The Cooke Manuscript

THonkyd be god [Fol. 4] our glorious ffadir and fo|un| der and former of heuen and of erthe and of all thygis that in hym is that he wolde foche|s|aue of his glorius god hed for to make |s|o mony thyngis of d uers vertu for mankynd. [10] ffor he mader all thyngis for to be abedient & |s|oget to man ffor all thyngis that ben come|s| tible of hol|s|ome nature he ordeyned hit for manys |s|usty [Fol.4 b.] na|n|s. And all to be hath yif to man wittys and cony|n|g of dy|ver|s thyngys and craft tys by the whiche we may trauayle in this worlde to [20] gete |wit| our lyuyg to make diuers thingys to goddis ple |s|ans and also for our e|s|e and profyt. The whiche thingis if I |s|cholde reher|s|e hem hit wre to longe to telle and to wryte. Wherfor I woll leue. but I |s|chall |s|chew you |s|ome that is to |s|ey ho and in what [Fol. 5] wyse the |s|ciens of Gemetry [30] fir|s|te be ganne and who |wer| the founders therof and of othur craftis mo as hit is no tid in |the| bybill and in othur |s|tories. HOw and in what ma ner |th|at this worthy |s|ciens of Gemetry be gan I wole tell you as I sayde bi fore. ye |s|chall undirstonde [40] |that| |ther| ben vi|i| |liberall |s|ciens by the whiche vi|i| all |s|ciens and craftis in the world were [Fol. 5 b.] fyr|s|te founde. and in especiall for he is causer of all. |that| is to sey |the| |s|ciens of Gemetry of all other that be. the whiche v|i|i sci ens ben called thus. as for the fir|s|t |that| is called fundament of sciens his name is gra|mmer| [50] he techith a man ry|g|thfully to |s|peke and to write truly. The |s|econde is rethorik. and he te chith a man to |s|peke formabe ly and fayre. The thrid is dioletic|us|. and |that| |s|ciens techith a man to discerne the trowthe [Fol. 6] fro |the| fals and comenly it is tellid art or |s|oph’stry. The fourth ys callid ar|s|metryk |the| whiche [60] techeth a man the crafte of nowmbers for to rekyn and to make a coun|t| of all th|y|ge The ffte Gemetry the which techith a man all the met|t| and me|s|u|r|s and ponderat|o|n of wy|g|htis of all mans craf|t| The. vi. is musi|k| that techith a man the crafte of |s|ong in notys of voys and organ & [70] trompe and harp and of all [Fol. 6 b.] othur |p|teynyng to hem. The vi|i| is a|s|tronomy that techith man |the| cours of the |s|onne and of |the| moune and of ot|her| |s|terrys & planetys of heuen. OWr entent is princi pally to trete of fyrst fundacion of |the| worthe |s|cy|en|s of Gemetry and we were [80] |the| founders |ther| of as I seyde by fore there ben vi|i| liberall |s|cyens |that| is to |s|ay vi|i| |s|ciens or craftys that ben fre in hem selfe the whiche vi|i|. lyuen [Fol. 7.] only by Gemetry. And Ge metry is as moche to |s|ey as the me|s|ure of the erth Et sic dici|t| a geo |ge| q|ui|n |R| ter a latine & metro|n| quod |e| [90] men|s|ura. U|na| Gemetria. i, mens|u|r terre uel terra|rum|. that is to |s|ay in englische that Gemetria is I |s|eyd of geo |that| is in gru. erthe, and metro|n| |that| is to |s|ey me|s|ure. And thus is |this| nam of Gemetria c|om|pounyd as is|s|eyd the me|s|ur of |the| erthe. MErvile ye not that I |s|eyd that all |s|ciens lyu|e| [100] all only by the |s|ciens of Geme try. ffor there is none artifici|-| all ne honcrafte that is wro|g|th by manys hond bot hit is wrou|g|ght by Gemetry. and a notabull cau|s|e. for if a man worche |wit| his hondis he wor chyth |wit| so|m|e ma|nner| tole and |ther| is none in|s|trument of ma|-| teriall thingis in this worlde [110] but hit come of |the| kynde of erthe and to erthe hit wole turne a yen. and ther is n|one| [Fol. 8.] in|s|trument |that| is to |s|ay a tole to wirche |wit| but hit hath some p|ro|op|r|orcion more or la|s||s|e And some proporcion is me|s|ure the tole er the in|s|trment is erthe. And Gemetry is |s|aid the me|s|ure of erth|e| Whe|re| fore I