him. Ashe often preached on Sundays at Warwick Castle and was friends with a man named Thomas Dugard.
Role in the English Civil War
When the First English Civil War began, Simeon Ashe became a chaplain for the Earl of Manchester. This meant he was a spiritual advisor and minister for the Earl's army.
After the War
After the war ended, Ashe was given a new church job at St. Austin. He also became one of the Cornhill lecturers, which meant he gave important talks in London. In 1643, he was chosen to join the Westminster Assembly. This was a group of important religious leaders who met to discuss and reform the Church of England.
A Voice for Peace
Even though Ashe supported the Parliament's side in the war, he didn't agree with the more extreme ideas of the Cromwellians, who followed Oliver Cromwell. When it was time for Charles II of England to return to the throne (this was called the English Restoration), Simeon Ashe was one of the church leaders who traveled to Breda to meet with the king.
Simeon Ashe died on August 24, 1662. This was just a few days before a new law, the Act of Uniformity 1662, was passed. If he had lived to see this law, he would have had to leave his church job because he didn't agree with all the new rules. Ashe was a man who owned property, and while he was at St. Austin, he often welcomed other ministers into his home.
Simeon Ashe's Writings
Simeon Ashe was also a writer. In 1644, he worked with another chaplain, William Goode, to write a pamphlet called A particular Relation of the most Remarkable Occurrences from the United Forces in the North.
Explaining Important Events
Ashe later wrote another pamphlet by himself called A True Relation of the most Chiefe Occurrences at and since the late Battell at Newbery. In both of these writings, he wanted to explain and defend the actions of his patron, the Earl of Manchester. A letter written by Ashe, describing what the Earl of Manchester did after the battle of Marston Moor, can be found in John Vicars's book Parliamentary Chronicle.
Sermons and Edited Works
Simeon Ashe also wrote several sermons, which are speeches given during church services. Some of his sermons include:
- A sermon based on a Bible verse (Psalm 9, verse 9) that he gave to the House of Commons on March 30, 1642.
- A sermon he gave to the House of Lords on February 26, 1644.
- A funeral sermon he gave on October 12, 1658, after the Countess of Manchester passed away.
He also helped to prepare and publish writings by other important religious thinkers like John Ball, John Brinsley, and Ralph Robinson.
