Page:The Hastings Guide.pdf/148

with Harold in the Battle, or beheaded by the Conqueror afterwards, for not immediately delivering the Castle to him. How ever that might be, William looked upon the family as his enemies ; and though they kept their seat, they appeared not in public for a long time. The first we find in any civil office, is John Ashburnham, who was Knight of the Shire for Sussex, and Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex in the reigns of Richard II. and Henry IV. His son and grandson Thomas, held the same office in Edward IV. and Henry VII. 's reign. In later times, William Ashburnham was a gentleman of singular loyalty to King Charles I. being one of the first who took up arms for that Monarch. He was Governor of Weymouth, and Major General of the King's forces in the West; though, after the defeat of the King's party, he was guilty of a mistake in conducting his Sovereign to Colonel Hammond, Governor of the Isle of Wight, who delivered him into the power of the army : his loyalty was never suspected either by Charles I. or II. who, after his restoration, rewarded him with the place of -