The Records Of An Ancient Lodge.

not on ye Sabbath Day ) in y' case we av to keipe ye next day following under ye penal tie of * four pounds to be payit in to ye Lodge and also y' no prentises shal be entered recivit in but on ye foi-sd day under ye pcnaltio of Six pmicl Sco , s to bo upplyfted be yo forsd master mason & wardin for yo tyme as f ' is [ it is prevyded that a stranger prontis entered upon any other day procure a ticket fra the m ' mnssone , wardine and Box M ' w' consent of some nther & if possible who sail imploy some of y iramber to be present and tak y iugadgment for y ' inbringiug aud ive orders for ' effect morovor wo' consent first y' if

g y any enter of St . John's Day they are to pay 8 marks Scots w' snficient gloves to ye whole company to bo payed at ye next St . John's Dayf ] for the which entrie they are to pay ten pund Scots , & snficient gloves , and when any prentice is to be mad fi'io masson he is to pay 4 pund Scots & snficient gloves . Moreover the n consentforsds binds & obliges ns conjunctly < £ severalie y' we shall not tak others work over thov head , except wt consent of masson y was imployed first for y case it shall not be pcrmitit to any to meddle w'it so long as y is any thing restand him for his woi-ke or pannes done formerly and the breaking is to

pay a poanaltie according to the work & merit of ther fault , which partie breake shall be obliged to stand to ye determination of the Lodge for his wrong-done which penaltie is to bo payit to ye fors ' persons for ye tyme ( providing always they be comptable ) and Lastly , we bind and oblyge us conjunctly & severaly that we sail keip good order & correspondent each on w < other in tyme oommiiig in all poynts & and not to wrong ane another no manor or way which charge wo bind and oblige us & each one of us to keipe & fulfill as if everie particular charge were hoirin Insert belonging to ye said art and trade of massonrio abovewrittin and finalie the saids parties Under subscribing binds and obliges yir selves to observe keipo & fulfill ye haill premises to others iu sua for as they stand heirby . oblyged and the 1

parties farther oblige y" to pay ye partie observes ar willing to observe ther presents ye soume twentie marks Scots mony of Libnat penaltie & expenses by and alter ye fulfiling of ye premesses . And for ye mail- secui-itie . ye forsd parties foi-sd are content & consents ther parts be insert & registrat in ye book of oonnsall & sescion books of yo regalitie of Melrois or any oyr Ind gos * books competent and bo decerned to have ye stronth of ane Decreit Interpomed y ' to that letters & exells of horning may he directed hcreupone in soume as esseirs and to that effect constitutsj ther Lawfull proces In wittnes wh ' off ( written be andro nicin meason poi-tionei- § of Nensteid ) we haue subscribit ther presents

w' our hands day mouth place aud year of God above written Boffbr ther wittnesses John mein maltman portionere of Neusteid and Audi-o bimye weiver in Neusteid , Richard mein John mein yonger John Meine AIe . \ - Mom elder Jo Meirt witness , Andro Robson , Thomas bunye , Alex ' Mein yonger , Andro Mein elder , Radnor buuye witness , Robert bunnye yonger W tx Andro Mein A T Robert Bunnye elder Robert mein John Mein , Andro Willson Andro toronbnll , Adam AVatson , Jns Mein , David Mein I . M . Rob' Mein tounheid John mein , George Hall , Thomas Beinie R' Latie , James Alexander , Andro Cook S . Latie , John Mein Andrew Riddell

Osier , , John Tournbull , John Bunnye , Tho Wait , John Wnllis , James Mein , John bunye , Robt Bunye , Waiter Mathuwson John I . H . hewlet , Jo . Oumser James Bunye , George Miuto , John Cockburne , Johne Riddell , Nichol Rowat , Andro Mein , James Meane , James Laidlaw , William Mein , George Tnllie , James Pi-inglle , Robert mein , John Mein , Nichol Turnbull , John Pans , James Mein , William Milne , Robert Bmmvie , James Willson , James Mein , Andrew Mein , David Bunie , John Mein , Geo Hislop , David Pui-vies , Richard Mein , Robert Pringle , Thomas Williamson , Robt Bunvio , William Aichison , John Creamont , James Bunyio , Ja Mein , Ro Burne , John Mein , Alex ' Mein , John Wilson , Thomas Bunnyie . "

Besides proving the lodge to be , by internal evidence , of a considerable age , the very fact that the document was signed by over eighty names proves it also to have been in a flourishing condition . It is noteworth y the great number of similar names that appear at the foot of the document , particularly those of the family or families of Mein and Bunnye . One Avould imagine that the same individuals bad si gned the paper over and over again ; but the signatures

are really those of different individuals , though many bear the same christian ancl surname . It is also ivorth y of remark tliat we find in one or two instances the ancient brethren have appended their designations to their signatures ; thus we find one is a maltman , another a weaver , another a vintner , ancl another a hostler . This fact shews that even at that early date others than operative masons belonged to the Craft , and that the speculative element evidentl y obtained at that period . We now resume the consideration of the records in the old minute book . Before taking up the minutes in their regular order , we would note that at