may |s|ey |that| men lyuen all by Gemetry. ffor all men here in this worlde lyue by |the| labour of her hondys. MOny mo pbacions I wole telle yow why |that| Gemetry is the |s|ciens |that| all re [Fol. 8 b.] sonable m|e|n lyue by. but I leue hit at |this| tyme for |the| l|o|ge |pro|ce|s||s|e of wrytyng. And now [130] I woll|prp|cede forthe|r| on me ma ter. ye |s|chall under|s|tonde |that| amonge all |the| craftys of |the| worlde of mannes crafte ma|s|onry hath the mo|s|te no tabilite and mo|s|te |par|te of |this| |s|ciens Gemetry as hit is notid and |s|eyd in |s|toriall as in the bybyll and in the ma|s||ter| of |s|tories. And in poli/cronico [140] a cronycle |pri|nyd and in the [Fol. 9.] |s|tories |that| is named Beda De Imagine m|un|di & Isodo|rus| ethomologia|rum|. Methodius epus & marti|rus|. And ot|her| meny mo |s|eyd |that| ma|s|on|r|y is principall of Gemetry as me thenkyth hit may well be |s|ayd for hit was |the| first that was foundon as hit is [150] notid in the bybull in |the| first boke of Genesis in the iii|i| chap|ter|. And al|s|o all the doc tours afor|s|ayde acordeth |ther| to And |s||u|me of hem |s|eythe hit [Fol. 9. b.] more openly and playnly ry|g|t as his |s|eithe in the by bull Gene|s|is ADam is line linyalle |s|one de|s|cendyng doun|e| [160] the vi|i| age of adam byfore noes flode |ther| was a ma|n| |that| was clepyd lameth the whiche hadde i|i| wyffes |the| on hyght ada & a nother |s|ella by the fyr|s|t wyffe |th|at hyght ada |he| be gate i|i| |s|onys |that| one hyght Jobel and the o|ther| height juball. The elder |s|one [Fol 10.] Jobell he was the fists ma|n| [170] |that| e|ver| found gemetry and ma|s|onry. and he made how |s|is & namyd in |the| bybull Pa|ter| habitantci|um| in tento|-| ris atq|ue| pasto|rum| That is to |s|ay fader of men dwellyng in tentis |that| is dwellyng how|s|is. A. he was Cayin is ma|s||ter| ma|s|on and go|ver|nor of all his werkys whan [180] he made |the| Cite of Enoch that was the fir|s|te Cite that was the fir|s|t Cite |th|at [Fol. 10 b.] e|ver| was made and |that| made Kayme Adam is |s|one. |an|d yaf to his owne |s|one. Enoch and yaff the Cyte the n|am|e of his |s|one and kallyd hit Enoch. and now hit is callyd Effraym and |ther| wa|s| [190] |s|ciens of Gemetry and ma |s|onri fyr|s|t occupied and c|on|trenyd for a |s|ciens and for a crafte and |s|o we may |s|ey |that| hit was cav|s|e & f|un| dacion of all craftys and |s|ciens. And al|s|o |this| ma|n| [Fol. 11.] Jobell was called Pa|ter| Pasto|rum| THe mas|ter| of |s|tories [200] |s|eith and beda de yma gyna m|un|di policronicon & other mo |s|eyn that he wa|s| |th|e first that made de|per|ce|s|on of lond |that| e|ver|y man myght knowe his owne grounde and labou|re| the|re| on as for his owne. And also he de |par|tid flockes of |s|chepe |that| e|ver|y man myght know hi|s| [210] owne |s|chepe and |s|o we may [Fol. 11 b.] |s|ey that he was the fir|s|t founder of |that| |sciens. And his brother Juball. or tuball was founder of my|s|yke & |s|ong as pictogoras |s|eyth in policronycon and the |s|ame |s|eythe ylodou|re| in his ethemologi|i| in the v|i| boke there he |s|eythe that he was [220] |the| fir|s|t foundere of my|s|yke and |s|ong and of organ & trompe and he founde |th|at |s|ciens by the |s|oune of pon/deracion of his brotheris hamers |that| [Fol. 12.] was tubalcaym. SOthely as |the| bybull |s|eyth in the chapitre |that| is to |s|ey the iii|i| of Gene|s|' |that| he |s|eyth lameth gate apon [230] his other wiffe |that| height |s|ella a |s|one & a do|ou|c|ter| |the| names of th|em| were clepid tubalcaym |that| was |the| |s|one. & his doghter hight neema & as the poli cronycon |s|eyth |that| |s|ome men |s|ey |that| |s|che was noes wyffe we|ther| h|it| be |s|o o|ther| no we afferme/ hit nott YE |s|chul|le| under|s|tonde |that| |th|is |s|one tubalcaym [240] was founder