Ascough

Ascough, or, according to Godwin, "WILLIAM AYSCOTH, doctor of laws and clerk of the counsel, was consecrated in the chapel of Windsor, July 20, 1438. The year 1450 it happened the commons to arise in sundry parts of the realm, by the stirring of Jack Cade, naming himself John Mortimer. A certain number of lewd persons (tenants for the most part to this bishop), intending-to join themselves to the rest of that crew, came to Evendon, where he was then saying of mass. What was their quarrel to him I find not. But certain it is, they drew him from the altar in his alb, with his stole about his neck, to the top of a hill not far off, and there, as he kneeled on his knees praying, they cleft his head, spoiled him to the skin, and, rending his bloody shirt into a number of pieces, took every man a rag to keep for a monument of their worthy exploit. The day before they had robbed his carriages of 10,000 marks in ready money. This abarbarous murder was committed June 29th, the year aforesaid." Dr. Fuller supposes that the bishop was attacked because he was "learned, pious, and rich, three capital crimes in a clergyman." He also gives us the following distich, which may be applicable in other times:

" Sic concusso cadit populari mitra tumultu, Protegat optamus nunc diadema Deus.

"By people's fury mitres thus cast down We pray hence orward God preserve the crown."

-Biog. Britannica; Hook, Ecci. Biog. i, 323.

SEE ASKEW.