[376] New Times, September 7.
October 8.
Ancient Manners.
Elias Ashmole, the antiquary, enters thus in the diary of his life:—“1657, October 8. The cause between me and my wife was heard, when Mr. Serjeant Maynard observed to the court, that there were 800 sheets of depositions on my wife’s part, and not one word proved against me of using her ill, nor ever giving her a bad or provoking word.” The decision was against the lady; the court, refusing her alimony, delivered her to her husband; “whereupon,” says Ashmole, “I carried her to Mr. Lilly’s, and there took lodgings for us both.” He and Lilly dabbled in astrology; and he tells no more of his spouse till he enters “1668, April 1. 2 Hor. ante merid. the lady Mainwaring my wife died.” Subsequently he writes—“November 3. I married Mrs. Elizabeth Dugdale, daughter to William Dugdale, Esq. Norroy, king of arms at Lincoln’s-inn chapel. Dr. William Floyd married us, and her father gave her. The wedding was finished at 10 hor. post merid.”
Ashmole’s diary minutely records particulars of all sorts:—“September 5, I took pills; 6, I took a sweat; 7, I took leeches; all wrought very well.—December 19, Dr. Chamberlain proposed to me to bring Dr. Lister to my wife, that he might undertake her. 22. They both came to my house, and Dr. Lister did undertake her.” Though Dr. Lister was her undertaker on that occasion, yet Ashmole records—“1687, April 16, my wife took Mr. Bigg’s vomit, which wrought very well.—19. She took pulvis sanctis; in the afternoon she took cold.” Death took Ashmole in 1695. He was superstitious and punctilious, and was perhaps a better antiquary than a friend; he seems to have possessed himself of Tradescant’s museum at South Lambeth in a manner which rather showed his love of antiquities than poor old Tradescant.
It is to be regretted that Ashmole’s life, “drawn up by himself by way of diary,” was not printed with the Life of Lilly in the “Autobiography.” Lilly’s Life is published in that pleasant work by itself. “Tom Davies” deemed them fit companions.
NATURALISTS’ CALENDAR.
Mean Temperature 53·80.