DLD CHARGES OF QfarneU 1llttioer0ttg ffitbrarg atljata, ■Ntm Inrfe FROM THE BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY '' COLLECTED BY BENNO LOEWY 1854-1919 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERStTY Cornell University Library HS440 .H89 + The old charges of British Freemasons / 3 1924 030 299 782 olin,anx Overs 11^2 Cornell University Library The original of this bool< is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030299782 HS CO S a a. < CO if t "*-! -^ ^^ "t: ^ oo I 1 "^ ^ 1" «.^ 5 ^ ^ «*i ^ '°'^^ 2 ^ i ■^ ^ -? S « s ^^ ^ ^ r^ ^ ^ >^ ^ .^ i|^ -7<5 .J) 6^ ^ ^S 05 ^ 5 ^ Dedicated (by permission) to the Most Hon. The Marquess of Ripon, K. G. OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS WILLIAM JAMES HUGHAN. With Valuable A ALUABLE /IPPENDICES. Illustrated with Facsimiles of portions of "Antiquity MS.," and the " York MSS." of A.D. \G^2>andA.D. 1764. A PREFACE BY THE REV. A. F. A. WOODFORD, M.A, (Rector of Swillington, Leeds.) LONDON : SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, AND CO., STATIONERS' HALL COURT. TRURO : WILLIAM LAKE, BOSCAWEN STREET. PHILADELPHIA (u.S.) I CHARLES EUGENE MEYER, 722, ARfH STREET. 1872. /4 s ^,^U179^ To The most Honotirable George Frederick Samttel, Marquess of Ripon, K.G., Earl de Grey and Earl of Ripon, Viscount Goderick, Baron Grantham, Lord President of Her Majesty's Most Hon. Privy Council, &c., &c., &c.; M. W. Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge Of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons of England ; This first Typographical Collection of the Old Charges of -British Freemasons is most respectfully dedicated By his Lordship's Obedient, humble Servant and Brother, William yames Hughan. PREFACE I have been requested by my able and zealous Brother Wm. James Hughan, to write a Preface, for the very interesting Collection of our ancient Masonic Con- stitutions, which he has so wisely, and as I think, so reasonably determined to submit to the cognizance and consideration of the Craft at large. Having been for some time past a fellow labourer with him in the wide and fruitful field of Masonic investigation, and being equally anxious with himself to promote a more careful and scientific study of our archeology and our history, I have been truly glad, however imperfectly, to make this humble response to his very friendly request for co-operation, in his present 'important and praiseworthy imdertaking. For some years past, as other avocations permitted, I have been collecting and transcribijig all Manuscripts which relate to the ancient Constitutions, and Legends of Freemasonry ; and I cordially sympathke with Bro. Hughan's meri- torious efforts, to inaugurate amongst ourselves a more careful and conscientious study of all those ancient and important documents, which tend to throw liglit on the history of the past, and to bring clearly and convincingly before ourselves, the genuine claims to antiquity, of our venerable and valuable Brotherhood. With this view, Bro. Hughan has undertaken, at no little labour to himself, the preparation and compilation of the present volume which, while it will neither challenge controversy, nor deprecate criticism, will, I feel sure, nevertheless, com- mend itself to every intelligent and conscientious student in oui world-wide order. There are existing in England and other Countries, many copies of what we are wont to term, " The Masonic Constitutions." They are also called by some writers " The Constitutions of the Craft," the "History of Freemasonry," and the "Legend of the Guild." They generally consist of three parts, \stfy, The Introductory Prayer, Declara- tion, or Invocation ; 2ndly, The History of the Order, or the Legend of the Guild, which ends generally with the era of Athelstan, or about 926 ; and ydly, The peculiar statutes and duties, the regulations and observances, which the Craft in general, or Masons in particular are bound carefully to uphold and inviolably to maintain. In 1738 in his 2nd edition of the first printed copy of the " Constitutions of the Freemasons," Anderson thus alludes to this subject : " The Freemasons had always a Book in Manuscript call'd the Book of C-Ottfititutiona, (of which they had several very antient copies remaining,) containing not only their Charges and Regulations, but also the History of Architecture from the Beginning of Time ; in order to shew the antiquity and excellency of the Craft or Art," &c.t In this statement, our then Grand Chaplain was no doubt perfectly correct, though it is not quite certain to which particular Constitution he alluded or con- sidered the most ancient, as his History of our Order is undoubtedly a compilation from more than one of the Ancient Masonic Constitutions. Indeed he seems, curiously enough, to have followed in some remarkable instances, a MS., of which Krause, a German, published a copy about 1810, but of which the original has not yet been found. One hundred and thirty years, we may say, have past away since our able Brother published his Book of Constitutions, and now as then there are still existing amongst the order many ancient copies of these old Constitutions, The earliest so far known, is in a poetic form and is to be found among the MSS. in the King's Library, British MuseumJ. It is a poem of 794 lines, and was transcribed by a Monk probably, or some Ecclesiastic, about 1390, apparently even from an earlier copy. It was edited by Mr. Halliwell in 1840, and being already published, and still easily procurable, there seemed to be no necessity, to reprint it in this collection. || This very old rythmic form of the Constitutions, the original no doubt, I believe of all our later Constitutions, has evidently been greatly elaborated and embel- lished by the poetic taste and imagination, perhaps, of the Transcriber, be he who he may. This poem has been put mainly into its present shape by one who had seen other histories and legends of the Craft " By olde tyme wry ten " and it seems to be in truth, two legends, and not only one — the first legend + In 1686, Robert Plot, LL.B. in his Natural History of Staffordshire, gives a short account of the Freemasons in Staffordshire, though himself a non-mason, and mentions inter alia, "the large parchment roll in their possession containing the legend of the guild, and the laws of the Masons." He states that this legend is taken ex rotulo mewhranaceo penes ccementariorwm societatem, and goes on to speak of St. Amphibalus, St. Alban, Athelstan, Edwin, and the meeting of the Lodges in York, and that thus, this " parchment roll or volume declares has the Masonic Graft been established in England." (Plot's Natural History of Staffordshire, 1686. P, 316.^ There can be no doubt, that we have in this statement, a clear and precise description of some copy of our Masonic Constitutions, which Dr. Plot had seen and studied, but of which the original so far, has not yet been verified. % Bib. Reg : 17a flf 32. II I have been for sometime preparing it for re-publication with a Masonic Preface. Mr. Halliwell was a non-Mason and many points in it, which have deep interest for us, had neces- sarily none for him. A.F. A. W. appears to end at line 470, and then, apparently, with line 471 begins anew rythm of abbreviated use, of the Masonic History. " Alia ordinacio artis gemetrice " There is not, indeed, in the MS. any change in the handwriting, but the rythm seems somewhat lengthened, and you have a sort of repletion of the history, though very much condensed. Whether, then, it be one, or is to be divided into two con- temporary legends, it is a most interesting and important Document in itself, and undoubtedly, of the date ascribed to it by Mr. Halliw?ll, viz., about isgof Dr. Oliver, as some of us know, held it to be, the actual Constitution agreed to, at the Great Assembly, said to be holden at York, under a charter from K. Athelstan in 926, and Bro. J. G. Findel sees in it a strong proof, from the " Sirs quatuor totonatorttitt," — in what I have termed the 2nd legend — of its Germanic origin. I cannot however agree with our learned German Brother, that a religious legend common then to both Countries, can be held to be a proof of special antiquity to one form of national organization, while I am equally afraid, that the silence of the Poem itself as regards York, is fatal to Dr. Oliver's theory. All I can concede to them is this, that as it does appear, rhythmic forms ot Charters and Grants are extant, which date from Anglo-Saxon times, and even from the epoch of Athelstane, and as Athelstane was the Giver of Charters to various Guilds, we may have in this old Poem, some few traces, still of the earliest form, of the actual Anglo-Saxon Guild-charter to the operative Free-Masons ; and that it is very probable more than one Grand Assembly was holden at York. There is also among the Harleian MSS. (541 f. 207) a portion of a poem, somewhat similar to the latter portion of the MS. Bib. Reg. and which also resembles " Egerton MS. 1995-" It is however, apparently only a collection of didactic recommendations of good manners, and sound morals in a poetical form, and serves to show, not only that the Masonic Poem is not a singular form, but also how well founded are its claims to great antiquity. The handwriting, Mr. Sims tells me, is of the early part of the \^th century. The next Masonic Constitution — so far discovered — in antiquity, is that edited by Bro. Matthew Cooke in 1861, and to be found among the additional MSS., British Museum. % ,y This copy seems also to be written by an Ecclesiastic ; or rather transcribed by some learned member of the order, from an older MS. It is written in Prose, and differs greatly from the preceding poetic form in many particulars, but especially in the more elaborate arrangement and detail ot the Legend, which is its main and most striking feature. + My learned and lamented friend Mr. Wallbran quite concurred in tliis date, A.F. A.W, J Additional MSS. No. 23,198. viii Preface, As an illustration of this, it will be noticed, that whereas in the Masonic Poem, there are 15" Articles," and 15" points " of Masonry ; in the earliest Prose Con- stitution, there are only 9 "articles" and 9 " points." f There are also in the British Museum five other Constitutions in MS. and in Prose, viz., The Lansdowne, the Harleian, (2) and the Sloane, (2) In addition to these, there are three in the possession of the Grand Lodge of England, two of which I believe originally belonged to York.| There are three still at York — One belonging to the " Lodge of Antiquity," (London) one belonging to the " Lodge of Hope," || (Bradford) one at Alnwick and there are also the " Edinburgh-Kilwinning," and the Aitcheson-Haven MSS. (Scotland). Besides, there is the very interesting copy belonging to Mr. Wyatt Papworth, one to Mr. R. Spencer, (the original he thinks of Cole's various Editions) one in the Bodleian Library, which belonged to Dr. Rawlinson,§ and one which some writers say, was in the possession of a Mr. Wilson, of Broomehead, and dated from Henry VIII, but of which no trace has as yet been discovered. Of these MSS. the foUowingST have not hitherto appeared in print, (at any rate not in extenso,) though one or two portions may Piave been published : Sloane No. 3848. Three MSS. in Grand Lod^ge. One at York. Lodge of Antiquity. Aitcheson-Haven. Alnwick. Wilson's. Lodge of Hope. Wyatt Papworth's. By the kind consent of the " Lodge of Antiquity " (London,) the " Lodge of t I liave in my possession, a neat interesting copy of this MS. made in 1728, by Wm. Keid, Grand Secretary, for Wm. Cowper, Clerk to the Parliament. X There are besides the throe MSS., two MS. Copies of the Roll, endorsed "No. 1." of 1600 ; made about 1830 for H.E.H. the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master. II The MS. has been in the possession of the Lodge only about ten years. It came to them, it seems, from a deceased Brother ; and of its early history nothing is known. § This MS, is not in Dr. RawKuson's handwriting, neither is the original in the Bodleian Library. H A question may fairly arise, whether Bro. Spencer's copy of the Constitutions of 1726, was not transcribed for Cole's Edition of 1729, or even copied from it. I am inclined to think Bro. Spencer's is a copy of an older MS. A. F. A. W. Preface. ix Hope" (Bradford,) and Mr. Wyatt Papworth, these interesting MSS. have been inserted in the present volume. Several copies of the Constitutions, taken from various sources have been for some time well known, and have from time to time already appeared in print. Roberts led the way in 1722, with a copy which he says was " taken from a MS. written about 500 years ago " and which is in truth, the Harleian No. i942,t the latest copy in the British Museum, and certainly not older than 1660. It has also been said both in a French publication of the year 1807 % by Bolieu, a medical man, who wrote the " Memoire sur la Maconnerie " contained in that work, as well as by later German Writers, that there also were some other early pubUcations of these Constitutions. For instance, it has been alleged that in 1676, there was published in London by Stephen Dilly, a work entitled " A Short Analysis of the Unchanged Rites and Ceremonies of the Freemasons," that in 171 2, in London, there were also pub- lished " Observations and Inquiries relating to the Brotherhood of the Freemasons by Simon Townshend," and also that the Constitutions of the Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of 1689, 1690, and 1701 were printed in one volume, to- gether with the Constitutions of 1723 and 1725. But if these works were ever really published, all traces of them seem now to be lost. No one professes to have seen them, though their titles are quoted by several writers ; and up to the present time, no one has produced a copy of thenj, neither are they mentioned authoritatively by any English writer, that I am aware of. I have myself spent many a weary hour, in the search after them in vain, and though I will not take upon myself to say, that they never existed at all, yet until some reliable evidence can be produced of their actual publication, we must be content to accept Roberts' Edition of 1722 as the first printed issue of the Con- stitutions ; which, as we shall see later, is only a printed copy of Harleian 1942. Anderson followed under our Past Grand Master Payne, in 1723, with a Con- stitution which he seems to have compiled from several MSS. and he put forth a 2 7z^ Edition in 1738. In 1729, Cole published an Edition, with a few variations, very much resembling the MS., which Brother Spencer has, with engraved Plates, and issued a 2nd Edition of the same in 1731. In 1751 he published a printed copy of the 1729 Edition, and again in 1771, — in ?LAfaur Editions. In 1730, an Edition of the Constitution was published at Dublin, by J. Watts, and J. Pennell, which is however only a verbatim copy of the English Grand Lodge Edition of 1723. There is also a copy of date 1739 printed for Mrs. Dodd -t" Transcribed verbatim et literatim for this work, t Annales Masonniquea, Paris, CaUlot A.D, 1807. x' Preface. at the " Peacock " without Temple Bar, London, but* it is evidently, 1 think, a copy of Cole's, and is of no real value or importance. Last year, Bro. Spencer published under the able Editorship of our Bro. the Rev. J. E. Cox, D.D. (P.G. Chaplain,) an interesting volume of the Constitutions, including the 1722 Edition, the 1723, the 1730, and the 1726 from a MS. in his possession, which is, as I said before however, not an original MS. but a copy of some other in all