Ashley is first heard of as cook at
Douay College, which he left on 28 April 1590 for the
English College, Valladolid. Here he entered the
Society of Jesus, but after a time returned to England because of ill-health. He fell in with
Father Tesimond (Greenway), who eulogizes the courage he had displayed among the Dutch, by whom he had been captured during his journey. He landed in England on 9 March 1598 and was sent to serve
Edward Oldcorne. and were committed to the
Tower of London, together with
Henry Garnet, and
Nicholas Owen, another lay-brother, servant to Garnet. The two servants were tortured, Owen dying. He was ultimately remanded with Oldcorne to
Worcester, where they were tried, condemned and executed together at
Red Hill. He accompanied his master to their execution. It is said that as Oldcorne waited on the ladder to die, Ashley kissed his feet and said, "“What a happy man am I to follow the steps of my Father unto death." Oldcorne died with the name of
St Winifred on his lips. Edward Oldcorne and Ashley were
beatified in 1929. ==References==