Freemasonry In The Seventeenth Century: Warrington, 1646.

A recent writer * on the subject of Freemasonry , credits Ashmole with having written " an elaborate lustory of the Knight Templars . " This is an error , the full title of his book published in 1672 , is " The Institution , Laws , ancl Ceremonies of the most noble Order of the Garter . " The same writer adds : " It is not impossible that Elias Ashmole may have sought a knowledge of the mysteries of Freemasonry , presuming , perhaps , upon the service it might

afford him in preparing his history of chivalry . " It would appear that after the taking of Worcester in 1646 , Ashmole devoted himself to his profession and various other branches of science until the Restoration , when he again took office under King Charles II . Mixed up with the literati of the time , and having , it is evident , a great love for mysticism of all kinds , such a fellowship as that of the Freemasons would have a peculiar fascination for him , and to this more probably his initiation was due .

The following entries from his Diary show how , on his return to London , he connected himself with the Hermetic art . 1647 , Feb . 14 . —The Mathematical Feast was at the WHITE HART in the OLD BAILY , where I dined . 1649 , Aug . 1 . —The Astrologers Feast at PAINTERS-HALL , where I Dined . 1649 , Octob . 31 st . —The Astrologers Feast . 1650 , Aug . 8 . —I being at the Astrologers Feast , two Eor . Post Merid ., I was Chosen Steward for the

following Tear . 1654 , Aug . 22 . —Astrologers Feast . 1656 , Aug . 29 . —This Day the Astrologers Feast was held . 1659 , July 2 . —Was . the Antiquaries Feast . 1659 , Nov . 2 . —Was the Astrologers Feast . 1682 , July 13 . —The Astrologers Feast was restored by Mr . MOXON . 1683 , Jan . 29 . —The Astrologers Feast was held at the Three CRANES , in CHANCERY-LANE . Sir EDWARD DEERING and the TOWN-CLERK of LONDON were Stewards .

Ashmole informs us that he was made a Freemason " with Coll . Henry Mainwaring , of Karincham . " This is usually taken as meaning that they were both " made " Freemasons at the same time . Robisonf speaks of Colonel Mainwaring as being the father-in-law of Ashmole , but this is an error , as he himself states that his father-in-law Avas Peter Mainwaring , of Smallwood . The famil y of the MainAvarings of Kermiucham was a younger branch of the old Cheshire family of the Mainwarings of Peover . Randle Mainwaringthe

, first of Kermiucham , established himself there about the year 1445 , his father ( of the same name ) having purchased the manor in that year . His greatgrandson , Randle Mainwaring , of Kerniincham , Esq ., added to his estates by the purchase of lands in SAvanley ancl Barnshaw , and his son , Henry Main-Avaring , Esq ., Avas High Sheriff of Cheshire in 1575 . The latter was buried at Swettenham on the 16 th March , 1617-18 , leaving his estates to his grandson ,

Henry Mainwaring , of Kermincham , Esq ., who died iu the year 1638 . By his first wife , Mary , daughter of Anthony Kinnersley , of Loxley , co . Stafford , Esq ., whom he married about 1607 , the latter Avas the father of Henry Mainwaring , his eldest son and heir , afterwards known as Colonel Mainwaring . Born about the year 1608 , in 1626 he was married at Gawsworth to Frances , fourth daughter of Sir Edward Fitton , of Gawsivorth , county of Chester , Bart ., ancl one

of the co-heiresses of her brother , Sir Edward Fitton , Bart . The Licence for this marriage , as filed at the Bishop ' s Court , Chester , is dated 12 th June , 1626 , and the settlement after marriage is dated 20 th March , 1626-7 . For some years he appears to have resided at Barnshaw , as he is called of that place in 1633 , but on the death of his father in 1638 he succeeded to Kermincham . At the outbreak of the Civil War he attached himself bo the Parliamentary party , and is not unfrequently mentioned in the records of the fighting which took place in Cheshire aud the neighbouring counties : his father-in-law , on the