Freemason Part IV { Elias Ashmore}

  

 Elias Ashmole was born in Litchfield in 1617. He had the same interests as Robert Moray and also the same influence. During the civil war Elias was aligned with the royalists and in 1644 retired to his hometown.

 King Charles I had appointed him Commissioner of Excise, part of his responsibilities brought him frequently to Oxford. It was in Oxford where he made the acquaintance of Captain Sir George Wharton, who was an alchemist and astrologer.

 Elias Ashmore was part of the ‘Invisible College’ but was also very interested in astrology. In 1648 the Invisible College began meeting in Oxford. The Invisible College had in its membership such notable figures as Robert Boyle, Christopher Wren and Dr. John Wilkins.

  Elias Ashmore had in his possession five manuscripts from John Dee. In 1650 Elias began publishing some of these manuscripts under a pseudonym of James Hasolle. The most notable of these manuscripts was “treatise on alchemy”.

  Other alchemical works were soon published which were influential on both Robert Boyle and Isaac Newton. Elias Ashmore was known to have frequented Rosicrucian events, in 1646 a German Rosicrucian document was published which stated  ‘To…the only philosopher in the present age:….Elias Ashmore.’

  King Charles II was also keenly interested in alchemy and was very impressed with Elias Ashmores work. When King Charles II returned to the Throne Elias Ashmore was appointed to the post of Windsor Herald.

 Windsor Herald was the first of many offices that Elias Ashore was to hold for the new Monarch. It was during this time, in 1672, that he published his work ‘Order of the Garter’. This text is still recognized as a model for the chivalric portrayal of Rosicrucian’s, not only in England but internationally as well.

 In 1677 Elias Ashmore bestowed upon Oxford University twelve wagon loads of his personal library which became known as ‘Antiquarian Museum’. Five years after Sir Robert Molay was inducted into the Temple of the Masons, Elias Ashmore was also inducted as a Freemason in 1646:

  1646 Oct 16, 4H  30’ pm I was made a Freemason at Warrington in Lancashire with Col: Henry Mainwaring of Karincham in Cheshire. The names of those who were then of the lodge Mr. Rich Penket, Warden: Mr. James Collier, Mr. Rich Sankey, Henry Littler, John Ellam, Rich Ellam and Hugh Brewer.        

  The above paragraph is an excerpt from Elias Ashmore’s diary. In 1682 Elias Ashmore diary records another lodge meeting in London, at the Masons Hall the list of those in attendance was especially distinguished. This diary attests to the spread of Freemasonry across England, also to his allegiance to Freemasonry for over thirty six years and also the quality of members of the lodge.

 

 Francis Yates mentions that these two Freemasons were the first Freemasons known to history and were both founding members, of the Royal Society.

  All throughout the civil war both Sir Robert Moray and Elias Ashmore were loyal and dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart Dynasty. Elias Ashmore was always loyal to the chivralic orders.  

  Elias Ashmore was the first person since the suppression of the Templars to speak favorably of them. If one were to observe Elias Ashmore, a noted antiquarian, expert on the chivalric orders, prominent Freemason, co-founder of the Royal Society one can visualize the prevailing attitude toward the Templar’s in seventeenth century Freemasonic and Rosicrucian thought.

  With Elias Ashmore the rehabilitation of the Templar’s began in the eyes of the public. It was at this time in 1651 that a translation of Agrippas work from 1533 was published in England.

  The Occult Philosophy was a landmark of esoteric literature. The Occult Philosophy ensured Agrippas reputation as the supreme magician of his age.

 

Freemasonry Part III { Sir Robert Moray}

  Sir Robert Moray (Murray) {1608-July 4, 1673} was a Scottish soldier, statesman, diplomat, judge, spy, scientist, natural philosopher and Freemason.  He is responsible for the formation of the Royal Society.

 As a young man Robert Moray was a Lt. Colonel in France, as part of a para-Scottish Guard unit. The Scots Guard itself had long been dissolved but there were neo- guard units that carried on the traditions.

  A year and a half after being accepted into the Masonic Lodge Lt. Colonel Robert Moray was Knighted by King Charles I and continued his career attaining the rank of full colonel by 1645. Meanwhile King Charles I was deposed in 1642, as a result of the Bishops War.

 King Charles I ruled the combined kingdoms of England Ireland and Scotland but was in a continuing conflict with the parliaments of England and Scotland, this became known as the English Civil War.

 King Charles I was defeated in this conflict and was handed over to the English Parliament, who demanded a change in the law, trying to impose a Constitutional Monarchy.

