IMPORTANT MASONIC RECORD.

(Copied from a MS. Book in the Lansdown Collection, British Museum, indorsed" Burghley Papers, 98, Plut. lxxv. E." Art. 48.)

COMMUNICATED BY BRO. EDWARD MULLINS, W. M. BANK OF ENGLAND

LODGE, NO. 329.*

"Here begineth the true Order of Masonrie.--The might of the Father of the Heavens, the wisdome of the glorious Son, and the goodnesse of the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God, be with us now and ever. Amen.

"Good bretheren and fellows, our purpose is to shew you how and in what manner the noble and worthy Craft of Masonry was first founded and begun; and afterwards how it was confirmed by worthy kings and princes, and by many other worshipfull men; and also to all those that be heere. Weeminde to shew you that the charge that belongs to every trew Mason to keep: for in good faith, if you take good heed, it is well worthy to be kept, for a worthy Craft and curious science. Sirs, there be seaven liberall sciences, of the which the noble Craft of Masonry is one, and the seaven be these-the first is gramer, and that teacheth a man to spell and write trewly; the second is rethorick, and that teacheth a man to speake faire and subtill; the third is lodgick, and that teacheth a man to deserne the trew from the false; the fourth is arethmatick, and teacheth a man to recken and account all manner of accompts; the fifth is geometry, and that teacheth a man [mett] and measure of earth, and of all things, of the which this science is called geometry; the sixth is called musick, and that teacheth a man to sing with voyce and tongue, and organ, harp, and trump; the seaventh is called astronemy, and that teacheth a man to know the course of the sunn and the moone and the starrs. These be the seaven liberall sciences, of the which all be founded by one, which is geometry, and thus a man may prove that all the seaven sciences be founde by geometrie, for it teacheth a man [mett] and measure, ponderation, weight on all things on earth; for there is noe workman that worketh any craft, but he worketh by some mett or measure; and every man that buyeth or selleth, they buy or sell by some weight or measure, and all this is geometry; and the merchants, and all other craftsmen of the seaven sciences, and the plowmen and tillers of the earth, and sowers of all manner of graines, seeds, and vine-plants, and setters of all manner of fruites. For gramer, or arethmatick, nor astronomy, nor none of all the seaven sciences, can no man finde mett or measure in without geometry. Wherefore methinks that the said science of geometry is most worthy, and all the others be founded by it. But how this worthy science and Craft was first founded and begun I shall tell

*We request our esteemed correspondent to accept our thanks for the present communication, which goes far to disprove the vaunted declarations of those who have denounced Freemasonry as having any claims to antiquity. Bro. Mullins will pardon the liberty we take in giving publicity to the following opinion of the historian of Freemasonry on the subject of his paper:-"It is extremely valuable as an additional link in the chain of evidence to refute the absurd assertions of De Quincy, Dallaway, Soane, and their coadjutors, that Freemasonry was unknown before the seventeenth century, because these papers must have been written in the sixteenth.' We trust that Bro. Mullins will continue his valuable researches, and report progress.-ED.

you:-Before Noyes flood there was a man which was called Lameth, as it is written in the Bible, in the fourth chapter of Genesis, and this Lameth had two wifes, the one called Ada, the other called Sella, by the first wife Ada he begat a sonne and daughter. And these four children found the beginning of all these crafts and sciences in the world; for the eldest sonne Gabell found the craft or geometry, and he fed flocks of sheep and lambs in the field, and first wrought houses of stone, and he and his brother Jubal found the crafts of musick, song of mouth, harp and organ, and all other instruments; the third brother Tubalican found the smith-craft of gold and silver, iron and copper and steel; and the daughter found the craft of webbing; and these children knew well that God would take vengance for sinn, either by fire or water, wherefore they wrought the sciences they had founded in two pillers of stone, that they might be found afterwards; and the one stone was called Marble, for that would not burne in the fire, and the other stone was called latherne, and that would not be drowned with water. Our intent

