eavings of hair, nails, and teeth, by the roots,
and drive them out before them: in the mean while, our
medicine makes not onely clear way and passage for life, if
she list to stir and run her wonted race (which some think
enough of this matter), but also scattereth all about her
due and desired meat, and first moisture to draw her
forward. By which means our life, having gotten both her
full strength and liveliness, and returned like the sun in
summer into all our quarters, begins to work afresh as she
did at first; (for being the same upon the same, she must
needs do the same) knitting and binding the weak and loose
joynts and sinews, watering and concocting all by good
digestion; and then the idle parts like leaves shall, in
this hot summer, spring and grow forth afresh, out of this
new and young temper of the body: and all the whole face and
shew shall be young again and flourishing," pp. 119, 120.
With such a farrago of sublime nonsense were our worthy
forefathers called upon to be enlightened and amused! But I
lose sight of Ashmole's _book-purchases_. That he gave away,
as well as received, curious volumes, is authenticated by
his gift of "five volumes of Mr. Dugdale's works to the
Temple Library:" p. 331. "Again: I presented the public
library at Oxford with three folio volumes, containing a
description of the Consular and Imperial coins there, which
I had formerly made and digested, being all fairly
transcribed with my own hand," p. 332. But mark well: "My
first boatful of books, which were carried to Mrs.
Tredescant's, were brought back to the Temple:" also, (May
1667) "I bought Mr. John Booker's study of books, and gave
140_l._ for them," p. 333. In the same year that his _Order
of the Garter_ was published, his "good friend Mr. Wale sent
him Dr. DEE'S original books and papers," p. 339. But he yet
went on buying: "Nil actum reputans, dum quid superesset
agendum:" for thus journalises our super-eminent
bibliomaniac:--(June 12, 1681) "I bought Mr. Lilly's library
of books of his widow, for fifty pounds," p. 360. In August,
1682, Ashmole went towards Oxford, "to see the building
prepared to receive his rarities;" and in March, 1683, "the
last load of his rarities was sent to the barge." In July,
1687, he received a par