Dr. Knipe, Bros. A. F. A. Woodford And Matthew Cooke.

Bro . the Rev . A . E . A . Woodford ' s communications on that subject , as well as those by other writers on it . In the 180 th number of the MAGAZINE ( pp . 465-6 ) , for December I 3 th , 1862 , one of Elias Ashmole ' s descendants enquired what evidence was in existence proving Ashmole a brother Freemason ? The reply to that question was made by inserting an article , from the old FREEMASONS '

M AGAZINE for January , 1794 , where at pp . 26-7 it is headed , — "For the FREEMASONS' MAGAZINE . Extract from the life of the celebrated Mr . Elias Ashmole , an eminent philosopher , chemist and antiquary , Grand Master of Masons in the last century , and founder of the noble museum at Oxford , which still bears his name . " Then follows the extract as given at pp . 465-6 of last

half year ' s volume of this MAGAZINE . The insertion of that extract caused our R . W . Bro . Dr . Hyde Clarke ( at p . 67 , of No . 186 ) to enquire " who was Dr . Knipe of Christchurch ? " Bro . A . E . A . Woodford , in No . 187 ( pp . 86-7 ) undertakes to give Bro . Hyde Clarke all the information he had got together on the subject and be says "an allusion to Dr . Knipe occurs in a life of Elias

Ashmole , prefixed to the History of Berkshire , published in 1717 , and which life was probably written by Aubrey . At page 165 there is what professes to be part of an important letter to the care of the publisher from Dr . Knipe . " In No . 189 ( p . 124 ) M . A ., Oxon , asks Bro . Woodford to inform him when Thomas Knipe was made a Doctor and of what faculty ? M . A . being apparently onl

y to be able to trace him to the M . A . degree . In No . 190 ( pp . 145-6 ) I supplied a full biography of Dr . Knipe , thinking it would afford Bro . Hyde Clarke the information he desired . Iu the same number ( p . 146 ) Bro . Woodford writes , — " In answer to M . A ., Oxen , I beg to say that I used the appellation of Dr . Thomas Knipe , just as the writer of the preface of the History of Berkshire uses it . Seemingly , like Bro . Hyde Clarke , my attention had been attracted to the professed extract then

given , of a letter from Dr . Thomas Knipe , of Christchurch , which is to the effect that he , Dr . Knipe , had seen certain collections of Elias Ashmole towards a history of Masonry , which collections have hitherto evaded research . * * * I cannot , indeed , inform M . A ., Oxon , when Thomas Knipe took his Doctor ' s degree , or in what faculty , if any ; but I give the authority on

which I , not unnaturally , continued the appellation , which Aubrey had given him of Dr . Thomas Knipe . " Iu No . 191 of the Magazine ( p . 167 ) Bro . Woodford writes again and , in allusion to my biography of Dr . Knipe in No . 190 ( pp . 145-6 ) , suggests " one ortwoother points for his , Bro . Cooke ' s , consideration . * * * The only question is , was he the the writer of a letter , or portion of a letter , which

appears in the preface to the History of Berieshire ? That book was published , if my reference is correct , in 1719 , and Dr . Thomas Knipe died in 1711 . * * * JVom the peculiar style of the preface and the internal evidence there seems little doubt but that Aubrey , the writer of the MS . History of Wiltshire , quoted by Mr . Halliwell , was also the writer of the preface to the

History of Berkshire . " * * * It will be no part of my business to defend that portion of the extract which styles Ashmole " Grand Master of Masons in the last century , " as I find it , so I give it , and I could wish that Bro . Woodford would use a somewhat similar desire to be accurate iu his statements , for accuracy in an historical enquiry is of the utmost

importance , and as all enquiry should tend to elucidate factsi will not say truth , because it may imply that the opposite is falsehood—and my phrase , not to give offence , shall oe either accurate , or inaccurate , as the case may be ; out the object of eveiw inquiry being founded on accuracy ot statements is undeniable . Is Bro . Woodford then accurate in his assertions P IfSir will

