Obédience : NC | Loge : NC | Date : NC |
GOOD
BRETHREN and Fellows, our
purpose is to tell you how and in what manner this worthy science of
Masonry
was first founded and afterwards how it was maintained and upholden by
worthy kings
and princes, and many other worshipful men. And also, to them that be
here, we
will declare the Charges that it belongs to every Free-Mason to keep
sure in
good faith; and therefore take good heed hereunto, for it is a science
that is
worthy of being kept, for it is a worthy Craft; and is one of the seven
liberal
sciences. {552}
The
names of the seven liberal
sciences are these: The first is "Grammar" that teacheth a man to
speak and write truly; the second is "Rhetoric" that teacheth a man
to speak well, in subtle terms; the third is "Dialectic," or Logic,
that teacheth a man to discern truth from falsehood. The fourth is
"Arithmetic," that teacheth a man to reckon and count all kinds of
numbers; the fifth is "Geometry" that teacheth a man to mete and
measure the earth and all other things, on which science Masonry is
grounded.
The sixth is "Music" that teacheth the craft of song and voice, of
tongue, organ, and harp. The seventh is "Astronomy" that teacheth a
man to know the course of the sun, moon, and stars.
THESE
be the seven liberal Sciences,
the which are all grounded upon one, that is to say Geometry. And this
may a
man prove that the science of all work is grounded upon Geometry, for
it
teacheth mete, measure, ponderation, and weight of all manner of things
on
earth; for there are none that work any science, but he worketh by some
measure
or weight, and all this is Geometry. Merchants and all Craftsmen, and
others
who use the Sciences, and especially the plowmen and tillers of all
manner of
grains and seeds, planters of vineyards and setters of fruit, none can
till
without Geometry; for neither in Grammar, Rhetoric, or Astronomy can
any man
find mete or measure without geometry. Wherefore this science may well
be
called the most worthy science, for it foundeth all others.
HOW
this science was first begun I
will now tell you. Before Noah's flood there was a man called Lamech,
as it is
written in the Bible in the 4th chapter of Genesis. And this Lamech had
two
wives, the one called Adah by whom he had two sons, one called Jabal
and the
other Jubal. And his other wife was called Zillah, by whom he had one
son
Tubal-Cain, and one daughter named Naamah; and these four children
founded the
beginning of all the sciences in the world. Jabal, the eldest son,
found out
the science of Geometry; he kept flocks of sheep and lambs in the
fields, as it
is noted in the chapter aforesaid. His brother Jubal founded the
science of
Music, in song of tongue, harp, and organ, and trumpet. And the third
brother
Tubal Cain found the science of smith's craft, in gold, silver, copper,
and
iron. And their sister Naamah found the craft of weaving. And these
persons
knowing right well that God would take vengeance for sin, either by
fire or
water, therefore they writ their several sciences that they had found
in ii.
pillars of stone, that they might be found after Noah's flood. The one
stone
was marble that would not burn with fire, and the other called
"latres" (latens, laterns, lacerus, &c.) because it would not
drown
with water. Our intent is now to tell you, how and in what manner these
stones
were found in which were written these sciences. After the destruction
of the
world by Noah's flood, as histories affirm, a great clerk called
Pythagoras
found the one, and Hermes the philosopher (who was Cush's son, who was
Shem's
son, who was Noah's son) found the other, and was called the Father of
wise
men. These two found the two pillars in which the sciences were
written, and
taught them to other men.
AND
at the making of the Tower of
Babylon masonry was much esteemed. And the king of Babylon that was
named
Nimrod was a Mason himself, and he loved well Masons and their science,
as it
is said by Masters of histories. And when the cities of Nineveh, and
other
cities of eastern Asia, were to be built this Nimrod sent thither three
score
masons<<Other MSS. have it, sixty, forty, thirty hundred,
see also No. 3
MS.>> at the request of the {553} King of Nineveh, his
cousin, and when
he sent them forth he gave them a Charge in this manner. That they
should each
one be true to the other; that they should love well one another; that
they
should serve their lord truly for their pay, that the Master may have
worship
and all that belong to him. And other more Charges he gave them, and
this was
the first time that a Mason had any Charges of his Craft.
MOREOVER
Abraham and Sarah his wife
went into Egypt, and there he taught the seven sciences to the
Egyptians; and
("he had") a worthy scholar named Euclid ("and he") learned
right well and was Master of all the vii. sciences; and in his days it
befell
that the lords and states of the land had so many sons, some by their
wives and
some by their concubines, for that land is hot and plenteous of
generation; and
they had not a competent proportion of estates wherewith to maintain
their said
children, which caused them much care; and the King of that land
summoned a
great Council to consult how they might provide for their children to
live
honestly as gentlemen; and they could find no good way. And then they
made
proclamation throughout all the realm, that if there were any that
could inform
them therein he should come to them and would be well rewarded for his
labours.