probability. Wm. Preston, as we know printed in his various Editions considerable portions of the Antiquity MS., which, though transcribed (as now published in extenso,) in 1686, represents undoubtedly a much, earlier date. In 1794, a copy was inserted in the "Freemasons' Magazine," which was, I believe, taken from Cole's MS. ; and early in the present century, (1815,) Dow- land published in the " Gentleman's Magazine," that most ancient form of the Constitution, of which, unfortunately so far, the original has not been found, though Uowland said he had seen it, and copied his from it, and that it belonged to the 17/,^ century. There was a form of the Constitutions published in the " London Encyclo- pedia " soon after this which was clearly a copy of Dowland's, and Bro. Hughan tells me, that Hargrove in his History of York, i8i8, mentions a MS. as then existing at York, which has not so far, he thinks, been identified. As I said before, Roberts' Edition of 1722, is a reprint practically of the Harleian 1942; and in 1855 & 1858 transcripts faithfully done, were printed in the Freemasons' Magazine of the Rawlinson and Lansdowne MSS. respectively. Of later years several of the Constitutions have been printed — especially by my zealous Bro. W. J. Hughan, who deserves the thanks of the Craft, for his faithful and laborious efforts, to advance the interests of true Masonic Information and archgeology. Bro. Hughan in 1869 reprinted at great expense, a lithograph fac-simile of Cole's Edition of 1729, and has since from time to time printed in his various interesting' and valuable works. York MS. A.D. 1693. Harleian MS. No. 2054. York MS. A.D. 1704. Sloane MS. A.D. 1659. Edinburgh-Killwinniug MS.t In Laurie's new Edition of the History of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, there is a Constitution printed, of which, I believe the original is not forthcoming, and it is supposed to have been taken mainly from the Aitcheson-Haven (or Mussel- burgh) MS. ■\ Making in all (inclusive of those in this work) some fifteen MSS. There are however in Scotland, two. inieresting MSS. called respectively, the Schaw and the Eglinton MSS. which' are not however Constitutions properly called, but rather Regulations' for the workmen and the work. We have now got to the end of all the known forrtis so far, of the Constitutions, alike in MS. and in print,' but of 'course, these are not all, independent and original forms, but mainly transcripts or fac-similes of others. Preston's for in- stance is taken from the Antiquity, Robert's from the Harleian 1942. Colt's, four, and Spencer's of 1726, all form one family. The Dublin Edition of 1730 is a copy of the English Edition of 1723, and the Freemasons' Magazine of 1794 a copy of Cole's. Mr. Wyatt Papworth's MS. is a copy of Dowland's modernized, and the Edinburgh-Kilwinning MS. seems to be taken from the English Grand Lodge MS. of 1632. Of all printed forms, Dowland's is the oldest to my m^ind, which was originally pointed out to me, by Mr. W, R. Wallbran, in which opinion Mr. Wyatt Papworth concurs, as also Mr. R. Sims, British Museum. It is clearly from its archaisms, older than any other known printed form; and ranks in antiq- uity, next to Matthew Cooke's. I propose now to give the Dates of the MSS. themselves as far as I think can safely be laid down ; partly with reference to the actual date of each of the MSS., and partly with reference to the date of their transcription, though I need hardly remind my readers, that the date of the transcription is no clue to the real an- tiquity of the MS. or any just criterion of its value considered archaeologically. Indeed it might quite fairly and truly be said, that unless we know how far the copyists of the " Constitutions," in the Lansdowne, Harleian and Sloane MSS. for instance, have modernized the text they have copied from, it is very difficult to assign correct dates to these documents. But making every allowance for the fact of the various MSS. having been so to say, tampered with, that is, modernized and altered in form and verbiage, the following are the dates, which I think may be properly assigned to the different MSS., and bearing in mind, all the MSS. tran- scribed, even those of a late date, have been derived from an earlier and probably common origin — unless there is any marked peculiarity in them, to which I shall call attention, as clearly demonstrating their early date. I think it best, where the date of the Transcription is undoubted, to adhere to this in the general summary. Dowland's Transcript represents a MS. circa 1500. The Lansdowne MS do. 1^60. The"YorkMS. No. I." (Grand Lodge) do. 1600. Harleian MS. 2054 t do. 162^. + The " Harleian 2054 " is nearly a verbatim copy of Dowland's form, slightly later, and must have been transcribed either from an early, and almost contemporaneous copy of " Dowland's," or it is really a copy of Dowland's itself, though made about ten years later. There are words in it, which are clearly older than the date of K.' Holmes's transcription. xii Preface, Grand Lodge MS circa 1632. Sloane MS. 3848 certi 1646. Sloane MS. 3323 do. 1659. Harleian MS. 1942 circa 1660. Aitcheson-Haven MS. (Musselburgh) certi 1666. Edinburgh-Kilwinning MS circa 1670. York MS. No. 5 do. 1670. York MS. No. 6 (Grand Lodge) . . do. 1680. Lodge of Antiquity MS certi 1686. York MS. No. 2 do. 1693. Alnwick MS. .... York MS. No. 4 ... Mr. Wyatt Papworth's MS. Dr. Rr, Rawlinson's MS. do. 1701. do. 1704. circa 1 7 14. do. 1720. I have said nothing ot other fragments or allusions to the Constitutions which may be found in many other works from 1737, because in truth, they are all either developments of Anderson's, or modified and expanded from Roberts' and Cole's Editions. Neither do I think it needful to allude further to the articles on masonry and the Constitutions published in such works as the London Encyclopaedia, Chambers' Encyclopedia and others, because as I have already incidentally pointed out, such are derived from already known forms of the Constitutions. There is however in the " Biographia Britannica," a statement which it is necessary to consider. It is there stated that Mr. Ashmole had made a collection of MSS. with the view of writing a History of our Order, and the writer remarks that he saw these collections and legends, and alludes also in Dr. Plot's words to the rotulo membranceo penes cmmentariorum societatem. Such documents however do not exist among E. Ashmole's MSS. in the " Bod- leian Library," Oxford, which have been lately carefully indexed, and the only MS. relating to Masons there found, is an indenture between the Lord Chamberlain, and two freemasons, specifying the work to be done in vaulting the roof of the quires of Windsor chapel. If any such MSS. of Elias Ashmole's still exist, they are in some private family collection of his papers, but not in the " Bodleian, Library," Oxford. I have said nothing so far, as regards either the agreement or disagreement of the various MSS., for that would indeed require a laborious and careful colla- tion of them, one and all, which time has not permitted. Some of the MSS. mentioned, have never yet been, and are not now, printed, and until we have them all in print before us, it will be impossible to lay down any absolute conclusions on the subject. But the reader will, I think, be necessarily struck with variations in those now presented to his notice, more or less important differences of order Preface. xiii and detail, which it is scarcely necessary to dwell upon, and which require much careful study and consideration to estimate often at their proper value. It is not because one MS. differs from another, that therefore its testimony is independent, or its authority co-equal, for many of the variations and deviations we shall notice have arisen either from the haste or error of the Transcriber, or from some peculiar local custom, some use of the district, the "limitt," the "guild," and the " assembly." Some may think that they can find, so to say, family groups of MSS. as with the two Sloanes \ and the Lansdowne — or Dowland's and Mr. Papworth's, and the Grand Lodge of 1632, — or Cole's Edition and Bro. Spencer's MS. ; this may be perfectly true, and by a minute analysis, and careful comparison, we may be able to trace back all our later Constitutions, lo one or two main sources. The Constitutions seem in fact, to be clearly derived from the Masonic Poem, though naturally altered in their prose form, and expanded and modified through transmission, and oral tradition, as well as by the lapse of time, and the change of circumstances. If we would carefully study the Constitutions to day, in all their component part? and arrangements, subject to certain unavoidable differences of expression and order, I believe that we shall find them most fully developed in " Dowland," from which form, I also believe, almost all the remaining Constitutions derive their phraseology and arrangement ; for it is clearly an independent form, sai generis, and is probably the original of all the later forms modernized by the various transcribers. I confess, that the earliest form to my mind, of all the MS. Constitutions, (not ex- cepting any but the Masonic Poem) is the York MS. of 1693 ; that is to say, that it represents in its traditions, a very old form indeed, probably even anterior to 1490, and coceval with the Guild of Masons mentioned in the York Fabric Rolls. I allude to that peculiar passage in it which recognizes female membership, as that fact points to a very early period indeed of Guild history and organization. But, I think I have said enough to show the great interest and value of these Documents, Let us hope that Bro. Hughan's zealous labours may pave the way for still further discoveries and still abler disquisitions, I have kept for the last, a few words I wish to say about a disputed point, namely, the alleged York Constitutions of Edwin and which is given at the close of this work. At the beginning of this century Bro. Schneider of Altenburg, received from a Bro. Bottger then In London, an account of an old York Constitu- tion which he had seen. In 1808, ? Bro. Van Dyk from Holland brought Bro. Schneider in Altenburg, a later translation of the same, which he had obtained t Both of the " Sloane," represent a MS, soon after the Lansdowne, if they be not copies of the same original. xiv Preface. through a Col. Wm. Erskine, who was then often in York and which was verified by a certain J. Stonehouse, (with his signature and seal) said to be living at York January 1801, This Constitution, Krause published t on such authority, (consisting in truth of three parts.) The first is said to be the Constitution of Prince Edwin ; the 2nd, Duties and Regulations drawn up in 1694 by Command of King William III ; and the yd. Regulations from the time of King Edward, to the time of King Henry VIII. For a long time these Constitutions were accepted as real and true, but doubts arising, the originals were sought for, but have not yet been found. Up to the present, there is no known MS. which exactly agrees with the ist or and forms which Krause published ; and the 3rd version was quite unknown I believe in England, until attention was drawn to it in Krause's work. Our learned Brother Findel pronounces the Constitution to be spurious, and in this opinion many concur. I confess, that I do not feel satisfied, that such is a right conclusion, but think the matter should remain in abeyance at present, as I believe we have by no means yet exhausted the list of old Constitutions, unknown so far, but still existing in this country; and it is just possible that Krause's form may eventually prove to be like Anderson's, a compilation from more than one MS. Of course I do not for one moment, accept the mistaken tradition of Edwin, but I am not quite sure, that there is not a " foundation truth " as the Germans would say, at the bottom of our old Masonic Tradition. Athelstan, had as far as we can make out, no son or brother called Edwin — Edwin the Atheling, (or as he is also called by some Chroniclers Edmund) was drowned at sea ! But the old Masonic Tradi- tion, points I believe to Edwin, or Edivin, King of Northumbria, whose ren- dezvous once was at Auldby, near York, and who in 627 aided in the building of a stone church at York after his baptism there, with the Roman workmen. Tradition sometimes gets confused after the lapse of time, but I believe thd Tradition is in itself true, which links Masonry to the Church building at York by the operative Brotherhood under Edwin, in 627, aiid to a guild charter under Athelstan in 927, I have, I hope, by a sirnilar statement of facts, succeeded in pointing out the true value and the lasting importance of such a publication as this, both to the Archseologist and to every Freemason. Not only are these " Constitutions " mosf interesting in themselves, as undoubted records of the past, and most valuable from the use of peculiar words, and curious archaisims, but they serve to throw light in a remarkable manner, on the true history of our order, and to illustrate the progress and preservation of our ancient craft. -)■ " Die drei alteaten Kunsturkunden " (Dresden 1810 ; 2 Vols. 2nd Edition 1820.) Preface. xv Even regarded in this light alone, these old legends and traditions, these bye gone usages and regulations of the operative guilds, thus happily preserved, have and always must have for all thoughtful freemasons, the deepest value and the most lasting interest. For it is, as I have often before ventured to observe, in these very peculiar usages of the handicraft assemhlies, the local and general cus- toms of the Masonic sodalities, that while on the one hand, we are still able to find, (and there only) the explanation of our own speculative rites and customs to-day ; so on the other, it is by the gradual development of these old traditions, ■as time ran on, habits changed, new wants arose, and old landmarks were swept away, that we are permitted to advance the only consistent and satisfactory theory of the wonderful existence and permanancy of Freemasonry among us, and its change from an actual operative and mechanical association to a speculative and accepted Brotherhood. But with these remarks I must close my far too lengthy preface. I trust, that this imperfect contribution of mine to Bro. Hughan's interesting work, may subserve the end I had in view, in writing what I have, mainly to in- terest other able brethren in the study and comparison of authentic documents, as it is thus only, believe me, that we shall ever be able to put before the Craft, a satisfactory and unimpeachable history of our benevolent and time honoured society. A. F. A. Woodford, P.G.C. of England. Swillington Rectory, Leeds, March 21st, 1872. CONTENTS, THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS. Introduction. Freemasonry, an out-growth of the ancient Building Corporations The speculative character — in part — of early operative Masonry Legendary History of the Craft, &c PAOE. I 3 2 Original MS. Masonic Constitutions Extant. (A). Halliwell's MS., *A.D. 1390.— British Museum .... (B). Cooke's MS., *A.D. 1490 „ „ ... (C). Lansdowne MS., *A,D. 1560 „ „ .... (D). York MS., No. i, *A.D. 1600.— Grand Lodge, (London.) . (E). York MS., No. 3, A.D. 1630. — (Missed of late years.) . . (F). Grand Lodge MS., *A.D. 1632, — Grand Lodge, (London.) (G). Sloane MS., No. 3848, A.D. 1646. — British Museum. . . . (H). Harleian MS., No. 2054, *A.D. 1650. „ „ (I). Sloane MS., No. 3323, A.D. 1659. „ „ . ■ (J). Aitcheson-Haven MS., A.D. 1666. — Grand Lodge, (Edinburgh.) (K). York MS., No. 5, *A.D. 1670.