ASHBURNHAM, John, English Royalist: b. 1603; d. 15 Jan. 1671. Under Buckingham's patronage, he began his court career very early. In 1627 he was sent to Paris to make overtures for peace, and in 1628 he prepared to join the expedition to Rochelle, interrupted by the Duke's assassination. The same year he was made Groom of the Bedchamber and elected member of Parliament for Hastings. He also represented this borough in the Long Parlia ment of 1640. In this capacity he rendered services by reporting proceedings to the King. He made a considerable fortune and recovered the Ashburnham estates alienated by his father. He became one of the King's chief advisers and had his full confidence. In the Civil War he was made treasurer of the Royal army; in 1664 he was a commissioner at Uxbridge and one of the four appointed to lay the King's pro posals before Parliament. He accompanied Charles in his flight from Oxford to the Scots and subsequently escaped abroad to Paris and then to Rouen, after which he was sent to The Hague to obtain aid from the Prince of Orange.
After the seizure of Charles by the army, Ash burnham joined him at Hampton Court in 1647. When Charles escaped he took Ashburnham's advice and went to the Isle of Wight where he fell into the hands of Hammond. He left Charles, waited on the mainland for his escape, and was later captured and imprisoned at Windsor. During the Civil War, he was ex changed for Sir W. Masham. In November he was allowed to compound for his estates. After the King's death, he remained in Eng land, an object of suspicion to all parties, until, at the Restoration, he regained his place as Knight of the Bedchamber and was compensated for his losses. He represented Sussex in Par liament from 1661-67 when he was expelled for taking a bribe from the French wine merchants. Consult 'Narrative' published by Lord Ash burnham (3d Earl) in 1830.