The Old Charges Of The British Freemasons.

And alsoe ythee or ihey bee true to ye King without Treason , or any other falshood , And y t they shall Conceal noe Treason nor Treachery , but discover it if they can . Ancl alsoe you shall be true Each one to other , ( yt is to say ) to every Mason of ye Craft of Masonry yt bee Masons allowed , you sball doe to them as they would they should doe to you .

Ancl alsoe you keep all ye Councells of Lodge & Chambr & all other Councells yfc ought to bee kept by way of Masonhood . And alsoe yt noe Mason shall steale or use Theft , soe far as hee knows or unstanes . And alsoe hee shalbe true to ye Lord or Mr , yt he serveth & trul y labour for his profitt & advantage .

Ancl alsoe ye shall call Masons yor brethren , or else yor fellow & not any foule name . And alsoe you shall not take yor fellows wife in Villany , or desire his daughtr uiigodingly , nor his servant , nor to putt him to any disgrace . And alsoe yt you pay truly for ye meat ancl drink ivhere you goe to bedel , or board , whereby ye Craft might not be slandered thereby .

These bee ye charges in generall , which belongeth to every true Mason to keep , both Mastrs & Fellows . Rehearse I ivoulcl other charges singular for Mastrs & Fellows . First y t noe Mastr shall take upon him a Lords nor noe mans work , but first yt hee knows himselfe to bee able in skill to p'forme it , Soe yt ye Craft shall haA'e no disgrace or slander , but yt ye Lord may be well seiwecl .

And also noe Mastr shall take work , but yt hee take it reasonabl y , so yt ye Lord bee truly seiwecl with his owne good , & ye Mastr to live honestl y & pay his Fellows truly their pay as ye rnannr is . Ancl alsoe yt noe Mastr or Fellows shall not supplant others of their work ( that is to say ) if hee take any work , or stands as Mastr of ye Lords work , you shall not putt him out , but if not expert in Cunning for to end ye work , then putt him out .

And alsoe yt noe Mastr or Fellow take an Apprentice within ye terms of Seaven yeares , and yt ye Apprentice bee able of Birth , freeborne ' & of Limbs whole as a man ought to bee . And alsoe ytnoe Mastr or Fellow take allowance to bee made Mason without ye assent and consent of his Fellows att vi or i'ii eA'en yeares , And he yt shalbee made Mason in all mannr of degrees ( that is to say ) Free borne & come of good kindred & honest & noe bondman . Ancl alsoe t hee have his

y rig ht limbs as a man ought to have . Ancl alsoe yt noe Mason shall take an Apprentice except hee have sufficient occupacon to occupie or two Fellows , or else Three att ye least . And alsoe yt noe Mastr or Fellow putt noe Lords work to taske that was not wont to goe to Journey . Ancl alsoe yt every Mr shall give pay to his Fellows as they deserveSoe t

, y you bee not deceived hy false workmen . And alsoe yt none speak evilly behind another ' s back , soe hee loose his good name or his wordly goods . Ancl alsoe yt noe fellow within ye lodge or Avithout misansquire ungodly or reprevable without reasonable cause . And alsoe yt every * Mason shall reverence his Elder and putt him to Worship

. And alsoe yt no Mason shalbee any Gomon Player att hazard or att ye dice or att any other unlawfull playes , whereby ye Craft might be slanded . And alsoe yt any Mason shall not exercise himselfe in Lecherie nor bee no bawde whereby ye Craft might be slandered .