186] A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



where he studied botany, with the aid of able masters. Bat a 

 more agreeable pursuit soon engaged his attention in the rural 

 shades, for he was introduced to Lady Mainwaring, widow of Sir 

 Thomas Mainwaring, an attachment took place, and they were 

 married on the 16th of November 1649. He now returned to 

 London, and by the acquisition of a considerable fortune with his 

 wife, he was enabled to live in a splendid style, and his house be- 

 came the resort of several of the most ingenious and learned men 

 of that age. Mr. Ashmole's passion for occult philosophy seems 

 now to have returned with renovated force, the golden dreams of 

 alchymy took possession of his imagination, and under the influ- 

 ence of the illusion, he published Dr. Dee's Treatise on the Philo- 

 sopher's Stone. He also occasionally amused himself by engrav- 

 ing seals, and learning the trade of goldsmith and jeweller, but his 

 principal employment during two years, was in preparing the un- 

 published works of English alchymists for the press, with illus- 

 trative engravings produced under his immediate direction. Whilst 

 engaged in this work, he found that a competent knowledge of 

 the Hebrew was requisite for the complete elucidation of the ar- 

 eana of the hermetic philosophy; and, indefatigable in the pur- 

 suit of his favourite science, he studied the rudiments of this 

 ancient language, and towards the close of the year 1652, pub- 

 lished his " Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum" This work ad- 

 vanced his reputation in the learned world, and obtained him the 

 friendship of the celebrated Selden, Mr. Oughtred the mathema- 

 tician, and Dr. Wharton. 



But whatever eclat he might have obtained by his marriage with 

 Lady Mainwaring, the litigation in which he was involved respect- : 

 ing her property must have been a great diminution of his domestic 

 happiness ; and to render these circumstances still more disagree- 

 able, the lady entered a suit against her husband in the Court of 

 Chancery, which came to a hearing in October 1657, nearly eight 

 years after their union. On this occasion, the Counsellor employed 

 by Mr. Ashmole observed, that in eight hundred sheets of deposi- 

 tions taken on the part of the lady, not a word of censure nor a 

 serious charge was brought against his client. According to the 

 decision of the Chancellor, the lady's bill was dismissed, and she 

 was required to return to her husband, but it does not appear that 

 they were cordially reconciled. 



Mr. Ashmole, however, found solace in his studious pursuits, 

 and he now turned his attention to antiquities and records, and be- 