— "York Lodge," (York.) (L). Edinburgh-Kilwinning MS., *A.D. 1670.— "Kilwinning Lodge," Scotland 11 (M). Harleian MS., No. 1942, *A.D. 1670. — British Museum (N). Hope MS., *A.D. 1680.— "Lodge of Hope, (Bradford.) (O). York MS., No. 6, *A.D. 1680.— Grand Lodge, (London.) (P). Antiquity MS., A.D. 1686. — " Lodge of Antiquity," (London.) (Q). York MS., No. 4, A.D. 1693.— " York Lodge," (York.) . . (R). Alnwick MS., A.D. 1701.— Mr. E. T. Turnbull, of Alnwick. (S). York MS., No. 2, A.D.1704.—" York Lodge," York . . . (T), Papworth's MS., *A.D. 1714. — Mr. Wyatt Papworth, ofLondon 9 9 10 II 12 13 14 IS 17 17 18 Contimts. xviii \'arious "Ancient Consti'iutions." Originals a.t present unknown. (M). Roberts' MS. First printed A. D. 1722 18 (L). Cole's MS. First Engraved A D. 1729 19 Mrs Dodd's MS Printed A.D. 1739 Vide Note. 19 Spencer's MS. Printed A D. 1871. „ „ 19 (U)- Dr. Anderson's MS. First printed A D. 1723 . • 20 (B). Woodford's MS., F/rf^ Cooke's MS 21 (V). Stone's MS. First printed (in part) A.D. 1738 21 Dr Plot's MS. 'HQ%b . . 22 (W). Dowland's MS. Fir.it printed A D. 1815 22 (X) Dr. Rawlinson's ilS. First printed A.D. 1855 22 (Y) Wilson's MS Noticed in yl/a^z/nY^ of A.D. 1778 . .... 23 (Z). Krause's JIS. First printed A.D. 1810, (Dresden ) 24 APPENDICES. Certified Transcripts of the "Old Masonic Constitutions." (W). Dowland's MS. (Reprinted from the 6^i?«//ifOT(3:«'j J/^^a^/wi?, A.D. 1815) 25 (C). Lanadowne MS. From the oripua/, British Museum. . . . . 31 (D). York MS. No. i. „ Grand Lodge, London. 36 41 47 52 58 64 69 75 (Z). Krause's MS. Special translation from the German version of A, D 1810 80 Fac-simile Lithographs. Portion of the York MS., No 2, A.D. 1704 .... Frontispiece Conclusion to the York MS., No. 4, A.D. 1693 " Old Charges," Page i Portion of the Antiquity MS., A D. 1686 ... „ Page 25 (F), Grand Lodge MS. „ „ „ „ . . (G). Sloane MS., No. 3848. „ British Museum (M). Harleian MS. No. 1942 „ „ „ . . , fN). Hope MS. „ Lodge of Hope, Bradford . (P). Antiquity MS. ,, Lodge of Antiquity, London (R). Alnwick MS. „ Alnwick (Tj. Papworth's MS. „ London FAC-SIMILE OF THE CONCLUSION TO THE "YORK MS.N94" A.D. 1693. JjPaJ-f^JlC!,^ y^^^'U^c^ ^,n,r^^U^ /^&-^a ^^^ ^ ■^ -rM^/a^Si /^y^c^^ru^^ A^n^-^^^ y^;^^^^ ^itS-fiy-T-L it^C-n- -f^^^Jhla^ ^TT'v^^'TXA.^^J'^a^ /H*^ f-net^ ^<9^ THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS ELIEVING as we do that the present Assodation of Freemasons is an out-growth of the Building Corpora- tions and Guilds of the Middle Ages, as also the lineal descendant and sole representative of the early secret masonic sodalities, it appears to us that their ancient Laws and Charges are especially worthy of preservation, study, and repro- duction. No collection of these having hitherto been published, we have undertaken to introduce several of the most important to the notice of the Fraternity. We have likewise written a sketch of the existing MS. Consti- tutions in Great Britain, in the hope that ere long their general character and history may become familiar to the members of the " mystic tie." These "old charges" are of great interest not only to Free- masons, but to Antiquarians generally, as they demonstrate the continuous and intimate connection subsisting between operative and speculative Masonry for the last five hundred years, and tra- ditionally for a much longer period. An erroneous impression prevails that the speculative element was unknown prior to the institution of the first Grand Lodge, A.D. 1 71 7. The Records of many pre-eighteenth century Lodges often allude to the initiation of noblemen and others, who were cer- tainly not made masons for operative purposes. The election of Harrie Elphinston, Tutor of Airth, as Master of the Aberdeen Lodge, A.D. 1670; and of the Earl of Cassillus, A.D. 1672, and Lord Eglinton, A.D. 1674, as Deacons of "Mother Lodge, Kil- winning," (Scotland) are alone sufficient t6 demonstrate the spec- ulative character in part of early operative Masonry. The Old Charges of From the fourteenth century the MSS. mentioned or published in this work have been accepted by " Masters and Fellowes " as the genuine repertories of their time-honoured traditions and reg- ulations. With trifling exceptions, no other Records descriptive of their customs have been discovered anterior to A.D. 1600. The legendary history and general Laws were occasionally in- serted at the commencement of Lodge minute-books, but usually they were engrossed on long parchment roUst : these had always to be produced on the admission of Apprentices in whose hear- ing the contents were read, and who, in order to secure their observance of the ancient landmarks, were required to swear fidelity on the "Holy Scripture." There are at least Twenty original MS. Constitutions extant in England and Scotland, the majority of which were transcribed during the seventeenth century from much older documents. These must not be confounded, either with the Masonic Stat- utes of 1598-9, or the "St. Clair-Charters " of 1600 and 1628, and other valuable Scottish documents, which are not accurately speaking general " Manuscript Constitutions." The same remark also applies to sundry Masonic ordinances promulgated in this country from about A.D. 1350, for Ecclesiastical purposes, which are still happily preserved, and to such papers as the Sloane MS., No. 3329, (British Museum) which refer more particularly to -the ceremonies rather than the History and Rules of the Craft. With these few prefatory remarks we wjU proceed with our sketch of the " Constitutions." (A.) '• HALLIWELL'S MS.," BRITISH MUSEUM, -"'1390. (Bib. Reg. 17a, If. 32.) This curious Poem, containing the Constitutions of Masonry (small quarto on vellum) written about the latter part of the four- teenth century, was first made known by Mn James O. Halliwell, F.R.S., in a paper on "The early History' of Freemasonry in England " read before the Society of Antiquaries during the session 1838-9I. * An Asterisk through this work signifies the date is only an approximation. t Sometimes these HoIls were of paper, but in either case the sheets were united end to end, and written on one side only, across the breadth of the scroll. J London, 1840, 2nd edition, 1844. British Freemasons. It formerly belonged to Charles Theyer, a noted collector of the seventeenth century, and is No. 146 in his Catalogue as des- cribed in Bernard's Manuscriptorum Anglice. (p. 200, col. 2) David Casley in a Catalogue of the Manuscripts of the King's Library A.D. 1734, styles it " A poem of moral duties," although the Latin Title is correctly given. This error probably explains why the character of this valuable document was not understood until recently. The Editor of the Transcript, Mr. John Richard Wallbran, ^(of Ripon) the Rev. A. F. A. Woodford, M.A., and others, sup- pose it to have been written about A.D. 1390, while Mr. Edward A. Bond, (keeper of MSS., and Egerton Librarian, B.M.) and Dr. George Kloss, date it fifty years later. As all these eminent authorities are agreed as to its great antiquity, the question of a few years is of minor importance. It is the oldest version of the Constitutions of Masonry known, and is the only British copy which refers to the " Holy Martyrs fowret", who are declared to have been "As good Masons as on erthe schul go.'' Its traditional account of the origin of Masonry is substantially the same as in the MSS. to be found in this volume ; and the various articles and charges if clothed in more modern language, would pass for one of the Masonic Rolls of the early part of last century. The versifier was most likely a Priest. The MS. is in the "Old Royal Library" founded by Henry VII., for the Princes of the blood royal, corpprising nearly 12,000 volumes; the munificent gift of His Majesty George II., 1757. (B.) "COOKE'S MS.," BRITISH MUSEUM, '-A.D. 1490. (Add. MSS., No. 23, ig8.) Written on Vellum, extending over sixty eight pages, and still protected by the original binding, this MS. is generally consid- ered to be a very good specimen of penmanship of the latter part of the fifteenth century. Its height is 4^ inches, by 3^ in width, and was first printed by Bro. Matthew Cooke, in his " History and Articles of Freemasonry," (London, R. Spencer, t These ancient Christian Martyrs are alluded to in certain German Constitutions, published inFindel's "History of Freemasonry." {Asher . 1810. It seems that this so called " York MS. of 926 " was translated into Latin, and certified by " Stonehouse, York, January 4, 1806," after comparison with the original in the possession of an archi- tectural Society in that city. It was subsequently translated into German by Bro. Schneider, of Altenburg, in 1808, declared to be a faithful reproduction by three Linguists, and certified to that effect by C. E. Weller, Sec. of the Tribunal of Saxony, Jany. 9th, 1809. At least, so we are told by Bro. Krause in his " Kun- sturkunder der Freimaurer " (A.D. 1810, Dresden) who states that the document is an original Ancient York Constitution of A.D. 926. Strange to say however, (a) the original cannot be found, (b) has never been noticed in any Records of the Grand Lodge of all England held at York, (so far as we can discover) or (c) in the "Fabric Rolls of York Minster." (d) Bro. Drake, the Antiquary and Historian, of York, in his celebrated speech A.D. 1726 never alludes to it, (e) and it is certain that no early MS., or printed work of any kind extant in York, or in England, has yet been produced which mentions such a Constitution being, (or hav- ing been) in existence at any time. We shall not at present at- tempt to assist in deciding its age ; but in order to give every opportunity for its examination and collation with other MSS., and early printed works like the " Polychronicon, " we have deci- ded to place it in this collection of British MSS., as it is certainly of importance, and of great value masonically, even though, it be not of A.D. 926, but, probably a compilation of the early part of the last century, like Dr. Anderson's. In conclusion, we beg to express our obligations to the Breth- ren who have so kindly assisted in the preparation of this vol- ume. Especially do we thank Bro. the Rev. A. F. A. Woodford, who freely placed his valuable collection of Masonic MSS. at our service, undertook to write the Preface, and, has evinced a lively interest in the progress of the work from the commencement to its completion. We hope that the publication of these MS. Constitutions, will induce one or more competent Brethren to collate all the Copies extant, and make the result known to the Craft at an early date ; for Antiquarians and Freemasons are alike interested in the subject. FAC-SIMILE OF A PORTION OF m^^ n^nl^u^ Science /0it6.+Ry^ctf I er^£^5^. -t^i^iAcsf i3 Ceramet c^ THE "ANTIQUITY MS AD. 1686. or Htqoo&yjxi ^^^.cwUl gcXcwWS of . i tfti^r^ U J^OmCFC m^ '-'i'^ t^f^ ma HU^^t(> If-Sirht^a^^ (ytrttru^'iii liCcfR^fi a m^ c^ auJ> w^«f ^ " DOWLAND'S MS." (W.) THE might of the Father of Kings, with the wisdom e of his glorious Son, through the grace of the goodness of the Holy Ghost, there bene three persons in one Godheade, be with us at our beginninge, and give us grace so to governe us here in this mortall life liveinge, that wee may come to his kingdome that never shall have endinge. Amen. Good Breetheren and Fellowes : Our purpose is to tell you how and in what manner this worthy science of Masonrye was begunne, and afterwards how it was favoured by worthy Kings and Princes, and by many other worshipfuU men. And also, to those that be willinge, wee will declare the Charge that belongeth to any true Mason to keepe for in good faith. And yee, have good heede thereto ; it is well worthy to be well kept for a worthy craft and a curious science. For there be Seaven liberall Sciences, of the which seaven it is one of them. And the names of the Seaven Scyences bene these : First is Grammere ; and it teacheth man to speake truly and write truly. And the second is Rethorickejand teacheth a man to speake faire in subtill termes. And the third is Dialectyke ; and teacheth a man for to discern or know truth from false. And the fourth is Arithmeticke ; and that teacheth a man for to recken and to accompte all manner of numbers. And the ftfth is called Geometrie ; and that teacheth mett and mea- sure of earth and of all other things ; of the which science is called Masonrye. And the sixt science^ is called Musicke ; and that teacheth a man of songe and voice, of tongue, and orgaine, harpe and trompe. And the seaventh science is called Astronomye ; and that teacheth a man the course of the sunn, moone, and Starrs. These be the Seaven liberall Sciences, the which bene all founded by one Science ; that is to say Geometrie. And this may a man prove, that the science of the work is founded by Geometrie, for Geometrie teacheth a man mett and measure, ponderation and weight, of all manner of things on earth ; for there is noe man that worketh any science, but he worketh by some mett or measure, nor noe man that buyeth or selleth, but he buyeth or selleth by some measure or by some weight ; and all these is Geometrie. And these merchants and all crafts- men, and all other of the Seaven Sciences, and in especiall the plowman and tillers of all manner of grounds, graynes, seedes, vynes, plowers and sellers of other fruits ; for Grammere or Retricke, neither Astronomic nor none of all the other Seaven Sciences can noe manner find mett nor measure without Geometrie. Wherefore methinketh that the science of Geometrie is most worthy, and that findeth all other. How that these worthy Sciences were first begonne, I shall you tell. Before Noyes floode there was a man called Lameche, as it is written in the Byble, in the'iiij"* chapter of Genesis ; and this Lameche had two wives, and the one height Ada, and that other height Sella ; by his first Wife Ada he gott two sons, and that one Jahell and thother Tuball, and by thaf other wife Sella he gott a son and a daughter. And these four children founden the begining of all sciences .. ,0 26 "Dowland's MSr (W.) in the world. And this elder son Jahell found the science of Geometrie, and he departed flocks of sheepe and lambs in the field, and first wrought house of stone and tree, as is noted in the chapter above said. And his brother Tuball found the science of Musicke, songe of tonge, harpe and orgaine. And ttie third brother Tuball Cain found smithcraft of gold, silver, copper, iron and Steele ; and the daughter found the craft of Weavinge. And these children knew well that God would take vengeance for synn, either by fire or by water ; wherefore they writt their science that they had found in two pillars of stone, that they might be found after Noyes flood. And that one stone was marble, for that would not bren with fire ; and that other stone was clepped laterns, and would not drown in noe water. Our intent is to tell you trulie how and in what manner these stones were found, that thise sciences were written in. The great Hemarynes that was Cubys son, the which Cub was Sem's son, that was Noys son. This Hermarynes, after- wards was called Harmes, the father of wise men ; he found one of the two pillars of stone, and found the science written there, and Ije taught it to other men. And at the makinge of the Tower of Babylon there was Masonrye first made much of. And the Kinge of Babylon that height Nemrothe, was a mason him- selfe, and loved well the science as it is said with masters of histories. And when the City of Ninyve and other citties of the East should be made, Nemrothe the Kinge of Babilon, sent thither threescore masons at the rogation of the Kinge of Nyneve his cosen. And when he sent them forth, he gave them a charge on this manner. That they should be true each of them to other, and that they should love truly together, and that they should serve their lord truly for their pay; soe that the master may have worshipp and all that long to him. And other moe charges he gave them. And this was the first tyrae that ever Masons had any charge of his science. Moreover when Abraham and Sara his wife went into Egipt, there he taught the Seaven Scyences to the Egiptians ; and he had a worthy Scoller that height Ewclyde, and he learned right well, and was a master of all the vij Sciences liberall. And in his dayes it befell that the lord and the estates of the realme had soe many sonns that they had gotten, some by their wifes and some by other ladyes of the realm ; for that land is a hott land and a plentious of generacion. And they had not competent livelode to find with their children ; wherefore they made much care. And then the King of the land made a great Counsell and a parliament, to witt, how they might find their children honestly as gentlemen ; And they could find noe manner of good way. And then they did crye through all the realm, if their were any man that could informe them, that he should come to them, and he should be soe rewarded for his travail, that he should hold him pleased. After that this cry was made, then came this worthy clarke Ewclyde, and said to the king and to all his great lords, " If yee will, take me your children to governe, and to teach them one of the Seaven Scyences, wherewith they may live honestly as gentlemen should, under a condicion, that yee willgrantme and them a commission that I may have power to rule them after the manner that the sci- ence ought to be ruled." And that the Kinge and all his Counsell granted to him anone and sealed their commission. And then this worthy Doctor tooke to him these lord's sonns, and taught them the scyence of Geometrie in practice,* for to worke in stones all manner of worthy worke that belongeth to buildinge churches, Old Masonic Charges. 