  Charles refused to accept these term’s, he briefly escaped but was recaptured and imprisoned on the Isle of Wright and charged with high treason and executed in January 1649. Constitutional monarchy became the rule and is in effect to this very day.

 Colonel Robert Moray was also a secret envoy of the king who was diligently working on a peace treaty between France and Scotland, this would have restored King Charles I to the Thrown of Scotland.

  In 1647 Colonel Moray married Sophia, daughter of David Lindsay, Lord Balcares. This union entered Colonel Robert Moray into the association of Scottish Nobel families that were associated with esoteric knowledge; Lord Balcares was himself an alchemist.

 Lord Balcares wife was the daughter of Alexander Seton. The Sinclair’s, Seton’s and Montgomery’s were to play key roles in later Freemasonry.

  With the death of Charles I, Colonel Robert Moray returned to France where he continued his diplomatic and military career. He held a number of posts and was a close confidant of the future King Charles II.

 Robert’s brother Sir William Moray was to become the Master of operative masons, when Charles II was restored to the Thrown of Scotland.

      Robert returned to London to be involved administratively in the judicial process but wasn't a serving justice. By 1661 became Lord Exchequer of Scotland and in 1663 became Scotland’s Deputy-Secretary.

      Sir Robert Moray (Murray) {1608-July 4, 1673} was a Scottish soldier, statesman, diplomat, judge, spy, scientist, natural philosopher and Freemason.  He is responsible for the formation of the Royal Society.

 As a young man Robert Moray was a Lt. Colonel in France, as part of a para-Scottish Guard unit. The Scots Guard itself had long been dissolved but there were neo- guard units that carried on the traditions.

  A year and a half after being accepted into the Masonic Lodge Lt. Colonel Robert Moray was Knighted by King Charles I and continued his career attaining the rank of full colonel by 1645. Meanwhile King Charles I was deposed in 1642, as a result of the Bishops War.

 King Charles I ruled the combined kingdoms of England Ireland and Scotland but was in a continuing conflict with the parliaments of England and Scotland, this became known as the English Civil War.

 King Charles I was defeated in this conflict and was handed over to the English Parliament, who demanded a change in the law, trying to impose a Constitutional Monarchy.

  Charles refused to accept these term’s, he briefly escaped but was recaptured and imprisoned on the Isle of Wright and charged with high treason and executed in January 1649. Constitutional monarchy became the rule and is in effect to this very day.

 Colonel Robert Moray was also a secret envoy of the king who was diligently working on a peace treaty between France and Scotland, this would have restored King Charles I to the Thrown of Scotland.

  In 1647 Colonel Moray married Sophia, daughter of David Lindsay, Lord Balcares. This union entered Colonel Robert Moray into the association of Scottish Nobel families that were associated with esoteric knowledge; Lord Balcares was himself an alchemist.

 Lord Balcares wife was the daughter of Alexander Seton. The Sinclair’s, Seton’s and Montgomery’s were to play key roles in later Freemasonry.

  With the death of Charles I, Colonel Robert Moray returned to France where he continued his diplomatic and military career. He held a number of posts and was a close confidant of the future King Charles II.

 Robert’s brother Sir William Moray was to become the Master of operative masons, when Charles II was restored to the Thrown of Scotland.

      Robert returned to London to be involved administratively in the judicial process but wasn't a serving justice. By 1661 became Lord Exchequer of Scotland and in 1663 became Scotland’s Deputy-Secretary.

       Over the next seven years, King Charles II, the Duke of Lauderdale and Colonel Robert Moray ruled Scotland independent of the parliament.

      King Charles II had great confidence in Colonel Robert Moray, he respected his moderation, intellect and unquestionable loyalty.

      The King provided a laboratory for Sir Robert to pursue his scientific research, and he did so until his death. Sir Robert was the guiding light of the Royal Society.

       Sir Robert considered the Royal Society to be his most acclaimed achievement and many of his contemporaries gave praise for his dedication and moderation in a time of change.  King Charles II provided a state funeral for Sir Robert and he was buried at Westminster Abbey.

       There are few historical documents available on the various secret societies of the 17^th century. These organizations activities and interests can only be gauged by the prominent members that have come to historical attention.

       Colonel Sir Robert Moray is this gauge for 17^th century Freemasonry. If he were typical of the membership of Freemasonry at this time it would be appropriate to say that Freemasonry is the fusion of traditions filtered down through the Scots Guard and through Nobel families such as the Seton’s, Montgomery’s and Sinclair’s; traditions of chemistry, alchemy, Rosicrucianism that were spreading throughout Europe and were prevalent in the ‘invisible college’ and the Royal Society.