Little is known of Wren in his Masonic capacity. He is said to have been a member and a master of the 'Old Lodge of S. Paul,' now known as the 'Lodge of Antiquity.' All the records of the Lodge belonging to that time have unfortunately been lost, so that they cannot be consulted with reference to this matter. The question has been raised whether Wren was a Freemason or not. On this point the 'Parentalia' makes no explicit statement, though it appears to imply Wren's connection with the Order. The Duke of Sussex caused a plate to be engraved in 1827 and affixed to the mallet which Sir Christopher was said to have presented to the Lodge, with this inscription:--'A. L. 5831. A.D. 1827. To commemorate that this, being the same mallet with which His Majesty King Charles II. levelled the foundation stone of S. Paul's Cathedral, A. L. 5677, A.D. 1673. Was presented to the Old Lodge of S. Paul, now the Lodge of Antiquity, acting by immemorial constitution, by Brother Sir Christopher Wren, R.W.D.G.M., Worshipful Master of this Lodge and Architect of that Edifice.' The statement respecting King Charles's presence is probably an erroneous one. The Lodge possesses also three gilt wooden candlesticks in the form of columns, inscribed 'Ex dono Chr. Wren Eq. A. L. 5680.' Where quotations have been made directly from the Wren MS., from the 'Parentalia,' or from Evelyn's Diary, the spelling and stopping of the originals have been faithfully reproduced. For the rest, the writer can only hope that these pages may serve as a contribution towards that full and worthy biography of the great architect which may yet, she trusts, be written before London is finally robbed of the Churches with which Wren's genius endowed her. _August 1, 1881._ FOOTNOTES: [1] From which the three vignettes in this volume are taken. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. 1585-1636. PAGE Ancestry of the Wrens--Matthew Wren--Travels to Spain with the Prince of Wales--Interview at Winchester House--Bishop Andrewes' Prophecy--Wren made Master of Peterhouse--Bishop of Hereford--Consecration of Abbey Dore--Office of Reconciliation--Foreign Congregations and the Norwich Weavers--Result of 'a Lecturer's' Departure. 3 CHAPTER II. 1636-1640. Dr. C. Wren--Birth of his Son Christopher--East Knoyle--Order of the Garter--How a Murderer was Detected--Christopher at Westminster--A Latin Letter--Diocese of Ely--Impeachment of Lord Strafford--Of Archbishop Laud--Articles against Bishop Wren--Resigns the Deanery of the Chapels Royal. 31 CHAPTER III. 1641-1647.