27 temples, castells, towres, and manners, and all other manner of buildings ; and he gave them a charge on this manner. The first was, that they should be true to the Kinge, and to the lord that they owe. And that they should love well together, and be true each one to other. And that they should call each other his fellowe, or else brother, and not by ser- vant, nor his nave, nor none other foule name. And that the should deserve their paie of the lord or of the master that they serve. And that they should ordaine the wisest of them to be master of the worke, and neither for love nor great lynneage, ne ritches, ne for noe favour to lett another that hath little conning for to be master of the lord's worke, wherethrough the lord should be evill served and they ashamed. And also that they should call their governors of the worke. Master, in the time that they worke with him. And other many moe charges that longe to tell. And to all these charges he made them to sweare a great oath that men used in that time ; and ordayned them for reasonable wages, that they might live honesdy by. And also that they should come and semble together every yeare once, how they might worke best to serve the lord for his profitt and to their own worshipp ; and to correct within themselves him that had trespassed against the science. And thus was the scyence grounded there ; and that worthy Mr. Ewclide gave it the name of Geometrie. And now it is called through all this Jand, Masonrye. SvTHEN longe after, when the Children of Israeli were coming into the Land of Beheast, that is now called amongst us, the country of Jhrlm. King David began the Temple that they called Jemplum D'ni, and it is named with us the Temple of Jerusalem. And the same King David loved Masons well and cher- ished them much, and gave them good paie. And he gave the charges, and the manners as he had learned of Egipt given by Ewclyde, and other charges moe .that yee shall heare afterwards. And after the decease of Kinge David, Sala- MON that was David's sonn, performed out the Temple that his father begonne ; and sent after Masons into divers countries and of divers lands ; and gathered them together, so that he had fourscore thousand workers of stone, and were all ■named Masons. And he chose out of them three thousand that were ordayned to be maisters and governors of his worke. And furthermore there was a Kinge of another region that men called Iram, and he loved well Kinge Solomon, and he gave him tymber to his worke. And he had a sonn that height Aynon, and he was a Master of Geometrie, and was chiefe Maister of all his Masons, and was Master of all his gravings and carvinge, and of all manner of Masonrye that longed to the Temple ; and this is witnessed by the Bible, in libra Regum, the third chapter. And this Solomon confirmed both charges and the manners that his father had given to Masons. And thus was that worthy Science of Masonrye confirmed in the country of Jerusalem, and in many other kingdomes. Curious craftsmen walked about full wide into divers countryes, some because of leaminge more craft and cunninge, and some to teach them that had but little conynge. And soe it befell that there was one curious Mason that height Maymus Grecus, that had been at the making of Solomon's Temple, and he came into France, and there he taught the science of Masonrye to men of France. And there was one of the Regal lyne of Fraunce, that height Charles Martell ; and he was a man that loved well such a science, and drew to this Mamus Grecxjs that is above said, and learned of him the science, and tooke upon him the charges 2 8 " Dowland 's MS." (IV.) and manners ; and afterwards by the grace of God, he was elect to be Kinge of France. And whan he was in his estate, he tooke Masons, and did helpe to make men Masons that were none ; and set them to worke, and gave them both the charge and the manners and good paie, as he had learned of other Masons ; and confirmed them a Chartor from yeare to yeare, to holde their semble wher they would ; and cherished them right much ; And thus came the science into France. England in all this season stood voyd as for any charge of Masonrye unto St. Albones tyme. And in his days the Kinge of England that was a Pagan, he did wall the towne about, that is called Sainct Albones, And Sainct Albones was a worthy Knight and steward with the Kinge of his household, and had governance of the realme, and also of the makinge of the town walls ; and loved well Masons and cherished them much. And he made their paie right good, standinge as the realme did ; for he gave them ij, s. — vj, d. a weeke, and iij, d. to their nonesyn- ches. And before that time, through all this land, a Mason took but a penny a day and his meate, till Sainct Albone amended it, and gave them a Chartour of the King and his Counsell for to hold a general councell, and gave it the name of Assemble ; and thereat he was himselfe, and helped to make Masons, and gave them charges, as yee shall heare afterward. Right soone after the decease of Saint Albone, there came divers warrs into the realme of England of divers Nations, soe that the good rule of Masonry was destroyed unto the tyme of Kinge Athelstone dayes that was a worthy Kinge of England, and brought this land into good rest and peace ; and builded many great works of Abbyes and Towres, and other many divers buildings ; and loved well Masons. And he had a sonn that height Edwinne, and he loved Masons much more than his father did. And he was a great practiser in Geometry ; and he drew him much to talke and to commune with Masons, and to learne of them science ; and afterward for love that he had to Masons, and to the science, he was made Mason, and he gatt of the Kinge his father, a Chartour and Commis- sion to hold every yeare once an Assemble, wher that ever they would, within the realme of England ; and to correct within themselves defaults and trespasses that were done within the science. And he held himselfe an Assemble at Yorke, and there he made Masons, and gave them charges, and taught them the manners, and commanded that rule to be kept ever after, and tooke then the Chartour and Com- mission to keepe, and made ordinance that it should be renewed from Kinge to Kinge. And when the Assemble was gathered he made a cry that all old Masons and young, that had any writeinge or understanding of the charges and the manners that were made before in this land, or in any other, that they should shew them forth. And when it was proved, there was tounden some in Frenche, and some in Greek, and some in English and some in other languages ; and the intent of them all was founden all one. And he did make a booke thereof, and how the science was founded. And he himselfe bad and conlmanded that it should be readd or tould, when that any Mason should be made, tor to give him his Charge. And fro that day into this tyme manners of Masons have beene kept in that forme as well as men might governe it. And furthermore divers Assembles have beene put and ordayned certain charges by the best advice of Masters and fellowes. 'June unus ex seiiioribiis teneai librum, ut illi vel tile ponant vel ponat manus super librum : et tunc proscepta deberent legi. Every man that is a Mason, take right good hede to these charges, if that any man find himselfe guilty in any of these charges, that he amend himselfe against God. And in principall, yee that been to be charged, take good heed, that yee may keepe these charges right well, for it is a great perill a man to forsweare himselfe upon a booke. The first charge is, that he or thou shalt be true man to God and Holy Church, and that he use neither error nor herysie by your understandinge or discreet men or wise men's teachinge. And also that he shall be true liege man to the Kinge of England without treason or any other falsehoode ; and that they know no treason ne treachery but if ye amend it privily if ye may, or else warn the Kinge or his Councell. And also ye shalbe true each one to other (that is to say) to every Mason of the science of Masonrye that bene Masons allowed, yee shall doe to them as yee would that they should doe to you ; and also that yee keep truly all the counsells of Lodge and Chamber, and all other counsells that ought to be kept by way of masonhood. And also that noe Mason shalbe in thefte or theevishe, for as farr forth as he may weete or kiiow. And also that yee shalbe true to the lord or master that ye serve, and truly see his profitt and his advantage. And also ye shall call Masons your Brethren, or else your Fellowes, and none other foule names. And also yee shall not take your fellow's wife in villany, nor desire un- godly his daughter nor his servant, nor put him to noe djsworshipp. And also that yee pay truly for your meat and drinke there yee go to borde. And also yee shall doe no villiny in that place where yee goe to bord, whereby the science might be slandered thereby. These be the charges in generall that belongeth to every true Mason to keepe, both Masters and Fellowes. Rehearse I will now other charges singular for Masters and Fellowes. First, that noe Master shall not take upon him noe lord's worke nor none other man's worke, but hee know himselfe able and sufficient of coninge to performe and end the lord's worke, soe that the science have noe slander nor noe disworshipp, but that the lord may be well served and truly. And also that noe Master take noe worke, but that he take it reasonable, soe that the lord may be truly served with his owne good, and the Master to live honestly and to pay his fellowes truly their paie as the manner is; And also that noe maister ne fellowe shall not supplant other of their worke (that is to say) and ye have taken a worke, or else stand maister of the lord's worke, yee shall not put him out, but if he be unable of conynge for to end the worke ; And also that noe Master nor noe fellowe take noe apprentice within the tearme of seaven yeares : and that the apprentice be able, ot birth freeborne, and of lymes whole as a man ought to be. And also that noe maister nor fellowe take noe allowance to be made Mason without the assent and the counsell of his fellowes at the least sixe or seaven given yeares ; and he that shalbe made Mason to be able in all manner of degrees, (that is to say) free-borne, and of good kindred come, and true and noe bondman : And also that noe Mason, shall not take noe apprentice but if he have sufficient occupacion for to occupie on two fellowes, or else three at the least ; And also that noe maister nor fellowe, put noe lord's worke to taske that was wont to goe to jornaye : And also that every Master shall give paye to his fellowes but as he may deserve, so that yee bee not deceived by false workmen : And also that none of you slander another behind his back to make him to loose his good name or his worldly goods ; And also that no fellowe within the Lodge or without mis-answer eyther ungodly or reprovably without reasonable cause. And also that every Mason shall rever- E ence his elder and and put him to worshippe ; And also that no Mason shall not be any common player at hazard or at the dice, nor afany other unlawfull playes whereby the science might be slendered ; And also that noe Mason shall not use noe lechery, nor be noe bawde, whereby the science niight be slendered. And also that noe fellowe goe into the towne on nights tyme there as a lodg is of fellowes, without that he have a fellowe with him that he may beare him witnesse that he was in an honest place ; And also that every Master and fellowe shall come to th' Assemble, an it be within fifty myles about him, if he have any writeinge. And if yee have trespassed against the science, for to abide the award of the masters and fellowes, and to make them accorded if they may, and, if they may not accord them, to goe to the common law ; and also that ne maister, ne fellowe make noe molde nor squayar nor rule to noe layer, nor set noe layer within the lodge, nor without, to hew noe molde stones. And also that every Mason receive and cher- ish strange fellowes when they come over the countryes, and set them a worke and they will, as the manner is, (that is to say) yf to have no mould stones in his place, he shall refresh him with money into the next lodge. And also that every Mason shall truly serve the lorde for his paie, and every master truly make an end of his worke, be it taske or jorney, if yee have your covenants and all that yee ought for to have. These charges that wee now rehearsed to you and to all other that belongeth to Masons yee shall keepe soe helpe your God, and your holydome, and by this booke unto your power. Amen ! ( Reprinted from the Gentleman' s Magazine, A.D. 1815.^ Old Masonic Charges. 