, , you kindly a uow me space , I think I shall convince you that he is ° ue of the most inaccurate of writers , t-i , ^ y know if we both mean the same work relating 0 Berkshire , for Bro . Woodford generalises so that it is

difficult to follow him with any degree of comfort to oneself or certainty of his authority . Iu No . 187 of the MAGAZINE ( p . 86 ) he states : — " But an allusion to Dr . Knipe occurs in a life of Elias Ashmole , prefixed to the History of Berkshire , published in 1717 , and which life was probably written by Aubrey . At page 165 there is what professes to be part of an

important letter to care of the publisher from Dr . Knipe . " Progressing to p . 146 of the MAGAZINE , Bro . Woodford says he used the appellation "Dr . Thomas Knipe just as the writer to the preface to the History of Berkshire uses it . " * * * And iu the same communication he

says he " continued the appellation which , Aubrey had given him , of Dr . Thomas Knipe . " Now , let us see how far any one of these assertions are borne out by reference to the books themselves . First , the title is not the History , but The Antiquities of Berlcshwe , "by Elias Ashmole . London : Printed for E . Curll , in Fleet-street , " iu three vols . 8 vo ., not 1717 , but

" 1719 . " There is also another title page to the same books , which Bro . Woodford calls a " book " in another place , differing in the imprint only , viz ., " London : Printed for W . Meares , at the Lamb , without Templebar , and J . Hooke , at the Flower-de-Luce , against St . Dunstan ' s Church , in Fleet-street , 1723 , " 3 vols . 8 vo . Besides these two editions , or rather the same work with

two tide pages , there was published The History and Antiquities of Berkshire . * * * " By Elias Ashmole , Esq ., to which will be added the life of the Author . Reading : Printed by William Carnan , in the Marketplace , 1736 . " This edition is a small folio . With the above books before me , what do I find ? Tol . i ( edit . 1719 ) containsfrom . i—xxvi" some

, pp , memoirs of the life of Elias Ashmole , Esq . " The only reference to Freemasonry occurs at p . vi , where it is stated , the year 1646 being before spoken of : — " On October 16 he was ' elected a brother of the Company of Free Masons , with Colonel Henry Mainviaring , of Kerthingliam in Cheshire , at Warrington iu Lancashirea favour esteemed so singular bthe

mem-, y bers , that kings themselves have not disdained to enter themselves into this society , the original foundation of which is said to be as high as the reign of King Henry III , when the Pope granted a Bull , Patent , or Diploma ,

to a particular company of Italian Masons , and Architects to travel all over Europe to build churches . From these is derived the fraternity of Adopted Masons , Accepted Masons , or FreeMasons , who are known to one another all over theworld by certain signals and watch words known to them alone . They have several lodges in different countries for their reception ;

and when any of them fall to decay , the brotherhood is to relieve him . The manner of their adoption or admission , is very formal and solemn , and with the administration of an oath of socresy , which has bad better fate than all other oaths , and has been ever most religiously observed , nor has the world been yet able , by the inadvertency , surprise , or folly of any of its

members , to dive into this mystery , or make the least discovery . " Not one word more on Freemasonry is there in this first edition . The second edition ( dated 1723 ) is , as I said before , the old sheets with a new title , so there can be no difference there . The Reading folio has eiht of memoirs

precedgpages ing the work , and on the third page repeats the same quotation as above , word for word , without any addition or diminution . Of what value then is Bro . Woodford ' s reference to Dr . Knipe , as appearing by name in the life of A shmole , at p . 165 , when the preface only occupies 26 pages ? and Dr . Knipe ' s name never occurs once throughout the whole

seven volumes . Perhaps Bro . Woodford may say he intended the Life of Aslvmole . This I have before me entitled , " Memoirs of the life of that learned Antiquary Hlias Aslvmole , TSsq .