Peter Ashe
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Vital statistics | |
| Title | Lord
Governor of the Province of Carolina |
| Gender | Male |
| Status | Deceased (killed by James Flint) |
| Ships | Unknown |
| Relationships | Abigail Ashe (daughter) Thomas Hamilton (Former Friend) Miranda Barlow (Friend/Ally/Enemy; deceased) James Flint (Friend/Ally/Enemy) William Rhett (Subordinate; deceased) |
| Appearances | First: XII. Last: XVIII. |
| Portrayed by | Nick Boraine |
Peter Ashe was a British nobleman and former member of Parliament known for his political acumen. He later became the Governor of the Carolina Colony.
Biography
Background
Peter Ashe was formerly a Member of Parliament and close friends with Thomas Hamilton, his wife Miranda and James Flint, known to Ashe as James McGraw. After Thomas informed his salon of his intent of challenging his father in Parliament in order to procure pardons for the pirates of Nassau and reconcile them with English rule, he in the only attendee to offer his support[1].
During the campaign in Parliament, Lord Ashe tells Thomas that there is tremendous support for every part of the plan to restore English rule and commerce to Nassau, except for the pardons. Thomas reminds him that the pardons are the most important thing, and Ashe replies that he knows and promises to keep fighting for them. He says he knows Lord Alfred is a formidable adversary but says that he is too. Thomas is then pulled away for a moment to talk by Miranda.
Lieutenant McGraw then returns from a three month voyage he took to Nassau, where he was to get the support of the governor, Robert Thompson, and assess the situation. He has dire news, telling them that a dispute arose over a bribe that Thompson felt he was owed, leading to the murder of his wife and son. Thompson was allowed to live to spread the tale, and so that everyone knew who was in charge of Nassau. Peter responds to the news by calling the pirates "stupid fuckers." He tells Thomas and McGraw that he is having a difficult time imagining going up to the Lords in Parliament and asking for pardons for those men. Thomas clarifies that the men who committed these crimes will be punished, but they cannot allow their actions to condemn the rest. Peter replies that as a matter of political reality, their plan is dead. McGraw replies that it isn't so, because the Royal Navy hasn't made its case yet. Ashe says that the Navy won't make a case, they'll do whatever Parliament tells them. McGraw goes on to say that if the Sea Lords recommend a change of strategy, no one would ignore them. Ashe insists that the war effort has nothing to do with Nassau, but McGraw counters by saying that a lawless Nassau is a weakness Spain can exploit. McGraw then goes to offer his plan directly to the Sea Lords and the Admiralty.
However, Lord Alfred learned of Thomas and McGraw's affair, and informed Admiral Hennessey of it. When McGraw makes his appeal to Admiral Hennessey, he reveals that Lord Alfred visited him first, and told him about the affair. McGraw is told that no charges will be brought against him if he leaves London quickly and quietly. When McGraw returns to the Hamilton Residence, he finds the place stripped bare. Ashe says that Lord Alfred's men arrived before he could do anything and took Thomas. McGraw asks where and Miranda answers to Bethlem Royal Hospital, and the public story was that he went mad with grief after learning of her affair with James. Ashe offers to set McGraw and Miranda up comfortably in exile with his friends in Amsterdam, Brussels or Paris, but McGraw refuses and after being talked down from trying to rescue Thomas, resolves to go into exile with Miranda in Nassau[2].
However, unbeknownst to the Hamiltons and McGraw, Ashe was blackmailed into betraying his friends by Alfred Hamilton when Hamilton allegedly threatened to harm Ashe's family and Abigail's future. As part of the betrayal, Ashe testified to the homosexual relationship taking place between Thomas and James, which resulted in Thomas being sentenced to the lunatic asylum, and McGraw being sent into exile along with Thomas Hamilton's wife Miranda. As reward for his betrayal, he was appointed Governor of the Carolina colonies[3].
Originally a lenient man with regards to piracy, he completely changed his policy toward pirates after Alfred Hamilton was murdered by Captain Flint[4]. Ashe became known for his violent policy toward pirates and all those who supported their endeavours, even executing men for merely possessing pirate obtained goods. He was also known for turning the struggling Carolina Colony into a commercial success[5].
Season Two
After many years his daughter, Abigail Ashe, finished school in London and traveled aboard the merchant vessel the Good Fortune to Charles Town. However, the ship was waylaid by pirates, and after they discovered her presence aboard, they murdered the entire merchant crew and burned the ship. They kidnapped her, intending to ransom her for £250,000[6].