2,1" "LANSDOWNE MS." (C) About A.D. 1560. " Here Begineth the True Order of Masonrie. " TAe might of the Father of the Heavens The Wisdome of the Glorious Son, And the goodnesse of the Ifo/y Ghost three persons 'and one God be with vs now and ever Amen. " Good Bretheren and Fellows our purjjose is to ,shew you how and in what manner this Noble and Worthy Craft of Masonry was first founded and begun, And afterwards how it was confirmed by worthy Kings and Princes and by many other Worshipfull men, And also to all those the be heere, Weeminde to shewe you the Charge that belongs to every trew Mason to keep, for in good Faith if you take good heed it is well worthy to be kept for A worthy Craft and curious Science. Sf^ there be Seaven Liberal! Sciencies of which the Noble Craft of Masonry is one, And the Seaven be these, The first is Gramer and that teacheth A man to Spell and Write trewly. The second is Rethorick and that teacheth A man to speake faire and Subtill, The third is Lodgick and that teacheth A man deseme the trew from the false, The ffowrth is Arethmatick and that teacheth A man to Reckon and Account all manner of Accompts, the fifth is Geometry and that teacheth A manf and Measur of Earth and of all things of the which this Science is called Geometry, The sixth is called Musick, and that teacheth A man to sing with Voyce and Tongue and Organ Harp ai^^d Trump, The Seaventh is called Astronemy and that teacheth A man to know the Course of the Sunn and the Moone and the Starrs, these be the Seaven Liberall Sciencies of the which all be founded by one which is Geometry, and thus a man, may prove that all the Seaven Sciencies be founde by Geometric for it Teacheth A manf and Measure Ponderation weight on all things on Earth, For there is noe Workman that Worketh any Craft but he worketh by some Mett or Measure. And every man that buyeth or Selleth they buy or Sell by some weight or Measure, And all this is Geometry, And the Merchants and all other Craftsmen of the Seaven Sciencies, and the Plowmen and Tillers of the Earth and Sowers of all manner of Graines Seeds and Vine plants, and Setters of all manner of ffruits : For Gramer or Arethmatick nor Astronomy nor none of all the Seaven Sciencies can no man finde Mett or Measure in without Geometry wherefore methinks that the said Science of Geometry is most worthy. And all the other be founded by it. But how this worthy Science and Craft was first founded and begun I shall tell you before Noyes fflood there was A man which was called Zameth as it is written in the Bible in the 4th Chapter of Genesis, and this Lameth had 2 Wifes the one called Ada the odier Sella, by the first wife Ada he begat a Sonije and a Daughter And these 4 Children foimd the begining of all these Crafts and Sciencies in the World flfor 32 " Lansdowne MS." (C.) the Eldest Sonne Gabell found the Craft of Geometry and he fed fiflocks of Sheep and Lambs in the fifeild : And first wrouglit houses of Stone and he and his Brother lubali found the Crafts of Mustek song of mouth harp and Organs and all other Instruments. The third Brother lubalican found the Smith Craft of Gold and Silver Iron and Copper and Steel, And the Daughter found the Craft of Webbing and these Children knew well that God would take vengeance for Sinn either by ffire or Water, wherefore they wrought the Scyences they had founded in 2 Fillers of Stone, that they might be found afterwards, and the one Stone was called Marble for that would not burne in the ffire, and the other Stone was called Latherne and that would not be drowned with water ; Our Intent is to tell you how and in what manner these Stones were found that these Sciencies was written on the Herminenis that was Cubb liis Sonne, The which Cubb. Semd. Sonne the which Sonne was Noaths Sonne this same Herminerus was afterwards called Armes the ffather of the Wisemen he found one of the i pillers of Stone and found the Science written therein and he taught it to others, And at the makeing of the tower of Babilon, was Masonrie first made there much of, and the King of Babilon called Nemroth who was a Mason himselfe and loved well the rest as is said with the Masters of Stories, And when the City of Ninniey or the City of the East Port should have bin made Nemroth the King of Babilon sent thither Sixty Masons of his Region to the King of Ninevey his cozen, And when he sent them forth he gave them a Charge in this manner. " 7he first was that they should bs true to their King Lord or Master that they served and that they shoulde Ordaine the most wise and cunning man to be Master of the King or Lords worke that was amongst them, and neither for Love Riches nor favour to sett another that had little cunninge to be Master of that Worke whereby the Lord should bee ill served And the Science ill Defamed. " Secondly that they should call the Governor of the Worke Master all the tyme they wrought with him and other many more Charges that were to long to write, and for the keeping of all those Charges he made them sware a great Oath which men vsed at that time. And ordained for them reasonable pay that they might live with honestie, and also he gave them in Charge that they should As- semble togather every yeare once to see how they might Worke best to serve the King or Lord for their profitt and their owne Workship, And also that they should correct within themselves those that had Trespassed against the Science or Craft, And thus was this Noble Craft first grounded there, And the worthy Mr Ewclides gave it the name of Geometry, And how it is called throughout all the World Masonrie Long after when the Children of Israeli were come into the Land Berhest which is now called the Countrey of Jerusalem where King David begun the Temple that is now called lemplii Dei, and is named with us the Temple of Jerusalem, and the same King David Loved Masons then right well and gave them good pay, and he gave the Charges and Manners that ;he learned in Egipt which were given by that worthy Doctor Ewclid and other more charges that you shall heare after wardes ; And after the decease of King David, then Reigned Solloman that was King Davids Sound and he performed out the Temple that his ffather had begun and he sent after Masons into Diverse Countreys and into Diverse Lands and he gathered them togeather so that he had 24000 Workers of Stone and were all named Masons and he Chosed out of them 3000 and were all ordained to be Masters, Rulers and Governors of his worke, and then was there a King of another Region which men called Iram and he loved well King Solloman and gave Old Masonic Charges. 33 him Timber to his work and he had a Sonne that was called a man that was Master of Geometry, and was chiefe Master of all his Masonrie & of all his Graving, Carving and all other Masonry that belonged to the Temple, this is Witnessed in the holy Bible (in Libro Regium quarto et Tertio) and this same Solloman Confirmed both the Charges and the Manners which his ffather had given. And thus was the worthy Craft of Masonrie confirmed in that countrey of Jerusalem And many other Regions and Kingdoms men walked into Diverse Countreys some because of Learning to learne more Cunning, And some to teach them that had but little Cunning, and soe it befell that there was a Curious man named Namas Greecious who had beene at the makeing of Sollomans Temple And he came from thence into France and there he taught the Science of Masonrie to men of that Land and so there was one of the Royall Line of France called Charles Marshall and he was A man that loved well the said Craft and took upon him the Rules and Manners and after that By the Grace of God he was elect to be the King of firance and when he was in his Estate he helped to make those Masons that were now, and sett them on Work and gave them Charges and Man- ners and good pay as he had Learned of other Masons, and Confirmed them a Charter from yeare to yeare to hold their Assembly when they would and Cherished them right well, and thus came this Noble craft into ffrance and England, in that season stood void as ffbragine Charge of Masons vntill St. Albanes and St. Albans was a worthy Knight and Steward to the King of his household and had Government of his Realme And also of the makeing of the Walls of the said Towne, and he loved well Masons and Cherished them much and made there pay right good for he gave them iijs vjd a week & iijd before that time all the Land a Mason took but one penny a day and his meat till St. Albones mended it and he gott them a Charter of the King and his Councell for to hold a Generall Councell and gave it to name Assembly. Thereat was he himselfe and did help to make Masons and gave them Charges as you shall heare afterwards, soone after the Decease of St. Albones there came Diverse Warrs into England out of Diverse Nations so that the good rule of Masons was dishired and put downe vntill the tyme of Kin% Adilsion in his tyme there was a worthy King in England that brought this Land into good rest and he builded many great workes and buildings, therefore he loved well Masons for he had a Sonne called Edwin the which Loved Masons much more then his ffather did and he was soe practized in Geometry that he delighted much to come and talke with Masons and to Learne of them the Craft, And after for the love he had to Masons and to the Craft, he was made Mason at Windsor and he gott of the King his ffather a Charter and Commission once every yeare to have Assembley within the Realme where they would within England and to correct within themselves ffaults & Trespasses that weere done as Touching the Craft, and he held them an Assembley at Yorke and there he made Masons and gave them Charges and taught them the Manners, and Comands the same to be kept ever afterwards And tooke them the Charter and Commission to keep their Assembly and Ordained that it should be renewed from King to King, and when the Assembley were gathered togeather he made a Cry that all old Masons or young that had any Writeings or Vnderstanding of the Charges and manners that weere made before their Lands wheresoever they were made Masons that they should shew them forth, there were found some in ffrench, some in Greek some in Hebrew and some in English, and some in other Languages, and when they were read and over seen well the intent of them was vnderstood to be all one, and then he caused a Booke to be made thereof how this worthy Craft of Mawnrie \fa.5 first founded and he himselfe Comanded and also then caused that 34 " Lansdowne MS" {C.) it should be read at any tyrae when it should happen *any Mason or Masons to be made to give him or them their Charges, and from that time vntill this Day Man- ners of Masons have been kept in this Manner and forme as Well as Men might Governe it and ffurthermore at diverse Assemblyes have been put and Ordained diverse Charges by the best advice of Masters and ffellows (Tunc vnus ex Seniori- bus tentat Librum et ille ponent manam Suara Super Librum^ Every man that is a Mason take good heede to these Charges, If any man finde himselfe guilty in any of these Charges we pray that he may amend himselfe or princpially for dread of God you that be charged take good heede that you keep all these Charges well for it is a great perill to a man to forsweare himselfe vpon a Booke. " Ike First Charge is that you shall be true to God and holy Church and to vse noe Error or Heresie you vnderstanding and by wise mens teaching, also that you shall be Leige men to the King of England without Treason or any ffalshood and that you know noe Treason or treachery but that ye amend and give know- ledge there of to the King or his Councell also that ye shall be true to one another (that is to say) every Mason of the Craft that is Mason allowed you shall doe to him as you would be done to yor selfe. " Secondly and ye shall keep truely all the Councell of the Lodge or of the Chamber, and all the Councell of the Lodge that ought to be kept by the way of Masonhood also that you be noe theefe nor theeves to yor knowledge free that you shall be true to the King Lord or Master that you serve and truly to see and worke for his advantage also you shall call all Masons yor ffellows or yo^ Brethren and noe other names : " Fowerthly also you shall not take yo'^ ffellows wife in Villoney nor defiowre his Daughter or Servant nor put him to disworship also you shall truely pay for yor meat or drinke wheresoever you goe to Table or Board whereby the Craft or Science may be slandered. These be the charges Generall that belong to every true Masons both Masters and Fellows. " Now I will rehearse other Charges single for Masons Allowed. " First that noe Mason take on him noe Lords worke nor other mans but if he know himselfe well able to pforme the work soe that the Craft have noe Slander. " Secondly also that noe Master take worke but that he take reasonable pay for it, soe that the Lord may be truely served and the Master to live honestly and to pay his ffellows truely also that no Master or fifellow suplant others of their worke (that is to say) if he have taken a worke or else stand Master of a worke that he shall not put him out without he be vnable of Cunninge to make an end of his Worke, alsoe that noe Master nor ffellow shall take noe Prentice for lesse than Seaven yeares and that the prentice be able of Birth that is ffree borne and of Limbs whole as a Man ought to be and that noe Mason or ffellow take no allow- ance to be maid Mason without the Assent of his ffellows at the least Six or Seaven, that he that he maide be able in all degrees that is free borne and of a good Kindred true and no bondsman and that he have his right Lirnbes as a man ought to have. " Thirdly also that a Master take noe Prentice without he have Occupcon suffic- ient to Occupie two or three Fellows at least. " Fowerthh also that noe Master or ffellow put away Lords worke to Taske that ought to be Journey worke. " Fiftly also that every Master give pay to his ffellow* and Servants as they may deserve so that he be not defamed with false working. Old Masonic Charges. 35 " Sixthly also that none Slander another behind his back to make him loose his good name. " Seventhly that noe ffellow in the house or abroad answere anotlier Vngodly or repravably without cause. " Eightley also that every Master Mason reverence his elder also that a Mason be no Common player at the Dice Cards or hazard nor at any other Vnlawful playes through the which the Science and craft may be dishonerd. " Ninethly also that noe Mason vse no Lechery nor have been abroad whereby the Craft may be dishonored or Slandered. ■' Tenthly also that no ffellow goe into the Towne by night except he have a , ffellow with him who may beare record that he was in an honest place. " Eleventhly also that every Master and ffellow shall come to the Assembly if it be within 50 Miles of him if he have any warning and if he have trespassed against the Craft to abide the award of the Master and ffellows. " Twelihly also that every Master Mason and ffellow that have trespass'd against the Craft shall stand in Correcon of other Masters and ffellows to make hin accord and if they cannot accord to goe to the Comon Law. " Ihirteenthly also that a Master or ffellow make not a Moulde Stone Square nor rule to no Lowen nor Sett no Lowen worke within the Lodge nor without to no Mould Stone. " Fourteenthly also that every Mason receive or cherish Strange Fellows when they come over the Countrey and sett them on work if they will worke as the Manner is (that is to say) if the Mason have any Moulde Stone in his place on worke and if he have none the Mason shall refresh him with money vnto the next Lodge. " Fifteenthly also that every Mason shall truely serve his Master ffor his pay. " SiyJeenthly also that every Master shall truely.make an end of his worke taske or Journey whethersoe it bee. " These be all the Charges and Covenants that ought to be had read at the makeing of a Mason or Masons. " The Almighty God who have you 6^ me in his keeping Amen." (A certified Transcript from the British Museum.) 