After this proclamation was made the worthy Clerk Euclid came and said
unto the
King and the nobles -- "If you will accept of me to teach, instruct,
and
govern your children, I will teach them the vii. liberal sciences
whereby they
may live honestly as gentlemen. I will do it upon condition that you
will grant
me and them a commission, that I may have power to rule them, after the
manner
the science ought to be ruled." The King and all the Council granted
him
this and sealed the Commission; and then this worthy doctor took to
himself
these lords' sons and taught them the science of Geometry, and to
practise work
in stones, of all manner of work that belongeth to building churches,
temples,
castles, towers, manors, and all other sorts of buildings, and gave
them a
Charge in this manner: First, that they should be true to the lord that
they
serve; that they should love well one another; that they should call
each other
Fellow or Brother, and not servant, knave, or other foul name; that
they should
truly deserve their pay of their lord, or the master that they served;
and that
they should ordain the wisest of them to be masters of the work, and
neither to
chose for love, nor affection, nor greatness, nor richness, to set any
in the
work that hath not sufficient knowledge or cunning to be master of the
work,
whereby the Master should be evilly served and they dishonoured; and
also that
they should call the governor of the work Master, during the time that
they
work with him, and other more Charges which is too long to tell here.
And to
all these Charges he made them swear a great Oath, that men used at
that time;
and he ordained for them reasonable pay that they might live honestly
thereby;
also that they should assemble themselves together once every year, and
consult
how they might best work for their lord's profit and their own credit;
and
correct within themselves him that had trespassed against the science.
And thus
was the science grounded in Egypt, and that worthy Master Euclid was
the first
that gave it the name of Geometry the which is now called Masonry.
AND,
AFTER that, when the children
of Israel were come into the land of Behest which is now called with us
the
country of Jerusalem (Jewry), King David began the temple that is now
called
Templum Dei, as is called with us the Temple of Jerusalem, and the said
King
David loved well Masons and {554} cherished them much, and he gave them
good
wages, and also Charges and manners, as they had learned in Egypt
("from
Euclid"), and other more Charges that you shall hear afterwards. After
the
decease of King David, Solomon his son finished the said temple that
his father
had begun, and he sent for Masons out of divers countries and divers
lands, and
gathered them together so that he had four score thousand workers of
stone who
were Masons, and he chose out of them three thousand that were ordained
to be
Masters and governors of the work. And furthermore, there was a king of
another
region that men called Hiram, and he loved King Solomon well, and he
gave him
timber for his work. And he had a son named Aman (Aymon, Hymon, Anon,
Adon,
&c.) and he was a Master of Geometry, and chief Master of all
his gravings,
carvings, and all his masons and masonry, as appears in Scripture, in
libro
primo Regum and chapter 5th. And this Solomon confirmed both the
Charges and
manners that his father had given to Masons, and thus was the worthy
science of
Masonry confirmed in the country of Jewry, and city of Jerusalem, and
in many
other kingdoms.
CURIOUS
Craftsmen walked about full
wide into other countries, some to learn more craft, and some to teach
others
that had little skill and cunning. And it befell that there was one
curious
Mason named Namas Graecas (Namus Graecus, Manus Graecus, Memon Grecus,
Mammungretus, Mamus Graecus, Minus Goventis, Marcus Graecus, Namus
Grenaeus,
etc.) that had been at the building<<Building's (query of
Bro. Schnitger)
-- he had a Solomon's temple ritual.>> of Solomon's
temple and he came
into France and there he taught the science of Masonry to men of that
land. And
there was one of the royal line of France called Charles Martel, and he
was a
man that loved well such a craft, and he drew to this . . . . .
abovesaid, and
learned of him the craft, and took upon him Charges and manners, and
afterwards
by the providence of God, he was elected King of France, and when he
was in his
estate he took and helped to make men Masons which before were not; and
he gave
them both their Charge and manners, and good pay as he had learned of
other
Masons, and also confirmed a Charter from year to year to hold their
Assembly
where they would, and cherished them right well, and thus came this
famous
Craft into France.
