Magus: The Invisible Life of Elias Ashmole (Review)

By Tobias Churton, 2004, Signal Publishing.

'Elias Ashmole is a particularly striking case of someone who did well out of
the Restoration through his flair at 'remembering' a largely apocryphal golden
Stuart past before the civil war. His lasting fame and 'name' rest (in the title
of the Ashmolean Museum) upon his dubious acquisition of another man's lifetime
collection of rarities, and his subseqent gifting of them to the University of
Oxford'

Lisa Jardine (2002) On a Grander Scale , her biography of Sir Christopher Wren,
quoted by Tobias Churton.

The above quote from Jardine provides the raison d'être for Churton's less
eloquent but arguable more informed study of the life and impact of the famous
antiquarian Elias Ashmole. The house that Elias built as a repository of one of
the world's' first museums, is still Oxford's small but wonderful treasurehouse of
scientific history. Recent work to extend the basement turned up Ashmole's
alchemical laboratory complete with instruments and human and animal remains. The
main exhibit is now divided between the Bodleian library, and the founders room of
the new Ashmolean in Broad Street - surely one of the world's great museums.
Tradescant's original collection of curiousities is still on display - along with
the only known portrait of John Dee and one of Ashmole himself, along with the
gold chain presented to him by a Swedish monarch in gratitude for his monumental
History of the Order of the Garter. It is said that the actual chain is missing a
few links, a sure sign of the frequent ebbs and flows in the fortunes of the old
magus.

Churton's excellent redaction of the life is only made possible by the five volume
compilation of Ashmole's diaries, autobiographies and related notes published by
OUP in 1966. The author, Conrad Hermann Hubertus Maria Apollinaris (Kurt) Josten
(Pheeww! you don't get names like these very often these days) solved Ashmole's
cipher and was thus able to do the work. Awarded an honorary DLitt by the
university for his troubles, after his retirement as curator of the science
museum, he become curator emeritus.

Which all goes to show that Jardine has probably got it wrong and Ashmole was no
Hasolle and does deserve his fifteen minutes of fame. If you need more persuasion
read Churton's book. Perhaps aimed more at the museum bookshop than the serious
contemporary magi, it does nevertheless contain some gems, especially concerning
his struggles to remake himself after the defeat of the royalist cause (hurrah)
during the protectorate of Cromwell (booo). Ashmole tells how he "went to
Maidstone assizes to heare the Witches tryed, and tooke Mr Tradescant with me."
The six witches were hanged, accused of bewitching nine children, a man and a
woman and £500 worth of cattle lost and corn at sea by witchcraft.'

Or account of his relationshp with otherwise puritan ministers who nevertheless

had a perchant for 'sorcery'. Mrs John Pordage, whom he was amazed to see 'Clothed
all in white Lawne, from the crown of the head to the sole of the Foot, and a
white rod in her hand. She was hailing as a prophetess by those dancing country
dances about her 'making strange noises". Explaining that they were rejoicing
because they had 'overcome the Devil.' Dr Pordage then appeared 'all in black
velvet' and pressed everyone to join in.'
or even the more intimate touches of Ashmole's struggles to find a wife or love or
was it both? It's difficult to see whether his failures were down to a lack of
good looks or the necessary finances : 'I dreamt in the morning that I put my hand
into Mrs Marche's placket (slip) and then to her next petticoat and then to her
third and then to her smock, and then pulled it up, and with very little
struggling felt her bare cun(?) - well who hasn't had a dream like that??

This is a lively picture of the times. I could have had more information on the
magical work but I learnt a hell of a lot from this densely illustrated and well
made book. If you've an interest in the times then buy it. - mogg
Tuesday, March 13, 2007