36 " York MS. No. i." (D.) "YORK MS. No. I." (D) About A.D., 1600. An Anagraime upon the name of Masonrie William Kay to his friend Rob* Preston vpon his Artt of Masonrie as folioweth. g Much might be said of the noble Artt > A Crafts thats worth estieming in eich part en Sundry Nations Noobles & their Kings also O Oh how they sought its worth to know J- Masonrie. Iz; Nimrod & Solomon the wisest of all men *7j Reason saw to love this Science then i-i He say noe more lest by my shallow" verses I W Endeavouring to praise should blemish Masonrie. THE CONSTITUTIONS OF MASONRIE. THE might of the Father of heaven with wisedonie of y^ blessed Sonne through ye grace of God & goodnesse of ye holy ghost y* be three psons in one god- head be with vs at our beginning & give vs grace soe to governe vs here in this life yt we may come to his blessing y* nev' shall have ending : And good brethren & fellows our purpose is to tell y" how and in what manner this worty Science of Masonrie was begun & afterward how it was found by worty Kings & Princes & by many other Worshipfull men, And also to them yt be here we will declare ye charges y* belonge to every Free Mason to keep sure in good faith. And therefore take good heed hereto it is well worthy to be kept well fory* ye Science is ancient for there be vij liberall Sciences of ye woh it is one & ye names of ye seven Sciences be these, first Grammer wct teacheth a man to speak truly & write truly. And ye second is Rhetoricke & teacheth a man to speak faire plaine in subtile termes & ye third is Dielectick or LodgicK. yt teacheth a man to discern truth from falsbood. And ye fourth is Arithmetick & that teacheth a man to reckon & to accompt all mannr of numbs- And ye fifth is called Geomatrie & teacheth all measure of grounds of all other things of ye wch Science is grounded Masonrie : & ye fifth Science is called Musicke & y* teacheth a. man ye Science of Song & vioU of tongue & organ harp trumpett. And ye seventh Science is called Astron- omie Sz: y* teacheth a man to know ye course of ye Sonne Moone & Starrs. These be ye vij liberall Sciences ye wel' Seven be sXl grounded by one yt is to say Geometric for by this may a man pve ye Essence of worke as founded by Geom- atrie so Geomatrie teacheth meat measure ponderation & weight of all manner of things on earth for there is noe man yt worketh any Science but he worketh by some measure or weight & all this is Geomatrie, & 'Marchants & all crafts men & Old Masonic Charges. 3 7 all other of ye vij Sciences & espetially ye plower & tiller of all manner of graines & seeds planters of vinyeards sells of fruits, for in Grammer retorick nor astronome nor in any of all ye liberell Sciences can any man finde meat or measure without Geomatrie, me thinks yt this Science Geomatrie i*s most worthy & foundeth all others. How these worty Sciences was first begotten I shall y" tell viz. Before Noah flood there was a man called Lamech as is written in the Scripture in ye 4*11 Chaptr of Genesis And this Lamech had two wives ye one named Adah by whome he had two Sons ye one named Jabell ye other named Jubell. And his other wife was called Zillah by whome he had one sone named Tubelcaine & one daughter named Naamah & these four children founded ye beginning of all ye Sciences in ye world viz Jabell ye eldest Sone found out ye Science of Geomatre he was a keepr of flocks of sheep & Lands in the Fields as it is noted in ye Chaptr before sd And his brothr Juball fonnd ye Science of Musicke Song of Tongue harpe & organ And ye third Brother Tuball Caine found ye Science called Smith Craft of Gold Silvr Iron Coppr & Steele & ye Daughf found ye ara of Weaving And these persoiis knowing right well yt God would take vengeance for sinne either by fire or water, wherefore they writt their severall Sciences y* they had found in two Fillers of stone yt they might be found aftr Noah his Flood And ye one stone was Marble because it would not burne wtt fire & ye othr called Lternes because it would not dround wit watr now our intent is to tell yn how & in what manner these Stones were found in woh these Sciences were written the ancient Hermarines was a Cube his Son ye which Cub was Sem yt was Noahs Son ; these Hermarines was after called ye fathr of wise men. he found one of ye two pillcrs of Stone & he found ye Sciences written therein & he tought yt to other men. And at ye makeing of ye Toure of Babell there was Masonrie first much esteemed of & the King of Babilon yt was called Nimrod was A mason himselfe & loved well Masons & yt Science as it is said amonge Masters of Histories. And when ye city of Ninevie & othr cities of ye East should be builded Nimrod ye King of Babylon sent thither sy Masons at ye request of ye King of Ninevie his Cousen and when he sent them forth he gave them a charge on this mann^ yt they should be true each one of them to othr & yt they should love well one anothr & yt they should serve their Lord truly for their pay soe yt ye mastr may have pay & all that belongeth unto him & othr moe charges he gave them & this was ye first time yt ever any Masons had any charge of his Craft. Moreover Abraha»i & Sarah his wife went into Egypt And there he tought ye vij Sciences to ye egyptians & and he had a worty Scholler named Euclide & he learned right well & was Mr. of all ye vij Sciences liberall & in his dayes it befell yt ye Lordes & States of ye Lands had soe many Sons some by their wives & some by their concubines for yt land is a hott land & plentious of Gen^ation & they had not a competent p portion of estate where- with to maintaine their sth December, 1871. Old Masonic Charges. 6g "ALNWICK MS." (R) (A.D. 170T.) CI)© ittas©Bg)* «D©Bg)®:f 2C®sr;3r©Bg). ©rate near unto me, ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of learning. — ■ Ecclesiasticus, Cap. li. ver. 23. In the hand of the Craftsmen shall the word be commended. — EcclesiasiLus, Cap. ix. ver. 17. STfie might of the Father of Heaven with the Wisdom of his Glorious Son, through the Grace and Goodness of the Holy Ghost, Three Persons in one God- head, be with us att our beginning ; and Give us Grace soe to governe us here in o^ Liveing, Thatt we may come to his Bliss thatt never shall have ending. Amen. Good Brethren and Fellowes, oe Purpose is to tell you how and in whatt manner this craft of masonry was Begun and afterwards how it was Founded by Worthy Emperours and Princes and many other Worppu men, and alsoe to them that be here, we will declare them. The Charge thatt doth belong to Every true Mason is to keep in good Faith, and if you take good head theretoe it is well worthy to be kept, for a worthy Craft and a Curious Science ; For there is Seaven Liberall Sciences of the which itt is one of them, and the names of the Seven Sciences be these — The First is Gramme and thatt teacheth a man to speak Truely ; and to write Truely : The Second is Rhetoricke and thatt teacheth a man to speak fair and in subtil Terms. The Third is Logick thatt teacheth to Discern Trueth from falshood. The Fourth is Arithmaticke thatt teacheth to Reckon and number all manner of numb^^. The Fifth is called Geometry and it teacheth a man to mett and measure the Earth, and other things ; of which Science is Masonry. The Sixth is Musick that teacheth the Craft of Songs, Organs and Harpe and Trumpett. The Seaventh is called Astronomy thatt teacheth a man to know the course of the Sunne moon and Starrs ; These be the seaven Liberall Sciences which be all founded by that one science that is called Geometrie ; For Geometrie teacheth a man mett and measure, Ponderation, and Weight of all manners of things on Earth, and there is noe man thatt worketh any craft but he worketh by some mett or measure, and noe man buyeth or selleth butt by some measure or weight, and all this Geometrie ; And Craftsmen and Marches finde noe other of the seaven sciences, and Especially PJowmen, and Tillers of all manner of Graine, both come, seeds, Vines, Plants, Setters of all other fruite. For neither Gramme nor Astronomy, nor none of all these can finde a man one measure or mett, without Geometrie, Wherfor I think the Science of Geometrie is to be accounted above any of the Seaven Sciences. How this worthy Science was first begunne, I shall tell. Before Ver'l9ti> Noah's Flood, there was a man called Lameck as it is written in the 4 Chap, of Gen. : and this Lameck had two Wives. The one was called Adah, and the other Zillah ; By the first wife Adah he gott two Sons, the one M 70 "Alnwick MS." (R) Ver. 20th called Jaball, and the other Juball, and by the other wife Zillah he got ^^"ii^d"' ^ '^'^'^ ^^^ Daughter, and the four children found the beginning of all Tuball Cain Crafts in the world. This Jaball was the elder Son, and he found the and Naamah Craft of Gcometrie, and he parted flocks, as of Sheep and Lambs in the fields, and first wrought Houses of Stone and Tree, as it is noted in the Chape aforesaid, and his Brother Juball found the crafte of Musick, of Songs, Organs and Harp. The Third Brother found out Smith's craft to work Iron and steel, and their sister, Naamah found out the art of Weaving ; These children did know thatt God would take Vengeance for Sinne, Either by fire or water, wherefor they wrote these Sciences which they had found in Two Pillars of stone, thatt they might be found after the Flood. The one stone was called Marbell^cannott burn with Fire, and the other was called Laturus, thatt cannott drown in the Water : Our intent is to tell you truely, and in whatt manner these stones were found that the science was written on. Gens 10th, Ver. 8tii. The Great Hermem^s thatt was Son unto Cush, which was Son unto alias Nimrod. shem, which was Son unto Noah : This same Hermemes was after- wards called Hermes the Father of Wisdom, he found one of the Two Pillars of Stones, and found the Science written thereupon, and he taught to other men ; And att the makeing of the Tower of Babylon, there was the Craft off Masonry first found, and made much of : And the King of Babylon who was called Nimbroth was a Mason himselfe and loved well the craft, and is soe reported of by Masfes of the Stories : And when the Citty of Ninevy and other Citties of the East should be Built Nimbroth the King of Babylon sent tkither Sixty Masons att the desire of the King of Ninevey his cosen, and when they went forth he gave them a Charge on this manne (bt^) : Nimlbroth'a Thatt they should serve the Lord traely for his payment, and thatt they should be true one to another, and that they should Live truely ^^^^' together soe he might have Worship for sending them to him, and other charges he gave y™. Moreover when Abraham and Sarah his wife went intoe Egypt, and there taught the seaven Liberall Sciences to the Egyptians, and he had a worthy Schole called Euclide, and he learned right well, and was Maste of all the Seaven Liberall Sciences. And it befell in his days thatt the Lords and State of the Realm had soe many Sons, thatt they had begotten, some by their Wives, and some by other Ladyes of thatt Realme ; For that Land is whole layd and a replenished Generation, and they had nott Liveing competent tor their children, wherefor they made much sorrow. And the King of thatt Land Assembled a great Councill at a Parliam* to know they might mentain their children, and they could finde noe good way, soe they caused a cry to be made throughout the Realm, if there were any man thatt could inform him, thatt he should come unto him, and he should be well rewarded for his Travell, and should hold himselfe well pleased. After this cry was made, came this worthy Clark Euclide and said to the King and all his Greatt Lords — If you will give me yo^ children to govern and Teach them honestly as Gentlemen should be taught under condition thatt you will grant them and me a Commission thatt I may have Power to Rule them honestly, as thatt Science ought to be ruled, and the King with his Councill granted them anon and sealed them that Commission, and the worthy Docfe took to him the Lord's sons and taught them the Science of Geometrie in practice for to work in stones Old Masonic Charges. 71 all manne of work thatt belonged to building of Castles, all manne of Courts, Temples and Churches with all other Buildings, and he gave them a Charge in this manne. Euolydes First that they should be true unto the King — and to the Lord they Charge in served, and thatt they should live well together, and be true one to Egypt- another, and thatt they should call one another Fellow, and nott servant nor his knave, nor other foul names ; and thatt they should truely serve for their Payment to their Lord, thatt they serve ; and thatt they should ordain the wisest of them to be Maiste of the said Lord's work, and neither for Love great Lineage nor Liveing nor Riches to sett any other thatt had Httle cunning for to be Maister of the Lord's work, whereby the Lord should be ill served, and they ashamed ; and thatt they should call the Governs of the work Maste of the work while they wrought with him, and many other charges which were too long to tell. And to all the Charges he made them swear thatt great Oath thatt men used att thatt time to swear, and ordered for them Reasonable paym* that they might live by work honestly ; and alsoe thatt they come and assemble themselves together, thatt they might have Councill in their Crafte, how they might worke best to serve their Lord for his proffit and worship, and thus was the craft of Geometric grounded there ; and thatt they correct themselves if they had trespassed, and that worthy Maste Euclide gave it the name of Geometric, and it is called Masonry throughout all the land ever since. Long after the children of Israeli were come intoe the land of Bless ; and it is now amongst us called the country of Jerusalem. King David began the Temple of Jerusalem, which with them is called Templum Domini; And the same King David loved Masons very well and cherished them, and gave them good paymt : And he gave them the charge and mannes as he had it out of Egypt given by Euclide, and other charges thatt you shall hear afterwards. And after the decease of King David, Solomon thatt was Son to David performed out the Temple thatt his father had begun, and sent after Masons of v*5i6^' ^ diverse Lands, and gathered them together,, soe thatt he had fourscore Thousand Workers of Stone. And they were named Masons, and three Thousand of them which were ordained to be Mast^s and Governs of this work. And there was a King of another Region that men called Hiram, and he loved well King Solomon, and gave him Timber for his work : and he had a son thatt was named Ajuon, and he was Maste of Geometric, and he was chief Maste of all his Masons and Mastes of all his Graveing and Carving works, and of all other Manne of Masonry thatt belonged to the Temple, and this is Witnessed in the Bible in Libro Regum prio Cap 5*^ And this same Solomon confirmed both charges and mannes which his Father had given to Masons, and after this manne was thatt worthy Craft of Masonry confirmed in the country of Jerusalem and many other Kingdoms. Glorious craftsmen walking about intoe diverse countrys, some because of Learning more craft, and some to teach their craft, and soe it befell that there was a curious mason named Naimus Grsecus thatt had been att the makeing of Solomon's Temple, and came intoe France, and he taught the craft of masonry to the men of France. And soe there was one of the Royall Lyne of France that was called Charles Martiall, and was a man that loved well such a craft, and drew to him this Naimus Grajcus abovesaid, and learned of him the craft and took upon him the charges, and afterwards by the Grace of God was elected King of France, And when he was in his stall he took to him many 72 "Alnwick MS." (R) Masons and made Masons there that were none, and set them on work, and gave them both charges and manners which he had learned of other Masons and con- firmed them a Charter from