ENGLAND
in all this time stood void
of any Charge of Masonry until St. Alban's time, and in his days the
King of
England<<Carausius.>> then a pagan did wall
the town (that is now
called) St. Albans about. And St. Alban was a worthy Knight and Steward
of the
King's household, and had the government of the realm, and had also the
ordering of the walls of the said town, and he loved and cherished
Masons right
well, and made their pay right good, for he gave them (3s. a week --
2s. 6d.
and 3d. for noon, 3s. 6d. and 3d., etc.), and before that time,
throughout all
the land, a Mason took but a penny a day, until St. Alban amended it;
and he
procured them a Charter from the King and his Council, for to hold
counsel together,
and gave it the name of Assembly, and thereat he was himself, and
helped to
make men Masons, and gave them a Charge, as ye shall after hear.
BUT
it happened soon after the death
of St. Alban that there arose great wars in England, which came out of
divers
nations, so that the goodly rule of Masonry was well nigh destroyed
until the
days of King Athelstan,<<Query, Edwd., and Athelstan
(suggested by Bro.
W. H. Upton, P.G.M., of Washington). May admit of interpretation as
Edwd. the
elder, and his sons Athelstan and Edwin (see IV. and
V.)>> who was a
worthy King of England, and he brought the land into good rest and
peace, and
{555} builded many great works, as abbeys, castles, towns, and other
buildings,
and loved well Masons; and he had a son named
Edwin,<<Query, Edwd., and
Athelstan (suggested by Bro. W. H. Upton, P.G.M., of Washington). May
admit of
interpretation as Edwd. the elder, and his sons Athelstan and Edwin
(see IV.
and V.)>> that loved Masons, much more than his father,
and he was a
great practitioner in geometry, and delighted much to talk and commune
with
Masons and to learn of them skill and cunning, and afterwards for the
love he
bore to Masons and to their science, he was made a Mason, and he
procured for
them of the King his father a Charter and Commission to hold every year
an
Assembly, wheresoever they would within the realm of England, and to
correct
within themselves all defaults and trespasses that were done within the
Craft,
and he himself held an Assembly at York, and there he made Masons and
gave them
the Charges and taught them the manners and commanded that rule to be
kept ever
after, and also gave them the Charter to keep, and also gave orders
that it
should be renewed from king to king. And when the Assembly was gathered
together
he made proclamation, that all Masons who had any writings or
understanding of
the Charges and manners concerning the said science, that was made
before in
this land or any other, that they should bring them forth, and when
they were
viewed and examined, there were found some in French, some in Greek,
some in
English, and other languages, and the intent and meaning was found all
one.
[<<Added from "Tew MS." W. R. Co. York; also clauses 19
to
25.>> And these Charges have been gathered and drawn out
of divers
antient books and writings, as they were made and confirmed in Egypt by
the
King and the great Clerk Euclid; and by David and Solomon his son; and
in
France by Charles Martel who was King of France; and in England by St.
Alban;
and afterwards by Athelstan and Edward his son,<<Query,
Edwd., and
Athelstan (suggested by Bro. W. H. Upton, P.G.M., of Washington). May
admit of
interpretation as Edwd. the elder, and his sons Athelstan and Edwin
(see IV.
and V.)>> that was king after him.] And he had made a
Book thereof, how
the Craft was founded, and he himself counselled that it should be read
when
any Masons should be made, and the Charge given to them. And from that
day to
this the manners of Masons have been kept and observed in that form, as
well as
men might observe and govern it.
ADD
furthermore at divers Assemblies
there hath been added certain Charges more by the best advice of
Masters and
Fellows. Tunc
unus ex
senioribus teneat librum ut ille vel illi potiat vel potiant manus sup
librum
et tunc precepta deberent Legi.
EVERY
man that is a Mason, take
right good heed to these Charges, and if any man find himself guilty of
any of
them, let him amend himself before God. And in particular, ye that are
to be
charged, take good heed to keep them right well, for it is perilous and
great
danger for a man to forswear himself upon "a book" (the Holy
Scriptures). 1st
-- The first Charge is that you
be true man to God, and the Holy Church, and that you use neither error
nor
heresy, according to your own understanding, and to discreet and
wise-men's
teaching. 2nd
-- You shall be true liegemen to
the King of England without any treason or falsehood, and if you know
of any
that you amend it privily, if you may, or else warn the King and his
Council of
it by declaring it to his officers. 3rd
-- Ye shall be true to one
another, that is to say to every Mason of the Craft of Masonry that be
allowed
Masons, and do unto them as you would they should do unto you. 4th
-- You shall keep truly all the
counsel of Lodge and Chamber, and all other counsel, that ought to be
kept by
way of Masonry. 5th
-- Also that you use no
thievery, but keep yourselves true. 6th
-- Also you shall be true to the
lord, or Master, that you {556} serve, and truly see that his profit
and
advantage be promoted and furthered. 7th
-- And also you shall call
Masons your Brethren, or Fellows, and no foul name. 8th
-- And you shall not take in
villainy your Fellow's wife, nor desire his daughter, nor servant, nor
put him
to any discredit. 9th
-- And also that you pay truly
for your meat and drink where you go to table, and that you do not
anything
whereby the Craft may be scandalised, or receive disgrace.
