The Wood Ms.

In Albone ' s tyme the Kinge of England who was a Pagan , walled a towne called Saint Albones . The said Albon was a worthie Knight , and was cheife Steward of the King ' s Realme , and also of the buildinge of the towne Avalles of Saint Albones . The said Albon loved Masons welland cherished them much .

, Also the said Albon made the Mason ' s wages three shillings and five pence a weeke standinge or continuallye ( as the Realme did then ) for their dnable wages . Before which time throughout the land a Mason tooke but a penny a daye , ancl meate and drinke , untill that St . Albon mended theire wages , and gave them a Charter from the Kinge and his Counsel ] , to hold a generall councell

, aud gave it the name of an Assemblye , ancl theareat he was himselfe , and gave them Charges and Orders to be observed amongst them as hereafter followeth . Presentlye after the death of St . Albon theare insued clivers warrs within the Realme of England throughout divers Nations , so that the good science of Masonry was destroyed unto the tyme of Kinge Adellstone his dayes who was

a worthie kinge of England , ancl subdued the Land , and governed it in peace . The same King Adelstone bnikled many great workes , as Abbeys , Castells , ToAvers , ancl diA'ers other buildings . He loved Masons well . . The same Kinge Adelstone had a sonne called Edwyn , who loved Masons much more than his father , Avherefore his father perswaded him to comune with Masons ( because he was a great practiser in Geometrie ) , and to learne of them their science . Afterward for love he had to Masons ancl to theire science ivas made Mason himselfe .

The aforesaid Edwin obtained of King Adelston his father a Charter , and a Commission to hold everye yeare an Assemblye or Councell , whearesoever himselfe with the Masones would , within the Realme of Bngland , to ordayne and make statutes within themselves , aud to correcte trespasses which iveare cornytted by any man within theire scyence . And the said Edwyn held asemblye or counsell himselfe at Yorke and there he made Masones and gave them Charges ancl taught them the order of Masones , and commauiided them that , those orders should be holden for ever after .

Ancl then the said Edwyn delivered to the Masons the said Charters and Comysions ancl made ordinances that should be observed and kepte from Kinge to Kinge to be renewed . When this Semblye was gathered together the saye Edwyn caused proclamation to be made which was as folloiveth

If theare be any old or young Masons that hath any writeinges or understandings of the Charges or Orders that weare made before in this Land or in any other Land that they should shewe them forth . Ancl then theare was found some writinges in frenche , some in Greeke and in Englishe , ancl some in other Languages , ancl the intent of them was found all one .

Then the said Edwyn caused a Booke of Orders to be made for the Masons , and how the scyence was founded , who commanded that the said booke should be read when any Mason should be made , and by the said booke to give and declare unto him charges and orders , and from that clay unto this day and tyme , the orders of . Masonrye hath beene observed and kept , and in that forme and maner governed as the Science required . Furthermore at clivers Assemblies or Counsels holden by the Masons , theare hath been added divers Charges or Orders more , by the best advise of Charters to be observed amonge the Masons . Tunc unus ex senioribus teneat libram , et tunc precepta debeat Segi . That