year to year to hold their Assembly, and cherished them much, and thus came the craft into France. England all this time stood void of any charge of Masonry, untill the time of S* Alban, and in his time, the King of England thatt was a Pagan and he walled a Town that is now called S* Albons, and in thatt S* Albons was a worthy Knight which was chief steward to the King and Governe of the Realm, and alsoe of making of the Town Walls and he loved Masons well, and cherished them, and he made their paym* right good standing pay, as the Realm did require, for he gave them every week, Three shillings six pence, their double wages befor thatt time, throughout all the Land a Mason took butt a penny ye day and meat untill the time that St Albon amended it, and gave them a charts of the King and his Councill, and gave it the name of Assembly, and thereatt he was himselfe and made Masons and gave them a charge as you shall hear afterwards. Right soon after the decease of St Albon there came great Warrs intoe England of Divers nations soe thatt good rule of Masonry was destroyed, unto the time of King Athclstone thatt was a worthy King in England, who brought the Land intoe great rest and peace, and builded many great works of Abbeys, Castles, and many other buildings, and he loved Masons well. And he had a Sonn that was named Edwine; and he loved Masons more then his Fathe did, for he was full of Practice in Geometrie wherefor he drew him to common Masons to learn of them their Craft and after for the love he had to Masons and to the Craft he was made Mason himself, and he gott of his Father the King a Charte and Commission to hold every year an Assembly wherever he would within the Realm, and to correct within themselves faultes and Trespasses thatt were done within the Craft, And he held an Assembly att Porfe, and there he made Masons, and gave them charges and taught them the manne of Masons, and commanded that Rule to be holden for ever hereafter : and to them he gave the Charte and commission to keep and make ordinances thatt should be observed from King to King when this Assembly was gathered togethe he made a cry that all Masons both young and old thatt had any knowledge or understanding of the charges thatt were made in this Land, or in any other Land thatt they should shew them forth ; and there was found some in Greek some in English, some in French, and some in othe Languages ; and the Intent thereof was found and commanded thatt it should be read and told when any Mason was made, and to give him his Charge, and from that Day un- till this present time Masons have been kept in thatt form and order ; as well as men might govern it. And furthermore at diverse Assemblyes there hath been putt and added certaine charges more and more by the best of advice from Mast® and Fellows. Then shall one of the most ancient of them all hold a Book that he or they may lay his or their hand or hands upon the said Book, and these precepts foll- owing ought then to be Read. Every man thatt is a Mason take heed right well of this charge. If you find yoeself guilty of any of these, thatt you amend you again, and especially yee thatt are to be charged : Take heed thatt you may keep this charge for it is a great Perill for a man to forswear himself on a Book. The First charge is Thatt you shall be a True man to God and his Edwine'a holy Church and thatt you use noe heresy nor error to your under- charge, standing, or to desert discreet or wise men's Teaching, Alsoe you shall Old Masonic Charges. 73 be a true Liege man to the King without Treason or falshood, and thatt you shall know noe Treason, but thatt you mend it and you may, or else warne the King or his Councill thereof : Alsoe you shall be true one to another (that is to say) to every Masto and Fellow of the Craft of Masonry thatt be Masons allowed. Thatt you would do to them, as you would they should doe to you. Alsoe thatt every Mason keep true Councill of Lodge of Chamb", and all other Councill, that ought to be kept by way of Masonry : Also that noe man shall be Thief, nor Thief's see soe far as you shall know. Alsoe thatt you shall be true to yoe Lord and Mast^ thatt you serve, and truely to see his Profitt and Advantage. Alsoe that you shall call Masons yoe Fellows and Brethren ; and by noe other Foul Name, nor you shall nott take yo^ Fellows wife in Villany' or desire ungodly his daughte or his servant to his Villany, Alsoe you shall pay truely for yoe Table and meat and drinke where you goe to Board, and alsoe thatt you doe noe Villany in thatt house whereby the craft should be slan- dered. These be the charges in Generall that a Mason should hold both Mast^s and Fellows. Rehearse I will now other charges singular for Masters and Fellows. First that noe Maste shall take any work of a Lord, or any other work butt thatt he know himself able and cunning to performe the same, soe thatt the craft have noe dis- worship, but- thatt the Lord may be well and truely served ; Alsoe that noe Maste take any work, but that he take it reasonably, soe thatt the Lord may be truely served with his own goods, and the Maste to live honestly, and pay his Fellows truely their pay as the manno of the craft doth require ; Alsoe thatt noe Maste or Fellows subplant others of these works (thatt is to say) if he hath taken a worke or stand Maste of a Lord's work ; you shall nott putt him out, if he be able and cunning of craft to end the work ; Alsoe thatt noe Maste or Fellows take noe Apprentice to be allowed his Apprentice butt for seavon yeares, And thatt Appren- tice be able of his Birth and Limbs as he ought to be. Alsoe that noe Maste or Fellows take noe allowance to be made without the assent of his Fellows, and thatt att the least Five or Six. And that he thatt shall be made Mason be able over all Sciences — (thatt is to say) that he be free born, and of good Kindred, and noe Bondman, and thatt he have his right Limbs, as he ought to have : Alsoe thatt noe Maste putt noe Lord's work to task, thatt was wont to goe to Journey. Alsoe thatt every Maste shall give to his Fellows, butt as he may deserve, soe thatt he be nott deceived by false worke. Alsoe thatt noe Fellow slander one falsly behinde his back to make him loose his good Name or his worldly goods. Alsoe that noe Fellow wtt in the Lodge nor without misanswer another neither ungodly or irreverently without reasonable cause. Alsoe thatt mason preferr his Elder and put him to worshipp. Alsoe thatt noe Mas6n should play att Hazard or any othe unlawfuU game whereby they may be slandered : Alsoe that noe mason be a common Rebell in leachery to make the craft to be slandered and thatt noe Fellow goe intoe the Town in the Night time, where is a Lodge of Fellows, with- out a Fellow thatt may bear him witnesse thatt he was in an honest place : Alsoe thatt every mason and Fellow come to the Assembly if it be within Fifty miles about him ; if he have reasonable warning and stand there att the award of Maste and Fellows : Also thatt every Maste and Fellow if th.ey have Trespassed one to another shall stand the award of Maste and Fellows to make them accord if they may ; and if they may not accord, then to goe to Common Law ; Alsoe thatt noe mason make moulds, Square or Rule to any Rough Layers, Alsoe thatt noe Mason sett any Layer within a Lodge or without to Hew or mould stones with noe mould of his own makeing — Alsoe thatt every mason shall cherish and receive strange Fellows, when they come over the countrey and sett them on work as the manne is (thatt is to say) if they have mould stones in place, he shall sett him a fortnight att the least on work, and give him his hyre : And if there be noe Stones for him to work, he shall refresh him with money, to bring him to the next Lodge. And alsoe you and every mason shall serve truely the workers, and truely make an end of your work, be it Task or Journey; if you have your pay, as you ought to have. STftffit CDJatiCfa thatt we have reckoned, and all other thatt belongeth toe Masonry you shall truely keep and well observe, so helpe you God and Holy- doome ; and this Book, to the uttermost of your Power. FINIS. Gra : Loquitz : I.o : vera docet : Rhe : verba solorat : Mu : canit. Ar: Numeratt : Ge : Ponderat Ast : capit Astra. Transcribed from the original Scroll by W. J. Hughan. Old Masonic Charges. 75 ''PAPWORTH'S MS." (T) (About A.D. 17 14.) 5Ete mtgftt of the Father of Heaven with the wisdom of his blessed Son through the grace of God & goodness of the Holy Ghost yt be three persons in one God- head be with us at our beginning & give grace so to govern us here in this life living, that we may come to his Bliss that never shall have ending. Amen. Good Brethren & Fellows Our purpose is to tell you how & in what manner this worthy Craft of Masonry was begun & afterwards how it was founded by worthy Kings & Princes & many other worshipfull men & also to them that that be here we will declare the Charges that belong to every true Mason to keep for in good truth if yt you take good heed it is well worthy to be kept well for a worthy Craft & curious Science. For there are Seven liberal Sciences of the which Seven it is one of them, & the names of the Seven be these. The first Gramar, and that teacheth a roan to Speak truely & write truely, and the second is Rhetorick, & that teacheth a man to speak fair & in sublime terms, & ye third is Logick & that teacheth a man to discerne truth from falshood, and the fourth is Arithmetick and that teacheth a man to reckon & account all manner of Numbers, And the fifth is Geometry and that teacheth met & measure of either & so all other things, of the wch Science is annexed Masonry, And the Sixth Science is called Musick and yt teacheth a man Song and voice of tongue & Organ Harp & Trumpet And the Seventh Science is called Astronomy and that teacheth a man to know the course of the Sun of the Moon & of the Starrs. These be the Seven liberal Sciences, the which seven be all founded by one that js Geometry and this may a man prove that the Science of the work is founded by Geometry for Geometry teacheth met & measure ponderation & weight of all manner of things on earth ; /or their is no man that worketh any Craft but he worketh by some met or measure nor no man that bieth & selleth, but he byeth & getteth by some met or measure or byeth by some weight, and all this is Geometry, and these Merchants and all Crafts & all other of these Seven Sciences & especialy the Plowman & Tillers of all manner of Grain & seeds, vine flowers, & setters of other fruit. For in Gramar nor Rhetorick nor Astronomy nor in any other of all the Seven liberal Sciences can no man finde met or measure without Geometry wherefore we think that this Science of Geometry is most worthy & foundeth to all others. How that these worthy Sciences was first begun I shall you tell. Before Noahs Flood there was a man called Lamech as it is written in the Bible in ye 4 Chapter of Genesis & this Lamec^ had 2 wives, the name of the one was Adah & the other was Zillah, by this wife Adah he got 2 Sonns and the one he named Jabel & the other Tubal, and by the other wife Zillah he begat a Son and a Daughter, and these 4 Children founded the beginning of all the Crafts in the World, & his eldest Son Jabel founded the Craft of Geometry, he had flocks of Sheep & lands in the fields, 85 first wrought in hewing of Stone and tree as it is noted in the Chapter 76 "Pafiworth's MS." (T) above said, and his brother Jubal founded ye Craft of Musick song and tongue Harp & Organ, & the third brother Tubal Cain founded the Craft called Srnith Craft of Gold silver Copper, Iron & brass & steel & ye Daughter found the Craft of Weaving. And these Children knew well yt God would take vengeance for Sin either by fire or water wherefore they did write the Sciences they had found in two Pillars of Stone that they might be found after Noah's flood, and the one Stone was Marble for it would not burn with fire, and the other Stone was called Latirnes & yt would not drown with water. Our intent is to tell you how these Stones was found in which the Sciences was written. The great Hermes was Cub his Son, ye wch Cub was him that was Noah's Son. These Harmarines was afterwards called Hermes the Father of wise men. He found one of the 2 Pillars of Stone and he found the Sciences written therein and he taught it to other men. And at the making of the Tower of of Babilon there was Masonry made much of, & the hight Nimrod was a Mason himself & loved well the Craft as it is said with Masters of Histories, And when the city of Ninive & other Cities of the East should be made, Nimrod of Babel sent thither 60 Ma^ sons at the Rogation of the King of Ninive his Cosin& when he sent them forth he gave them a Charge in this manner that they should be true to each other that they should love truely together & yt they should serve their Lord for their pay so their Master might have worship & all that belong to him & other more Charges he gave them, and this was the first time that ever Mason had any Charge of his Craft. Moreover when Abraham and Sarah his wife went into Egypt & there he taught the 7 Sciences to the Egyptians, and he had a worthy SchoUar the hight Euclyd & he learned right well & was a Master of all the 7 liberal Sciences, and in his days it befell that ye lords of ye States of ye Realm had many Sons yt they had gotten some by their wifes & some by their Ladyes of that Realm, for yt land is a hot land & plenteous in generation & they had not a competent living to finde their Children & wherefore they had much care, & then the King of that land made a great Counsel & a Parliament to wit how they might find their Children honestly as Gentleman, & they could find no manner of good way, & then they did Cry through all the Realm that if there were any man that could inforrae them that he should come to them & he should be well rewarded for his travel that he should hold. After this Cry was made then came this worthy Clark Euclyd & he said to the King & to all the great Lords if you will take me to your Children to govern & to teach them one of the Seven Sciences wherewith they may live honestly as Gentlemen should under condition that he will grant me & them a Comission that I may have power to Rule them after the manner that the Science ought to be ruled & the King & all his Counsel granted him & sealed their Comission and then this worthy Doctor took to him these Lords & taught the Science of Geometry in practice to worke in Stones all manner of worthy work that belongeth to buildings Churches & Temples Castles & Towers Manners & all other manner of Buildings. And he gave them a Charge in this manner. The first was that they should be true to their King & to the Lord that they owe & yt they should love well together & to be true each one to another & that they should call each one his fellow or else his brother and not his Servant or Knave, or any foul name, & that they should truely deserve their pay of their Lord or the Master yt they serve, & they should ordam the wisest of them to be Master of the work & neither for love nor great Linage, riches nor favour to set another yt hath little cunning for to be Master of the Lords work whereby the Old Masonic Charges, 77 Lord shall be evil served «& they ashamed. And also that they should call ye Governor of the Work Master in the time that they work with him, and other many more Charges he made that it is too long to tell, and to all the Charges he made them to swear a great Oath that men used at that time & also ordained for them reasonable pay or wages that they might live honestly, And also that they should