After Charles Vane slaughtered Ned Low and his crew, he took Abigail to Fort Nassau. He revealed her presence to Eleanor Guthrie, and told her about her identity and Low's plans for her. Vane says he intends to ransom her himself. Eleanor warns him that Lord Ashe is not to be trifled with, and has hanged men merely for being suspected of piracy. Vane says he wasn't asking for permission, and says he knows what he is doing[7].
Vane asks Abigail questions about her father's wealth, such as the total value of his estate, the number of slaves he has, and the number of rooms in his house. Abigail explains that she doesn't know because she's been at school in London for years. Vane then asks if they are close, and when she is confused, explains that he is asking if there is any reason he should expect not to be paid the ransom. Abigail responds by saying Vane is asking if her father loves her, and says her father will pay. Vane then instructs her to write a letter to her father, stating that she is Vane's prisoner and no harm will come to her so long as Vane is paid the 250,000 pounds. Vane promises the next time he makes contact will be when he arrives in Charles Town. Vane promises that if the sum is not paid, or he suspects foul play, he will kill Abigail and throw her body into the bay. That night, Pastor Lambrick rebukes Miranda Barlow, telling her that he visited Nassau and heard that one pirate kidnapped a girl from another pirate in order to ransom him to her father. He then says that the father is none other than Lord Peter Ashe, Governor of Carolina, and an upstanding and God-fearing man who hundreds of miles away from Nassau is still plagued by the pirates. Miranda then remembers that his daughter's name is Abigail[1].
Miranda tries to dissuade Flint from going through with his attack on the fort to oust Vane by telling him about Abigail, He asks if she is Peter's daughter and Miranda confirms it. She tries to get him to agree to a plan where he returns Abigail to her father without conditions and then convince him to advocate for the pardon of the pirates and reconciliation of Nassau with the British Empire. Miranda says that Peter almost succeeded despite the war with Spain and Alfred Hamilton, two obstacles that are no longer in their way. Flint says that Peter has changed in the decade since they saw him last, and that six months ago he hanged four men in his harbor possession of pirated goods, clearly a man that Flint cannot negotiate with. Miranda says that he will have returned his only daughter to him safe and unharmed, without conditions, and to remind him of the principles they all spoke of in Thomas' salon years ago. Flint refuses, and insists that the path towards a sustainable and self governing Nassau is capturing the Spanish gold[2].
After Flint and Vane's brawl, they sit down with Eleanor and Richard Guthrie and Miranda. Flint explains the plan of returning Abigail to her father without conditions. Eleanor warns that while returning his daughter might gain his ear, there was no one in the America had a greater hatred of piracy than him. Flint then says that they used to be good friends, working towards the end of a stable and prosperous Nassau. Richard Guthrie then adds that Ashe took the struggling Carolina Colony and turned it into a commercial success, as well as being unparalleled in his ability to navigate the avenues of power in Parliament[5].
When James Flint arrived at Charles Town to return Abigail Ashe, Rhett and his men meet him at the docks. They begin escorting Flint, Abigail and Miranda Barlow through the city to Governor Ashe. Rhett explains that before Lord Ashe arrived, the city's shipping was routinely assaulted by raiders, all up and down the coast. It took Ashe a while to learn how to deal with it, but things changed once he committed himself to fixing the problem. Lord Ashe made the people of Charles Town unafraid, and once they stopped fearing the raiders, they lost all their power. Rhett's men begin assaulting Flint and beat him until Abigail intervenes, telling Rhett that Flint was actually an old friend of her father's. Rhett leads them to the Governor's Mansion, where Lord Ashe joyously reunites with his daughter. When he sees his former friends, he tells Flint and Barlow "welcome to Charles Town."[4]
Colonel Rhett stands guard while Captain Flint and Miranda Barlow meet with Peter Ashe discussing Flint's proposal to move forward with his plans for reconciliation between England and the pirates of Nassau. Ashe makes it clear the only reason they are sitting down together is because Flint brought Abigail back unharmed. He then says although they knew each other in the past, he does not recognize the two people that sit before him. Flint encourages him to ask any questions and promises he will be truthful in answering. When the subject of Alfred Hamilton is brought up, Miranda admits she is the one who arranged his execution. As she stands to admit her guilt, Rhett points his pistol at her. He says while Ashe may know them, he does not, and if they get any closer to the Governor, he will shoot them where they stand. Flint then asks that Ashe not judge him for his past deeds and instead offer him redemption. Flint then outlines his plan, stating most of the pirates will agree to stop pirating and work legally as merchant sailors. Ashe eventually agrees to consider the plan.
