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.