THESE
be the Charges in general that
belongeth to every Mason to keep both Masters and Fellows. NOW come I
to
rehearse certain other Charges singularly, for Masters and Fellows: -- 1.
That no Master take upon him any
lord's work, or any other man's work, except he know himself to be of
sufficient skill and cunning to perform and finish the same, that so
the Craft
receive no slander, but that the lord be well served, and have his work
truly
done. 2.
Also that no Master take any work
at unreasonable rates, but so that the lord, or owner, may be truly
served with
his own goods, and the Master live honestly thereby, and pay his
Fellows truly
their wages, as the manner is. 3.
And also that no Master, nor
Fellow, shall supplant another of his work; that is to say, if any
Master or
Fellow have taken any work to do, and so stands as Master of the said
work, you
shall not put him out of it, unless he be unable of skill and cunning
to
perform the same to the end. 4.
Also that no Master nor Fellow,
take any Apprentice under the term of seven years, and that such
apprentice is
sufficiently able of body and sound of limbs, also of good birth,
free-born, no
alien, but descended of a true and honest kindred, and no bondsman. 5.
Also that no Mason take any
apprentice unless he have sufficient occupation wherein to employ two
or three
Fellows at the least. 6.
Also that no Master or Fellow
take any lords' work (in task) that was wont to be journey work. 7.
Also that every Master shall give
wages to his Fellows according as his work doth deserve, that he be not
deceived by false work. 8.
Also that none shall slander
another behind his back, whereby he may lose his good name, or worldly
riches. 9.
Also that no Fellow, within the
lodge or without it, shall misanswer or reprove another, without cause. 10.
Also that every Mason shall
reverence his elder brother, and put him to honour. 11.
Also that no Mason shall be a
common player at cards or dice, or any other unlawful game, or games,
whereby
the science may be slandered and disgraced. 12.
Also that no Fellow at any time
go from the Lodge to any town adjoining, except he have a Fellow with
him to
witness that he was in an honest place, and civil company. 13.
Also that every Master and
Fellow shall come to the Assembly of Masons, if it he within fifty (1,
5, 7,
10) miles about him, if he have any warning of the same. 14.
And if he or they have
trespassed or offended against the Craft, all such trespass shall stand
there,
at the award and arbitration of the Masters and Fellows there
(present); they
to make them accord if they can, or may, and if they cannot agree then
to go to
the common law. {557} 15.
Also that no Master, nor Fellow,
make any mould, rule, or square for any layer, nor set any layer (with)
or
without to hew any mould stones. 16.
And that every Mason shall
cherish strange Fellows, when they come out of other countries and set
them on
work if he can, as the manner is, viz. -- if he have no stones, nor
moulds, in
that place, he shall refresh him with money to supply his necessities
until he
come to the next Lodge. 17.
Also that every Mason shall
perform his work truly and not sleightly, for his pay, and serve his
lord truly
for his wages. 18.
Also that every Master shall
truly make an end of his work, whether it be by task or journey, viz.,
by
measure or by days, and if he have his pay and all other covenants
performed to
him by the lord of the work according to the bargain. 19.
Also that no Mason shall be a
common ribald in lechery to make the Craft slandered. 20.
Also that every Mason shall work
truly upon the work day, that he may truly deserve his pay, and receive
it so
he may live honestly on the holiday. 21.
And also that you and every
Mason shall receive weekly (meekly) and godly (the) pay of your
paymaster, and
that you shall have due time of labour in the work, and of rest as is
ordained
by the Master's counsel. 22.
And also if any Fellows be at
discord you shall truly treat with them to be agreed, shewing favour to
neither
party, but wisely and truly for both, and that it be in such time that
the
lord's work be not hindered. 23.
And also if you stand Warden, or
have any power under the Master whom you serve, you shall be true to
him, and a
true mediator between the Master and your Fellows, to the uttermost of
your
power whilst you be in care. 24.
Also if you stand Steward either
of Lodge, Chambers, or common house, you shall give true accounts to
your
Fellows, at such time as they have accounts. 25.
And also if you have more
cunning than your Fellow that stands by you, and see him in danger to
spoil his
stone, and he asketh counsel of you, you shall inform and teach him
honestly,
so that the lord's work be not damaged.
THESE
Charges that we have now
rehearsed to you, and
|
3241-2 | L'EDIFICE - contact@ledifice.net | \ |