Their talks continue well into the night. Ashe has various misgivings about the plan. When it was first proposed by Thomas Hamilton, there were half as many pirates on the island and it was still a failing colony, not a failed one. Flint counters by pointing out that he proposed reconciliation to his crew of 100 men, and over 70 of them are with him in support of it. Furthermore, the trade boss in Nassau is actively working to reform Nassau with them. Most importantly, if Ashe endorses the plan, the New World's most committed pirate hunter advocating for a plan to reform the pirates of Nassau would give it enormous clout in Parliament. Ashe says that Parliament will need a candidate for the governor, and asks Flint if he wants that role. Flint says he can do much to help the newborn colony, such as helping to establish and organize the militia and navy, but after that it would be time for him to retire into the interior with Miranda. Abigail then arrives and tells them that Mrs. Tyler says it is time to turn the room over for supper. Lord Ashe then instructs Abigail to tell Mrs. Tyler to find rooms for Flint and Barlow while they wait.
While Flint, Miranda, and the Ashes are having dinner, Peter orders Rhett, Abigail and everyone else to clear the room. Ashe states that he has given it much thought and the only way for Flint's plan to work is that they both return to London together where Flint will confess his crimes and ask forgiveness from Parliament. He states that Flint must tell the whole truth including the relationship with Thomas Hamilton. Ashe believes that this will work because Parliament will see that the most feared pirate in the New World is not a monster, but a very flawed man. Flint agrees.
Just then, Miranda realizes why the clock is so familiar to her: it belonged to Thomas and was in their home in London. Ashe admits that it was a gift from Alfred Hamilton. It is then revealed that Ashe was the reason behind all of their misfortune. Miranda realizes that James McGraw was well liked and had a good reputation among the Navy and that there must have been another reason why everyone believed the affair between him and Hamilton was true. She stands to confront Ashe with the accusations and states that he sold them out to become governor of the Carolina colony. Ashe says that he was forced to betray them because Lord Hamilton was threatening his family. Miranda becomes increasingly aggravated and says she would like Ashe to take responsibility for ruining her life and that he should be swinging from the end of a rope. Suddenly, she is shot through the head and killed by Colonel Rhett. Flint then attacks Rhett but is subdued and knocked out by Ashe's men. With any hopes of reconciliation dashed, Ashe puts Flint on trial for piracy. The militia Boat Captain to inform his crew in the harbor that they have until the conclusion of the trial to depart, or their ship will be seized or sunk[3].
The morning of the trial, Ashe finds Abigail solemnly hitting a single key on her harpsichord. He informs her that he has arranged for her to be transported to Savannah and stay with Mr. Ashford, a friend of his. Abigail asks him why he wants her to leave, and Peter responds by saying that these trials arouse a great deal of passion that while natural, is not something he is comfortable exposing her to. Abigail scathingly asks if it is for her welfare or his own that he is sending her away. She says that he raised her to respect the truth as the root of all virtue, and asks him point blank if he is afraid that if someone asks her what happened the previous night at dinner, she will tell the truth. Peter tries to placate her, but Abigail asks why he isn't upset that of the two people who rescued and cared for her, one is dead and the other is about to be, while the only person who actually committed any crimes, Colonel Rhett, still works for him.
As the trial begins, Ashe approaches Flint, who is shackled on the dais. Ashe explains that Vice Admiral Lord Kensington is determined to gain the greatest possible exposure for the trial and to make it a spectacle. Once that begins, Ashe will have no control over how it proceeds, unless Flint gives him what he needs to stop it. He offers Flint one last chance to confess to the crimes he already admitted to him anyway, and the sentence will instead be carried out quietly and privately the next day. He begs Flint to spare himself and Miranda the humiliation, pointing to her arriving coffin. He promises to see Miranda interred with respect and have her name cleared, which is surely what she wanted. Flint angrily responds that what she wanted was for the truth to be known, and asks Peter why he betrayed his friends a decade ago. He asks if it really was over a bribe, or because Ashe was too weak to say no and too cowardly to do the harder thing and resist the Earl. He asks Ashe to tell him it was the latter, because he could forgive cowardice. Ashe can only stare in shamed silence, and Flint says he supposes he has his answer. The Town Crier then directs the crowd to Miranda's body, which has been put on display, and calls her Flint's minion who tried to help kill Ashe. The crowd then begins throwing rotten vegetables at her body.
When the trial officially begins, Kensington produces affidavits given by sailors of ships Flint has attacked, testimonials of widows and orphans rendered into that state by his actions, and insurance petitions for the loss or destruction of property caused by Flint. Kensington accuses Flint of having wreaked untold havoc throughout the New World and clawing at the very fabric of civilization. Kensington gives him the opportunity to deny these charges or repent. Kensington tries to get Flint to respond to the allegations, but Flint remains in a sullen silence. Kensington tells the crowd that the crimes are so vile even the perpetrator is struck dumb when given the chance to speak in his won defense. Flint finally speaks up, telling them he has one regret; his regret is coming to Charles Town thinking reason could be a bridge between them and reconciliation could be found. He says everyone is a monster to someone, and he is content to be there’s.