is to tell you how and in what manner these stones was found, that these sciences was written on; the Herminerus, that was Cubb his sonne, the which Cubb Semet sonne, the which sonne was Noath's sonne, this same Herminerus was afterwards called Armes, the father of the wise men, he found one of the two pillers of stone, and found the science written thereon, and he taught it to others. And at the making of the tower of Babilon, was Masonrie first made there much of; and the King of Babilon, called Nemroth, who was a Mason himselfe, and loved well the rest, as is said with the masters of stories. And when the city of Ninevey, or the city of the East Port, should have bin made, Nemroth, the King of Babilon, sent thither sixty Masons of his region to the King of Ninevy his cozen; and when he sent them forth he gave them a charge in this manner:-The first was, that they should be trew to their king, lord, or master that they served; and that they should ordaine the most wise man to be master of the king or lord's worke that was amongst them; and neither for love, riches, nor favour to sett another, that had little cunninge, to be master of that worke, whereby the lord should bee ill served and the science ill defamed. Secondly, that they should call the governor of the worke Master, all the time they wrought with him; and other many more charges that were to long to write; and for the keeping of all these charges he made them sware a great oath, which men used at that time; and ordained for them reasonable pay, that they might live with honestie; and also he gave them in charge that they should assemble together every yeare, once to see how they might worke best to serve the king or lord, for their profitt and their owne workship; and also that they should correct within themselves those that had trespassed against the science or craft. And thus was this noble Craft first grounded there; and the worthy Mr. Ewclides gave it the name of geometry. And how it is called throughout all the world Masonrie, long after when the children of Israell were come into the land Berhest, which is now called the countrey of Jerusalem, where King David begun the temple, that is now called Templum Dei, and is named with us the Temple of Jerusalem; and the same King David loved Masons then right well, and gave them good pay, and he gave the charges and manners that he learned in Egipt, which were given by that worthy, Doctor Ewclid; and other more charges that you shall heare afterwards. And after the decease of King David then reigned Solloman, that was King David's sonne, and he performed out the temple that his father had begun; and

sent after Masons into divers countreys and into divers lands, and he gathered them togeather, so that he had twenty-four thousand workers of stone, and were all named Masons; and he chosed out of them three thousand, and were all ordained to be masters, rulers, and governors of his worke; and then was there a king of another region, which men called Iram, and he loved well King Solloman, and gave him timber to his work, and he had a sonne that was called a man that was master of geometry, and was chiefe Master of all his Masonrie, and of all his graving, carving, and all other masonry that belonged to the temple; this is witnessed in the Holy Bible (in libra regium quarto et tertio), this same Sollomon confirmed both the charges and the manners which his father had given, and thus was the worthy Craft of Masonrie confirmed in that countrey of Jerusalem, and many other regions and kingdomes men walked in divers countreys, some because of learning to learne more cunning, and some to teach them that had but little cunning; and soe it befell that there was a curious man named Namas Greecious, who had beene at the making of Solloman's temple, and he came from thence into France, and there he taught the science of Masonrie to men of that land; and so there was one of the royall line of France called Charles Marshall, and he was a man that loved well the said Craft, and took upon him the rules and manners; and after that by the grace of God he was elect to be the King of France; and when he was in his estate he helped to make those Masons that were now, and sett them on work, and gave them charges and manners and good pay, as he had learned of other Masons, and confirmed them a charter, from yeare to yeare, to hold their assembly when they would, and cherished them right well; and thus came this noble Craft into France. And England in that season stood void as foragine charge of Masons until St. Albanos; and St. Albanos was a worthy knight, and steward to the king of his household, and had goverment of his realme, and also of the making of the walls of the said towne; and he loved well Masons and cherished them much, and made there their pay right good, for he gave them three shillings and sixpence a-week, and three pence; before that time in all the land a Mason took but one penny and his meat till St. Albanos mended it; and he got them a charter of the king and his counsell for to hold a generall councell, and gave it to name assembly, thereat was he himselfe, and did help to make Masons and gave them charges, as you shall heare afterwards. Soone after the decease of St. Albanos there came diverse warrs into England out of diverse nations, so that the good rule of Masons was dishired and put downe untill the tyme of King Adilston; in his time there was a worthy king in England that brought this land into good rest, and he builded many great workes and buildings, therefore he loved well Masons, for he had a sonne called Edwin, the which loved Masons much more then his father did, and he was soe practized in geometry that he delighted much to come and talke with Masons, and to learne of them the Craft; and after, for the love he had to Masons and to the Craft, he was made Mason at Windsor; and he gott of the king his father a charter and commission once every yeare to have assembley within the realme where they would within England, and to correct within themselves faults and trespasses that were done as touching the Craft; and he held them an assembley at Yorke, and there he made Masons, and gave them charges and taught them the manners, and comands, the same to be kept ever afterwards, and tooke them the charter and commission to keepe their assembly, and ordained that it

should be renewed from king to king; and when the assembley were gathered togeather he made a cry that all old Masons or young that had any writeings or understanding of the charges and manners that were made before their lands wheresoever they were made Masons, that they should shew them forth; there were found some in French, some in Greek, some in Hebrew, and some in English, and some in other languages; and when they were read and over seen well, the intent of them was understood to be all one, and then he caused a booke to be made thereof, how this worthy Craft of Masonrie was first found, and he himself comanded, and also then caused that it should be read at any tyme when it should happen any Mason or Masons to be made, to give him or them their charges; and from that time untill this day manners of Masons have been kept in this manner and forme as well as men might governe it. And furthermore, at diverse assemblyes have been put and ordained diverse charges by the best advice of Masters and fellows (tunc unus ex senioribus tentat librum et ille ponent manum suam super librum). Every man that is a Mason take good heed to these charges. If any man finde himselfe guilty In any of these charges, wee pray that he may amend himselfe, or principally for dread of God, you that be charged take good heed that you keep all these charges well, for it is a great perill to a man to forsweare himselfe upon a booke.

