Ms. Masonic Constitutions (Or Charges) No. 2.

stan that Avas a worthy king in Engl , and he brought the land into good rest and peace agaiue and he building many great workes of Castles and Abbons ancl many other buddings and he loved masons A cry well , and he had a sone that Avas named

Hadrian and he loved masons much more then his father , for he Avas full of practice in Geomatry Avherefore he drewe hhnselfe to comance Avith masons and to learne of them ye craft and afterwards for love he had to masons and to the craft that he Avas

made mason himselfe , ancl he gott of the kinge his father a charter and a comission to hold evry yr an assemble , Avhere he would within ye realme and to correct Avith themselves statutes and trespasses , if it were done Avithin the craftand he held

, himselfe an assembly at Yorke and there he made masons and gave them charge and taught them maners of the masons and comanded that rule to be holden ever after

and to them tooke the charter and comission to keepe and ordaine that it should be ruled fro king to kinge Avhen this assembly was gathered togather , he caused a cry to be made yt all masons both yonge and old that had any Avritting or understanding of the charges that Avere made before in this

land or any othr land that they shew them forth and there was some in French , some in Greeke , some in English and some in other languages and the intent thereof was found and thereof comanded a booke to he made , IIOAV the craft Avas first found , " ancl

made and comanded that they should be read and toidd when auy mason should be made , and to give him his charge , and fro tyme to tyme , untill this day Masonrie hath bine kept in that forme and order , as well as might govrne tlie same , and furthermore at diverse assemblies hath bine put to ancl added certaine charges more by the best advises of maisters and fellowes .

Here followeth the worthy and godly oath of Masons : Every man that is a Mason take heed right well of this charge if yu finde yr selfe guiltie of any of these yt ye may amend yu againe , especially yu that are to he

charged take good heed yt yu may keepe this charge , for it is a great prill for a man to foresweare himselfe on a booke . 1 . —The first charge is yt yu shalbe a true man to ™ d and ye Holy church and that yu use no herisie ° '' crrour by yonr understanding or teaching of discreat men .

2 . —Alsoe yu shalbe true leige men to the kinge without treason or falshood , ancly t yu shall know no treason , hut that yu amend it if you may , or else warne the kinge or his counsel ! thereof 3 _ Alsoo yu shalbe true one to another , that is to say to ev Maister and fellowe of the craft of Masonrie that he Masons allowed and that yu doe to them as

yu would they should doe to you . 4—Alsoe that evry Mason keepe true counsel ! of lodge and chamber and all other counsell that ought to be kept by the way of Masonrie . 5 . —Alsoe that no Mason he theefe in company soe far forth as yu shall know . 6—Alsoe that shalbe true uuto the Lord and

. yu Maister that yu serve and tmely to see for his profitt ancl advantage , 7 . —Alsoe that yu doe no uncivilly in that house whereby the craft should be stayned .

These be charges in generall Avch evry Mason should hold , both Maisters and felloAVS . Now I Avdl rehearse other charges in singular for Maisters and fellowes . 1 , —That no Maister take upon him any Lords himselfe

worke nor other worke but that he knowe able and cuninge to pforme the same , so yt the craft have noe disworshipp but yt the Lord may be served and that truly . 2 . —Alsoe that noe Maister take any worke , but he take reasonable , so yt ye Lord may be trueJy served with his owno good , and tlie Maister to live honestly and pay his fellowes truly there pay as the manours of the craft doth require .

3 . —Alsoe that noe Maister nor fellowe shall subplant others of their worke , that is to say , if they have taken a worke or stand Maister of a Lord ' s worke , yu shall not put him out of it if he be able of cuning to end the work . 4 . —Alsoe that noe Maister or fellow take any apprentize to be allowed apprentize hut for 7 yeares ,

and that the apprentize he able of his birth ancl limes as he ought to he . 5 . —Alsoe that noe Maister nor fellow take allowance to be made a Mason without the assent of his fellowes , that at the least 5 or 6 , and that he that shalbe made a mason to be able ovr all syres , that is to say , tiiat he be free borne and of good kindred and no bondman and yt he have his right limes as a man ought to have .

6 . —Alsoe that no Maister put a Lord ' s man to taske that is used to goe to journey . 7 . —Alsoe that evry Mason shall give no pay for his fellowes but as he may deserve , for that he he not deceived by false workmen . S . —Alsoe no fellow within the lodge or without answer another ungodly without reasonable cause .

9 . —Alsoe that noe fellowe slander other falsely beh ' mde his backe to make him loose his good name or his worldly goods . 10 . —Alsoe evry Mason shall preferre his elder to put him to worshippe . 11 . —Alsoe that noe Mason shall play at Ilasartsor