come & assemble together every year once ho\v they might work best to serve the Lord for his proiit & to their own worship & to correct within themselves him that had trespassed against the Craft, & thus was the Craft grounded there, And that worthy M^ Euclyd gave it the name of Geometry and now it is called Masonry through out all the land. Sith long after when the Children of Israel did come into the land of the Behest that is now called amongst us the Country of Jerusalem David began the Temple of the Lord that is called Templum Domini which is called the Temple of Jerusalem & this King David loved well Masons & cherished them much & gave them good pay & he gave them the Charge & the manner as he had learned in Egypt Euclid gave them, and Charges more y* you shall hear afterwards. And after the decease of King David Solomon that was King Davids Son performed out the Temple y* his Father had begun and he sent after Masons into divers Countries of divers lands & gat them together so that he had 80 thousand workers of Stone & were all called Masons & he choosed out three thousand that were ordained to be Masters & Governors of his Works. And furthermore there was a King of another Region that men called Hiram & he loved well King Solomon and he gave him cunning men to work, & had a son that was called Benaim & he was a Master of Geometry & was Master of all his Masons and Carving and of all other manner of Works belonging to the Temple and this is witnessed in the Book of Kings called Libro Regum Cap. 30. This Solomon gave Orders Charges & Manners that his Father had gotten of the Masons & thus was this worthy Craft Confirmed in the Country of Jerusalem, & in many other Kingdoms curious Craftsmen were sent full wide into divers Countries some because of learning more Craft & Cunning, & some to teach those that have little Cunning & it befell that there was one cunning Mason that hight Nimus Graneus that had been at the making of Solomons Temple, & he came into France 8c there he taught the Science of Masonry to men of France. And there was one a Regalian of France that hight Charles of Merten & he was a man that loved well such Craft & Nimus Graneus that is above said & he learned of him the Craft & took upon him ye Charge & manner & afterwards was elected to be King of France & when he was in his estate he took Masons & did undertake to make men Masons that were none & gave them both the Charge & manner how to pay as he had learned of other Masons & confirmed them a Charter from year to year, & to hold their Assembly where they would & cherrished them much, & thus came the Craft into France. England all this time stood void for any charge of Masonry untill S*- Albans time & in his time the King of England was a Pagan, about that yt is called S*- Albans, & S'- Albap was a worthy Knight and Steward of the King & of his Household & had Government of his Realm & also of making the Town walls & loved well Masons & cherrished them right much & he made their pay right good standing as the Realm did for he gave them 2 Shillings & Six pence, a week & three pence for their nuncions and before yt time throughout all the land a Mason took but a penny a day untill S*- Alban amended it & gave them a a Charge of the King & of his Counsell for to hold a general Assembly or Counsel & gave it the name of Assembly & thereat he was himselfe & helped to make Masons, and gave them the Art as you shall heare afterwards. Right soon after the decease, of S*' Alban there came divers warrs into England out of divers Nations so that the good Rule of Masonry was destroyed untill the time of King Athelston that was a worthy King of England & brought this land into rest & builded many great Works as Abbies & Towers and all other manner of buildings, & loved well Masons, And he had a son yt hight Edwin & he loved Masons much more then his father & was a great practiser in Geometry & he drew to Masons & loved much to talk and comune with them & to learn of them the Craft he was made a Mason & he gat of the King his Father a Charter & Comission to hold every year one Assembly wheresoever they would within the Realm of England and to correct within themselves defaults & the Trespasses that were done within the Craft, & he held himself an Assembly at ^avk & there he made Masons and gave them Charges & taught them ye Manner and comanded that rule to be kept ever after & took them the Charter & Comission to keep and made Ordinances y* it should be renewed from King to King & when the Assembly was gathered together he made a Cry yt all old Masons & young that had any writing or understanding of the Mannors & Charges that were made before in this Land or in any other that they should shew them forth & when it was proved there was lound some in French & some in Greek & some in other Languages & the intent of them was found all one, and he made a Book thereof how the Craft was founded And he himself bad and Comanded that it should be read or told yt when any Mason should be made for to give his Charges and from that day to this time the Manner of Masons have been kept in that form as men might govern it Furthermore at divers Assemblies hath been put & ordained certain Charges by the best advice of Masters & Fellows. Tunc unus ex senioribus tenet Librum ut illc illi ponant manus super Librum & tunc praecepta deberent legi. Every Mason that is a Mason take right good heed to these Charges if any man find himself guilty in any of these Charges against God that he amend, p tfir tommanU of tbe iltntt (SSEilltam III.) 1. The first obligation is, that you shall be faithful to God, and avoid all Heresies which contradict Him. 2. Further, you shall also be faithful subjects of your King, and obey those placed in authority by him. You shall not take part in High Treason or treachery, but give notice to the King thereof, or to his Council. 3. Further, you shall be' true to all men, and particularly to each other ; instruct, and mutually assist one another : and above all, do to others, as you would they should do unto you. 4. Further, you shall diligently frequent the Lodges, in order that. you may constantly receive instruction, preserve old customs, and faithfully keep everything secret which you may have learned concerning Masonry, that strangers may not enter, in an irregular way. 5. You shall also neither steal, nor hide stolen goods, but be faithful to the Lord who pays you, and to the Master for whom you work ; also see to the profit of the Lord, and work for his advantage. 6. Further, you shall love all Masons, and term them Companions or Brethren, and call them by no other name. 7. Further, you shall not seduce your Brother's wife to commit adultery, nor defile his daughter, nor his maid ; nor bring him to shame in any way : nor cause him to lose his work. 8. Further, you shall honestly pay for your food and drink, where you may turn in. You shall commit no crime, nor do anything base, by which the Society of Masons might fall into ill repute. These are the general obligations which bind every Master Mason and his Brethren. The particular duties are these. Firstly. No Mason shall undertake work for a Master-builder, or anyone else, unless he knows that he is fit, and capable of completing the work ; as otherwise he will discredit the Craft. Secondly. No Master shall at any time undertake a work for which he is not paid sufficient to permit him faithfully to serve his employer, and to enable him to live decently, and to pay his workmen properly ; but he shall not demand more than what is just. Also, no Master or Brother, shall supplant another, unless in .a case where the latter has not sufficient knowledge lo enable him to complete the work which he has undertaken. Thirdly. No Master or Brother shall take an apprentice for any less period than seven years. In the same manner no Master shall make anyone a Mason, unless he has the consent of at least six or seven of his Brethren. But whoever is made a Mason must be freeborn, of good origin, and have straight and sound members, as a man should have. Fourthly. No Master shall take an apprentice, unless he has work enough to employ two or three of his Brethren. Fifthly. No Master of workmen shall leave his employers' work undone, or transfer it to another as day work, but faithfully and honestly complete it, whether he may have agreed by the piece or by the day. Sixthly. Every Master shall pay his Brethren and Assistants what they have earned, that they may not disgrace him by bad work. Also, no one shall accuse another, to rob him of his good name. Seventhly. No Brother shall speak to his fellow Brother hastily, or in an un- becoming manner, without a cause. Eighthly. Every Mason shall behave respectfully to his Officers and Elder Brethren. Also, no Mason shall play cards, dice, hazard, or any other unlawful game, because he would thereby dishonor himself and the Craft. Ninthly. No Brother shall rove about at night, except he be in the company of one of his Brethren, that he may be kept from improper places and deeds. Tenthly. Every Master and Brother shall come to the Assembly, if it is within five miles of his abode, as soon as he is summoned to it ; and he shall also there await the verdict of the Master and Brethren, if he has sinned against the Craft ; and he shall submit himself to the punishment which the remaining Masters and Brethren impose upon him. If, however, they cannot pardon his offence, he shall be excluded from the Work. Eleventhly. No Master or Brother shall permit anyone who cannot give the right Sign, to make a mould, or square, or draw a line, or teach him to use these things. He shall not let him enter his Lodge, nor use him to mould the stones. Twelfthly. Every Mason shall receive lovingly, the friendly Brethren who give the right Sign, and if they want work, or ask for this only to the next Lodge as usual, he shall give to them in this manner, that if he have stones to mould he gives them half to do, and thus finds employment for them. If however he has not stones to mould, he shall assist him to the next Lodge with money. These are the old Obligations ; they shall be read according to custom, to every one who is made a Freemason. JSejtitlationB C-oinpiIcli nnli arraitifElJ in oxttt, from tfie tovitten rctorliis, from the time Df Mns ©BrcB to Htns pentv VIII. 1. All lawful Brotherhoods shall be placed under Patrons who belong to the Craft, and who can give counsel to the Kinp;. Neither .several Brotherhoods who join together, nor a single one, can elect a Patron for themselved. 2. They shall in the first instance be called to counsel by the King, in order that they may make proposals to the Architects in wars, and for the construction of large buildings (Opus) in accordance with the science and knowledge which belongs to them. Besides this, they shall work with the Architect, that great buildings may be erected to the honor of the Craft. For this reason, all men who are employed as foremen, ( Werkmeiskr,) shall be previously examined. Old Masonic Charges. 89 All Patrons, Architects, Masters, and Wardens, (Magistris d Curatoribus,) shall assemble their Brotherhoods once every year, on a chosen day ; and undertake such examinations together ; and they shall mutually cQunsel each other ; and also take care that past errors are corrected ; and that the decisions in every Lodge, which may have been regarded as the peculiar laws (Crafties) of any one Lodge, may be generally accepted ; and that the lawful Brotherhoods may also always find work, and that the Lords, (Locator operis,) may be honestly served, and they shall always resist the entry of strangers and disturbers, who do not rightly belong to the Craft. 3. The Patron, or he who is selected by him for the purpose, shall occasionally examine the Brotherhoods in their Lodges, and take care that they continue in their work and customs ; and see that these things are done in a similar way in every Lodge. 4. It is well if the numbers of the Members of a Brotherhood are not too numerous, because, otherwise, the Wardens will be hindered in keeping good order, the numbers shall be fifty or sixty without reckoning the accepted Masons. A note follows here : (Yox a long time past, the whole of them, in England and Scotland, have numbered each one hundred.) 5. If the number, of the Members of a Brotherhood, has increased so much over the proper number, that the surplus is sufficient to form a Lodge, a new Lodge shall then be formed. Members of older Lodges, whose numbers are too numerous, may join the new Lodge, if it is more convenient to them. 6. The Master of a Lodge can found a new Lodge, just so well as he can make Freemasons, and as he can open the doors of all Lodges to them. 7. The Masters who form new Lodges, shall remind the members of them, to also elect for themselves a Patron, and when this is done, they shall make their Constitutions known to all regular Lodges by charters. Every year a new Master, who presides, shall be elected. He selects his Deputies, who fill his post, if he is absent ; and Assistants are also then given him. 9. Every year, upon St. John the Baptist's Day, every Lodge shall assemble, with the Architect for whom the Members work, or with his deputies. They shall converse in a friendly manner, take counsel concerning the new Master to be elected, and take a meal together in mutual love. It shall be previously settled who shall provide for the meal, and the cost thereof shall be fixed. 10. Every presiding Master of a Lodge, shall be competent to call all the members together, as often as he may find it necessary, and all the Brethren must obey. The same may also be done by his Deputy, or by the Senior Warden, in case the Master shall be hindered from doing so. In all Lodges, every thing is decided, by a majority of the voices of those present. 11. Every Master of a Lodge, or he who is empowered to do so, shall keep a book, in which, not only the laws which are to be read at every initiation, shall be written ; but also, all remarkable matters. 12. Whoever wishes to be made a Master, must seek to become so for several months before ; and all the Brethren of the Lodge whgre he has so sought, shall vote. Also in an assembled Lodge, no more than five new Brethren shall be accepted at one time, in order that they may all comprehend the first instructions. 13. Whoever shows himself disobedient to his Patron or to his Superiors, or otherwise commits such a fault that his Brethren cannot be satisfied with him, 90 " Krauses MS." (Z) shall be admonished by the Master and Wardens, or by him who is commissioned 4:0 do so, to improve himself : When this has happened twice, no more work shall be given to him. 14. In all decisions which are arrived at in the Lodge, the old Charges, and the Marks of Secrecy shall be kept in view ; for they must remain untouched, and as they are unchangeable and useful, must always be carefully observed. The Latin Certificate which follows, runs thus ; " This translation in the Latin -language is the same as that which has been added, from time to time, to the aforesaid parchment manuscript ; and which is at the end of it." L certify this, York MDCCCVI on the same day. ( Stonehouse. ) The present copy of a Latin Certificate is the same in meaning, as the original that is among the translations of the Charges and Regulations which we translated at length above ; and it is, moreover, according to the opinion of competent -judges, and by the undersigned, certified to be correct, after comparison. Altenberg, 9th January, 1809, Royal Chancery of Saxony, Carl Erdman Weller, Secretary of the Government Tribunal.