60 DIARY OF WILLIAM WHITEWAY. 



in 1634, and Benne Rector of All Saints, " seduced all the town to take 

 the Covenant " (Hutchins). 



"Sep. 29, 1620. There were chosen burgesses of Dorchester 

 Bailiff for this year. 



Mr William Whiteway 3. 

 Mr Edmund Dashwood 2. 



Constables Mr John Cooke Mr John Blackford. Christopher 

 "Way. Sheriff of Dorchester Sir Nathanial Napper Knight. 

 Undersheriff, Mr Newman of Fiford." 



In November of this year a collection was made for the defence 

 of the Palatinate " and in Dorchester was given ,200." 



December 1620. 12th hereof were chosen the Knights of 

 Parliament for Dorsett Sir John Strangwaies and Sir Thos 

 Trcnchard ; for Dorchester were chosen Burgesses Sir Francis 

 Ashley sergeant at law, and Mr. Thos Parkins." 



The names are also given of the members elected for Weymouth and 

 Melcombe, for Brickford and for Lyme. 



" Jan 3, 1620. There came into the country a proclamation to 

 forbid all men to speak of matters of state either of this kingdom 

 01 of any other place, upon pain of his Majesty's high displeasure," 



The times were becoming troubled and the discontent which 

 culminated in the civil war increasing. 



Jan. 13, 1620. " Sir Francis Ashley who had been chosen 

 Burgess of Parliament for Doichester resigned over his place unto 

 Sir Thos Edmundes Knight, of his Majesty's Privy Council and 

 steward of his Majesty's house, who had lain ambassador at the 

 French Couit many years." 



Under date March 9 it is stated that Sir Francis Ashley was 

 again chosen burgess for the parliament " Sir Thos Edmundes being 

 before chosen for another place." 



Sir F. Ashley was descended from the Ashleys of Wimborne S. Giles ; 

 in 1615 he was made sergeant at law, and was knighted in 1618. He 

 became steward of the Marshalsea of the King's household in 1625, and 

 King's sergeant and Recorder of the borough. (Savage and Hutchins). 

 His residence in the town was the Friary which he altered, and in 

 Hutchins' time his arms were still on the walls of two of the rooms of the 

 buildings, with the date 1623 not far from one of them. Sir Francis' sole 



