His brother suggested he should spend some time at Utrecht under the guidance of a private tutor which did effect some improvement.
[1] Although still a minor, Ashley was returned unopposed as Member of Parliament for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis on his father's interest at the 1695 general election.
[3] At the 1705 English general election Ashley was returned successfully as a Whig MP for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.
He was re-elected as a Whig at the 1708 British general election and supported the naturalization of the Palatines in 1709 and voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverell in 1710.
and voted for the motion of ‘No Peace Without Spain’ on 7 December 1711 and against the French commerce bill on 18 June 1713.