Comparison Of Mss.

COMPARISON OF MSS .

[ R OYAL MS . 17 A I . ; COTTOJJ MSS . CALIG . A . It . ; CLAUD . A . IL ] These three MSS ., though Avritten in different hands , ancl nominally referring to

different subjects , are connected very closely with one another , so much so that there are Avhole passages of exactly the same words in each , or rather , more strictly speaking , one of them contains passages Avhich occur in one or other of the other

two . In describing them I will take each separately , and give a short account thereof . Perhaps , before doing so , I should say that I am not a Freemason , ancl , therefore , am unable to say much upon the special

interest to members of the craft Avhich they may have , holding it true that one should have some slight knoAvledge of a subject before one Avrites about it—a truism by no means sufficiently regarded in these days . T

The Masonic Poem , Roy . MS . 17 A . I . This manuscript is a small book of thirty-three vellum leaves , measuring four inches by three . The text is in a hand of about the * latter portion of the 14 th

century , or quite early 15 th century , fairly Avritten in black , with rubricated headings . There are no attempts at illumination , either of borders or initial letters , the margins being left perfectly plain . The letters used are of an upright formand of

, Avhat is usually called the Gothic type , In accordance Avith the usual custom of the time the old Saxon letter ( borrowed from the Runic alphabet ) known as thorn is used to represent the sound of th . In later times this letter was confounded Avith

y and so Avritten , but in the MS . under consideration this confusion had not yet begun , ancl a different letter , ahvays clotted , is used in the case of the sound of y . The only other peculiar letter is the Saxon g ( written somewhat like the z of modern English manuscript ) , ancl this is used in many Avords which UOAV begin with y . The

MS . is in good preservation , the vellum rather thick , and but slightly discoloured by age , and no leaves are Avanting . As to the subject matter of the poem , much has been said upon it by Mr . J . 0 . HalliAvell , who has edited a printed edition

of it as part of an early History of Freemasonry . He maintains that the poem is a veritable record of tbe Masonic craft , and so indeed it doubtless may be , in the sense of being a poem on the trade of building , ancl on the guild of Masonsbut

, it seems to be A'ery little else besides that , ancl appears to have very little connection with what an outsider generally understands by Freemasonry , though , as I before implied , I cannot consider myself qualified to give an opinion on the subject . To me

it seems from what I read therein to be nothing more that a metrical version of the rules of an ordinary mediaeval guild , or perhaps a very superior and exemplary sort of trade ' s union , together Avith a number of pieces of advice for behaviour at church , ancl at table , or in the presence of superiors , tacked on at the end .

The subject of the poem is on this Avise . It begins Avith an account of the origin of Masonry , or , as it is called , Geometry , which it attributes to Euclid , and mentions Egypt as the birth-place of the Art . The preliminary discourse ends with the story of the introduction of Masonry into England by King Athelstan :

" Thys craft com into England as y you say , In tyme of good Kynge Athelstonus day , He made tho bothe halle and eke bowre , And hye templeis of gret honoure , To sportyn hym yn bothe clay and nygth , Au to worschep hys God with alle hys mygth . "

It then tells of how fifteen articles and fifteen points of Masonry were made by Athelstan , ancl on each of these points and articles it has something to say . They are very simple , and consist chiefly of good acb'ice to Master Masons in the choice of apprentices , and in their behaviour toAvards

their felloAvs , applicable to any trade as Avell as to Masonry , and , in some cases , to any men , Avhether of any craft or not . It is curious , however , to note that the word lodge ( spelt " logge" ) as applied to meetings of the craft , is used several times in these pieces of advice . The " points " are followed by a section of about three hun-