A militia guard then walks into the square with Charles Vane in tow, announcing who he is. He tells them that Vane turned himself in. Vane then says that he is here to offer testimony in defense of Captain Flint. Ashe scoffs at the idea of Vane as a credible character witness, but Vane clarifies that he isn’t offering testimony, he is offering Abigail Ashe’s, producing her diary.
In the Governor’s Mansion, Kensington and Ashe read over the diary. Ashe, despairing, asks if there is any way to keep it out of the record. Kensington says he could just throw it into the fire, but says that it is unwise given that it was produced in front of Ashe’s entire constituency. Kensington tells Ashe that he is the protector of the law in Charles Town and he brazenly disregards that at his own peril. Ashe says that all it takes is one juror to be seduced by the scandal of it all and Flint goes free. Kensington says that Flint isn’t going anywhere. While the diary might may the next few months unpleasant for Ashe, it will not affect the outcome of Flint’s trial, not with the jury they have impaneled. Once Flint is hanged, they will move on to Vane.
While a court official is reading the diary, Vane stands up and announces that he wishes to speak on behalf of the defendant. Kensington orders him to sit down, but Vane continues speaking. He says that men like Kensington have convinced the people of Charles Town that they speak for them, that the power they are given is used in their interests, that the prisoner before them is their enemy. Vane says that for the people who live to see tomorrow, they should know that they had a chance to see the truth but let themselves be convinced otherwise. Throughout the speech, Kensington futilely attempts to shout Vane down. He tries to order Vane removed from the dais. but Vane raises his arms, giving the signal for his men on the Battery’s walls to open fire on the square. During the chaos of the attack, Ashe tries to escape, escorted by two militiamen. Flint quickly dispatches both, and Ashe begs Flint to grant him mercy, calling him James. Flint stabs Ashe through the stomach, mortally wounding him. He then forces Ashe to look at Miranda's body, and tells him that her word is the last word for Charles Town. Ashe slowly bleeds out, dying as he watches his city be laid to waste around him[8].
Season Three
While captured by the Maroons, Flint explains to John Silver why he believes that the offer of Royal Pardons quelled all resistance in Nassau. He tells Silver that he is certain because years ago, he, Miranda Barlow, her husband and Lord Peter Ashe worked to obtain universal pardons to eliminate piracy and restore colonial rule to Nassau[9].
When Flint parleys with Governor Woodes Rogers, Rogers brings up Thomas Hamilton. Rogers says that Eleanor Guthrie told him that Flint was part of the first effort to obtain the pardon with Lords Hamilton and Ashe, and says that the first men into the breach always bear the heaviest casualties[10].
Season Four
John Silver discovered that Peter Ashe had Thomas Hamilton spirited away from Bethlem Royal Hospital and placed in the care of James Oglethorpe, where he would remain humanely interned for life. After Rogers is defeated at the Battle at Skeleton Island, Silver places Flint there with Hamilton, to prevent Flint from trying to continue the Pirate-Maroon War[11].
Memorable Quotes
By Peter Ashe
"You know nothing of my sins. Were you there when Alfred Hamilton threatened my family's standing, my daughter's future if I failed to cooperate? Were you there when I visited Thomas at the hospital to confess my sins and heard him offer his full and true forgiveness? He knew I had no choice in the matter." - Peter to Miranda and Flint in XVII.
"You wish to return to civilization. That is what civilization is" - Peter Ashe in XVII.
About Peter Ashe
"We're talking about a man who took a struggling Carolina colony and turned it into a commercial success. And from what I'm told by friends in London, is unparalleled in his ability to maneuver the avenues of power in Parliament." - Richard Guthrie in XIV.
Gallery
Trivia
- Ashe is played by actor Nick Boraine, who is the husband of actress Louise Barnes, who plays Miranda Barlow.
- During the scene in XIII. when Flint tells Peter, Thomas and Miranda about his trip to Nassau, Peter sits in a chair off to the left side. On that wall is the infamous clock, and above it is Joseph Marie-Vien's painting of Mars, Venus and Cupid. Mars and Venus are the Roman gods of war and love who have an illicit affair and are eventually caught, neatly mirroring the events that would transpire with Peter, James (Mars) and Thomas (Venus) with the clock literally ticking towards their discovery.
Appearances
| IX. | X. | XI. | XII. | XIII. |
| XIV. | XV. | XVI. | XVII. | XVIII. |