e been lucky enough to make good purchases of the entire
libraries of deceased characters of eminence. In his 37th
year, Ashmole "bought of Mr. Milbourn all his books and
mathematical instruments;" and the day after (N.B. "8
o'clock, 39 min. post merid.") "he bought Mr. Hawkins's
books," p. 312. In the ensuing year he "agreed with Mrs.
Backhouse, of London, for her deceased husband's books," p.
313. He now became so distinguished as a successful
bibliomaniac that Seldon and Twysden sought his
acquaintance; and "Mr. Tredescant and his wife told him that
they had been long considering upon whom to bestow their
_closet of curiosities_, and at last had resolved to give it
unto him," p. 326. Having by this time (A.D. 1658) commenced
his famous work upon _The Order of the Garter_, he was
introduced to Charles II.: kissed hands, and was appointed
by the king "to make a description of his medals, and had
them delivered into his hands, and _Henry the VIIIth's
closet_ assigned for his use," p. 327. In this same year
came forth his "_Way to Bliss_;" 4to.: a work so invincibly
dull that I despair of presenting the reader with any thing
like entertainment even in the following heterogeneous
extract: "When our natural heat, the life of this little
world, is faint and gone, the body shrinks up and is
defaced: but bring again heat into the parts, and likewise
money into the bankrupt's coffers, and they shall be both
lusty, and flourish again as much as ever they did. But how
may this heat be brought again? To make few words, even as
she is kept and held by due _meat_ and _motion_; for if she
faint, and falleth for want of them only, then give her
them, and she shall recover herself again. Meat is the bait
that draws her down: motion comes after, like a _Gad-Bee_,
to prick her forward; but the work is performed in this
order. First this meat, which is that fine and aethereal oyl
often above-described, by the exceeding piercing swifteness,
divides, scatters, and scowres away the gross and foul dregs
and leavings which, for want of the tillage of heat, had
overgrown in our bodies, and which was cast, like a blockish
stay-fish in the way, to stay the free course of the ship of
life: these flying out of all sides, abundantly pluck up all
the old l