ex FLORA OF BERKSHIRE 



Ashmole was educated at the Grammar School at Lichfield, in the 

 cathedral of which city he was a chorister. In 1638, through the 

 pati'onage of Baron Pagitt, he became a solicitor, and six years later 

 was appointed King's Commissioner of Excise. In 1646 he was 

 admitted into the order of free and accepted masons, in which year 

 the first formal meeting of the body took place in England. According 

 to Rees' Cyclopaedia, Ashmole in 1647 retired to Englefield in Berkshire, 

 and applied himself to the study of botany. A rich widow appeared 

 to be another attraction in the neighbourhood. After a repulse from 

 the lady and a violent quarrel with the son of his charmer, he was 

 successful in his suit, and in 1649 he became the husband of Lady 

 Mainwaring and owner of considerable estates in Berkshire. On the 

 Restoration he became the recipient of many royal favours and emolu- 

 ments. He acquired from a Berkshire adept a taste for Alchemy. In 

 1652 lie published the first volume of his Theatrvm Chemicum. As 

 he was fond of Botany he chose for his place of residence in London 

 the house of John Tradescant, a scientific gardener of Lambeth. The 

 large collection of curiosities which Tradescant and his father had 

 accumulated was conveyed by deed of gift to Ashmole. In 1677 he 

 offered this collection and his own additions to it to the University of 

 Oxford on the condition that a suitable building should be provided 

 for their accommodation. The University accepted the gift and built 

 the Museum known as the Ashmolean, where the curiosities, which 

 filled twelve wiigons, were housed ; Dr. Plot was appointed the first 

 Curator in 1682. In 1690 Ashmole was entertained at Oxford and the 

 degree of M.D. conferred upon him. He died in 1692 and was buried 

 in the church of South Lambeth, where there is a monument to his 

 memory. His library and MSS. were bequeathed to the University 

 of Oxford. In the Bodleian Library there is a copy of the PlnjtoJogia 

 Britannica which belonged to Ashmole, and which contains the following 

 notes in his handwriting : — 



* AnacjaUis lutea Nemorum [Lysimachia nemoruni] in Tylehurst near 

 Redding betweene the Church and Sir Peter Van Lore's house.' 

 ^ Androsaemum magnum [Hypericum Androsae7man'\ in my orchard at 

 Bradfield.' ' Aristolochia longa \^A. Clematitis] at Mr. Vachell's house in 

 Redding." This was perhaps the origin of the record in the PJnjMogia. 

 The plant was probably only a garden growth. Ashmole has placed 

 liis OAvn initials to the foregoing entries and also those of J. W., which 

 mean John Watlington. '■ Blattaria Jlore albo Jlavescenti nondvm descripta. 

 Mullein with white and yellow flowers. In Chaucer's Copps* neere 

 Redding, E. A., J. W.' * Caryophyllata montana iGeum rivale] in the King's 

 Meade by Redding, E. A., J. W.' ^ Chamaelinum steRatum [Centunculus 

 winimus] upon the end of the hills next Chaucer's Copps, E. A., J. W.' 

 ' Eiiphrosine rubra [Bartsia Odontites'] found by E. A. in the orchard at 



