Nicholas Assheton
Encyclopedia
Nicholas Assheton a country squire and writer 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 Thomas Dunham 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
.
Downham
Downham is a district located in south-east London, occupying much of the boundary between the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Bromley; it is the name of an electoral ward covering much of the area on the Lewisham side...
, near Clitheroe
Clitheroe
Clitheroe is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, England. It is 1½ miles from the Forest of Bowland and is often used as a base for tourists in the area. It has a population of 14,697...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, 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
Edmund Spenser
Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I. He is recognised as one of the premier craftsmen of Modern English verse in its infancy, and one of the greatest poets in the English...
. 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
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
'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 Thomas Dunham Whitaker
Thomas Dunham Whitaker
Thomas Dunham Whitaker was an English clergyman and topographer.-Life:Born at Rainham on 8 June 1759, he was son of William Whitaker , curate of Rainham, Norfolk, by his wife Lucy, daughter of Robert Dunham, and widow of Ambrose Allen...
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
The Lancashire Witches (novel)
The Lancashire Witches is the only one of William Harrison Ainsworth's 40 novels that has remained continuously in print since its first publication. It was serialised in the Sunday Times newspaper in 1848; a book edition appeared the following year, published by Henry Colburn...
,' 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
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
.