"The first charge is, that you shall be true to God and holy church, and to use noe error or heresie, you understanding, and by wise men's teaching; also that you shall be true liege men to the King of England, without treason or any falshood, and that you know noe treason or treachery, but that ye amend and give knowledge thereof to the king or his councell; also that ye shall be true to one another (that is to say), every Mason of the Craft that is Mason allowed you shall doe to him as you would be done to yourselfe.

"Secondly, and ye shall keep truely all the councell of the lodge or of the chamber, and all the councell of the lodge that ought to be kept by the way of masonhood; also that you be noe theefe nor theeves; to your knowledge free; that you shall be true to the king, lord, or master that you serve, and truly to see and worke for his advantage; also you shall call all Masons your fellows or your brethren, and noe other names. Fourthly, also you shall not take yeur fellows wife in villoney, nor deflowre his daughter or servant, nor put him to disworship; also you shall pay truely for your meat or drinke wheresoever you goe to table or board, whereby the Craft or science may be slandered. These be the charges generall that belong to every true Masons, both Masters and fellows.

"Now I will rehearse other charges for Masons allowed.—

"First, that noe Mason take on him noe lords worke, nor other mans, but if he know himselfe well able to performe the worke, soe that the Craft have noe slander.

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Secondly, also that noe Master take noe worke but that he take reasonable pay for it, so that the lord may be truely served, and the Master to live honestly and to pay his fellows truely; also that no Master or fellow suplant others of their worke (that is to say), if he have taken a worke, or else stand Master of a worke, that he shall not put him out, without he be unable of cunning to make an end of his worke; also that noe Master nor fellow shall take noe prentice for lesse then seaven yeares, and that the prentice be able of birth, that is, free borne and of limbs whole as a man ought to be; and that noe Mason or fellow take no

allowance to be maid Mason without the assent of his fellows, at the least six or seaven; that he that be maide be able in all degrees, that is free borne and of a good kindred, true and no bondsman, and that he have his right limbes as a man ought to have.

"Thirdly, also that a Master take noe prentice without he have occupation sufficient to occupie two or three fellows at least.

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Fowerthly, also that noe Master or fellow put away lord's worke to tatke that ought to be journey_worke.

"Fifthly, also that every Master give pay to his fellows and servants as they may deserve, so that he be not defamed with false working. Sixthly, also that none slander another behind his back to make him loose his good name.

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Seaventhly, that noe fellow in the house or abroad answere another ungodly or reprovably without cause.

Eighthely, also that every Master Mason reverence his elder; also that a Mason be no comon player at the dice, cards, or hazard, nor at other unlawfull playes, through the which the science and Craft may be dishoner'd.

"Ninthly, also that noe Mason use no lethery, nor have been abroad, whereby the Craft may be dishonored or slandered.

Tenthly, also that noe fellow goe into the towne by night, except he have a fellow with him, who may beare record that he was in an honest place.

"Eleventhly, also that every Master and fellow shall come to the assembly, if it be within fifty miles of him, if he have any warning, and if he have trespassed against the Craft, to abide the award of Master and fellows.

"Twelfthly, also that every Master Mason and fellow that have trespassd against the Craft, shall stand in correcion of other Masters and fellows to make him accord, and if they cannot accord to goe to the comon law.

Thirteenthly, also that a Master or fellow make not a moulde stone, square, nor rule to no lowen, nor sett no lowen worke within the lodge nor without to no mould stone.

"Fourteenthly, also that every Mason receive or cherish strange fellows when they come over the countrey, and sett them on worke if they will worke as the manner is (that is to say) if the Mason have any moulde stone in his place on worke, and if he have none, the Mason shall refresh him with money unto the next lodge.

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Fifteenthly, also that every Mason shall truely serve his Master for

his pay.

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Sixteenthly, also that every Master shall truely make an end of his worke, taske, or journey, whether soe it be.

"These be all the charges and covenants that ought to be had read att the makeing of a Mason or Masons.

"The Almighty God who have you and me in his keeping, Amen.”