Informing him that a base and villainous fellow named John Lamb is opposing his election by seeking to rob him of his good name, saying these words, "that Mr. Ashmole was a pittifull exciseman, a cheating fellowe, and cheated the country".

"Rec. 16 Mar. 1684/5". Endorsed with Ashmole’s reply, dated 24 March; those that stand for Parliament must look for aspersions and foul words from people engaged in the contrary interest; if his election be thereby hindered, the law will give remedy; he is not an exciseman in the usual sense, but set over the whole revenue of the excise by the King to control the accounts.