Freemasonry In The Seventeenth Century: Chester, 1650-1700.

The fourth is "Mercatura , the trade of Mercliandizieng , " & c . ; the fifth . " Armatura , the skill of loorlcing in all sorts of Mettles , " & c . ; the sixth is " Ars Yenatoria , the Art of . Hunting , " & G ; and the seventh ancl last is " TJieatrica , the Art and skill of Plays , " & c . Each of these is extended and explained b y Randle Holme as in the case of Architecture , and Sir John Feme adds little or nothing that needs to be quoted here .

On page 111 ., * in his review of the various trades , occurs : — " Terms of Art used by Free Masons Stone-Cutters . " Then follows " Guttering , is to make Gutters or Furrows in the top of the Rock , thereby to loosen it from the rest of the Rock .

" Rigalding , is to set in the Wedges . Setting , " and eleven other terms of similar character . In the catalogue of the " Names of Stons according to their bigness , and the use they are put to , " are fourteen descriptions of stones , from which I select the following : — " Rough stone , or Penny stone , such as are rough cut out of the Quarry , and are without any shape or form to make work of . " Perpin , are less than the size of Ashlers . " Ashler , is a Stone , a Yard long and 8 , 9 , or 10 inches square , according as the work will bear it . "

He adds : " There are several other terms used by the Free-Masons which belong to buildings , Pillars and Cohimhs , to which place I shall refer you , lib . 3 , chap . 13 , numb . 55-56 , & c . " He then describes the " Terms of Art used hj Free-Masons . " These include Antiques or Antique-Work , Architrave , Abacus , Annulets , Astragal , Buttresses , Battlements , & o ., & 6 . As an example of the Mason in coat armour , he gives : f beareth

" He Argent , upon an Hill in Base , Vert , a Mason skabling of an Ashler , Or . Wastcoat , Gnles , Hat , Breeches , Stockings and shoos , Sable , Pick-Axe Azure . By the help of Masonry the most glorious Structures in the World have been set up ; as if their Art did endeavour to imitate the Handy Work of God , in making little Worlds in the great Fabrick of the Universe . " Again . + Randle Holme speaks of a " CitMason " to repair Walls & c

y , , " who besides his Wages daily hath an Yearl y Sallery , " ancl a " City Paver , " to keep the streets , & c , in order . On page 393 , § is the entry which has caused me to put together these notes , it runs as follows , under the heading of " Masons Tools . " It appears to have never before been noticed , and I need hardly call attention to its importance . The italics are mine .

"I cannot [ writes Randle Holme ] but Honor the Felloship of the Masons because of its Antiquity ; and the more , as being a Member of that Society , catted Free-Masons . In being conversant amongst them I have observed the use of these several Tools following some whereof I have seen born in Coats Armour . " || " CXLI . In this square % are threeFree Masons tools very usefull in their tradeThe first is Shovel ¦

. a . It hath hath ( sic ) a square bottom , and sole , else it is in all other parts like the spade . With this their Morter is tempered , and foundations for Walls are digged . This is an honorable bearing , A . one S . shood 0 , born by [ the famil y of ] Salbrait . B . 3 such 0 . shooed A . is bom by Shoveberg . " He then describes the Hand Hammer , or Mason ' s Hammer , Chissel , Mason ' s Pick , Axe , Punch : —