of |s|mythis craft and o|ther| craft of meteil |that| is to |s|ey of eyron of braffe of golde & of |s|il|ver| as |s|ome docturs |s|eyn & his |s|ys|ter| neema was fynder of we|ver|scraft. for by fore |that| time was no cloth weuyn but they did spynne yerne and knytte hit & made h|em| |s|uch|e| [250] clothyng as they couthe but as |the| woman neema founde |the| craft of weuyng [Fol. 13.] & |ther|fore hit was kalled wo menys craft. and |th|es ii|i| brotheryn afore|s|ayd had know lyche |that| god wold take ven gans for |s|ynne o|ther| by fyre or watir and they had gre|ter| care how they my|s|t do to [260] |s|aue |the| |s|ciens that |th|ey fo|un|de and |th|ey toke her con|s|el|le| to gedyr & by all her wit|ts |th|ey |s|eyde |that| were. i|i| ma|ner| of |s|tonn of |s|uche |ver|tu |that| |the| one wolde ne|ver| brenne & |that| |s|to|ne| is callyd marbyll. & |that| o|ther| sto|ne| |that| woll not |s|ynke in wa|ter|. & |that| stone is named la|tr|us. and |s|o |th|ey deuy|s|yed to wryte all [270] |the| |s|ciens |that| |th|ey had ffounde in this i|i| |s|tonys if |that| god wol|de| take vengns by fyre |that| |the| marbyll |s|cholde not bren|ne| And yf god |s|ende vengans by wa|ter||that| |th|e o|ther| |s|cholde not droune. & so |th|ey prayed |ther| elder brother jobell |that| wold make i|i|. pillers of |th|es. i|i| |s|tones |that| is to |s|ey of marb|yll| [280] and of la|tr|us and |that| he wold [Fol. 14.] write in the i|i|. pylers al|l| |the| |s|ciens & craf|ts| |that| al|l| |th|ey had founde. and |s|o he did and |ther|for we may |s|ey |that| he was mo|s|t co|nn|yng in |s|ciens for he fyr|s|t bygan & |per|formed the end by for noes flode. KYndly knowyng of [290] |that| venganns |that| god wolde |s|end whether hit |s|cholde be bi fyre or by wa|ter| the bretherne hadde hit n|ot| by a ma|ner| of a |pro|phecy they [Fol. 14 b.] wi|s|t |that| god wold |s|end one |ther| of. and |ther| for thei writen he|re| |s|ciens in |the|. i|i|. pilers of |s|tone. And |s||u|me men |s|ey |that| |th|ey writen in |the|. |s|tonis [300] all |th|e. vi|i| |s|ciens. but as |th|ey in here mynde |that| a ven ganns |s|cholde come. And to hit was |that| god |s|entd ven ganns |s|o |that| |ther| come |s|uche a flode |th|at al|le| |the| worl was drowned. and al|le| men w|er| dede |ther| in |s|aue. vii|i|. |per|sonis And |that| was noe and his [Fol. 15.] wyffe. and his ii|i|. sonys & [310] here wyffes. of whiche. ii|i| sones a|ll| |the| world cam of. and here namys were na myd in this ma|ner|. Sem. Cam. & Japhet. And |this| flode was kalled noes flode ffor he & his children were |s|auyed |ther| in. And af|ter| this flode many yeres as |the| cronycle telleth thes. i|i| pillers were founde [320] & as |the| polycronicon |s|eyth |that| a grete clerke |that| callede puto|-|/goras |f|onde |that| one and hermes |the| philisophre fonde |that| other. & thei tought forthe |the| |s|ciens |that| thei fonde |ther| y wryten. Every cronycle and |s|to riall and meny other clerkys and the bybull in |pri|nci pall wittenes of the makyn|ge| [330] of the toure of babilon and hit is writen in |the| bibull Gene|sis Cap|ter| |x| wo |that| Cam noes |s|one gate nembrothe and he war a myghty man apon |the| erthe and he war a stron|ge| man like a Gyant and he w|as| [Fol. 16.] a grete Kyng. and the bygyn yn|ge| of his kyngdom was trew kyngd|om| of babilon and [340] arach. and archad. & talan & the lond if |s|ennare. And this same CamNemroth be gan |the| towre of babilon and he taught and he taught to his werkemwn |the| crafte of ma|s|uri and he had |wit| h|ym| mony ma|s|onys mo |th||an| |x|l |th|ou|s|and. and he louyd & chere|s|ched them well. and hit is wryten in policronicon and [350] in |the| mas|ter| of |s|tories and in other |s|tories mo. and |this| a part wytnes bybull in the |s|ame |x|. chap|ter| he |s|eyth |that| a |s|ure |that| was nye kynne to CamNembrothe yede owt of |the| londe of |s|enare and he bylled the Cie Nunyve and plateas and o|ther| mo |th|us he |s|eyth. De tra illa & de |s|ennare egreffus est a|s|u|re| [360] & edificauit Nunyven & pla|-| teas ciuiya|te| & cale & Jesu q|o|q|z| in|ter| nunyven & hec |est| Ciuita|s| magna. RE|s|on wolde |that| we |s|chold [Fol. 17.] tell opunly how & in what ma|ner| that |the| charges of ma|s|oncraft was fyr|s|t fo|un| dyd & ho yaf fir|s|t |the| name to hit of ma|s|onri and ye [370] |s|chyll knaw well |that| hit told and writen in policronicon & in methodus ep|iscopu|s and mar|ter| |that| a|s|ur |that| was a worthy lord of |s|ennare |s|ende to nembroth |the| kynge to |s|ende h|ym| ma|s|ons and workemen of craft |that| myght helpe hym to make his Cite |that| he was in wyll to make. [Fol. 17 b.] And nembroth |s|ende h|ym| |xxx| [380] C. of masons. And whan |th|ey |s|cholde go & |s|ende h|em| forth. he callyd hem by for h|ym| and |s|eyd to hem ye mo|s|t go to my co |s|yn a|s|ure to helpe h|ym| to bilde a cyte but loke |that| ye be well go|uer|nyd and I |s|chall yeue yov a charge |pro|fitable for you & me. WHen ye come to |that| lord [390] loke |that| ye be trewe to hym lyke as ye wolde be to me. and truly do your labour [Fol. 18.] and craft and takyt re|s|on|-| abull your mede |ther|for as ye may de|s|erue and al|s|o |that| ye loue to gedyr as ye were bre|th|eryn and holde to gedyr truly. & he |that| hath most c|on||yn|g teche hit to hys felaw and [400] louke ye go|uer|ne you ayen|s|t yowr lord and a monge yowr selfe. |that| I may haue worchyppe and thonke for me |s|endyng and techyng you the crafte. and |th|ey re|s|/ceyuyd the charge of h|ym| |that| was here [Fol. 18 b.] mai|s||ter| and here lorde. and wente forthe to a|s|ure. & bilde the cite of nunyve in [410] |the| count|r|e of plateas and o|ther| Cites mo |that| men call cale and Jesen |that| is a gret Cite bi twene Cale and nunyve And in this ma|ner| |the| craft of ma|s|onry was fyr|s|t |pre|fer ryd & chargyd hit for a |s|ci|en|s. ELders |that| we|re| bi for us of ma|s|ons had te|s|e charges wryten to hem as [420] we haue now in owr char [Fol. 19.] gys of |the| |s|tory of Enclidnis as we have |s|eyn hem writ|en| in latyn & in Fre|s|nche bothe but ho |that| Enclyd come to ge|-| metry re|s|on wolde we |s|cholde telle yow as hit is notid in the hybull & in other |s|tories. In |xii| Capitl|or| Gene|sis| he tellith how |that| abrah|am| com to [430] the lond of Canan and owre lord aperyd to h|ym| and |s|eyd I |s|chall geue this lond to |th|i |s|eed. but |ther| |s|yll a grete hun|ger| in |that| lond. And abraham toke [Fol. 19 b.] |s|ara his wiff |wit| him and yed in to Egypte in pylgre|-| mage whyle |the| hunger du red he wolde hyde |ther|. And A brah|am| as |the| cronycull |s|eyth [440] he was a wy|s|e man and a grete clerk. And covthe all |the|vi|i| |s|ciens. and taughte the egypeyans |the| |sciens of Gemetry. And this worthy clerk Enclidnis was his clerke and lerned of hym. And he yaue |the| fir|s|te name of Gemetry all be |that| hit [Fol. 20.] was ocupied bifor hit had [450] no name of gemetry. But hit is |s|eyd of ylodour Ethe mologia|rum| in |the| v. boke. Ethe mologia|rum| Cap|itolo| p'mo. |s|eyth |that| Enclyde was on of |the| fir|s|t founders of Gemetry & he yaue hit name. ffor |in| his tyme ther was a wa ter in |that| lond of Egypt |that| is callyd Nilo and hit flowid [460] |so| ferre in to |the| londe |that| men myght not dwelle |ther|in THen this worthi clerke Enclide taught hem to make grete wallys and diches to holde owt |the| watyr. and he by Gemet' me|s|ured |the| londe and de|par| tyd hit in dy|ver|s |par|tys. & mad e|ver|y man to clo|s|e his [470] awne |par|te |wit| walles and diches an |the|en hit be c|am|e a plentuos c|on|untre of all ma|ner| of freute and of yon|ge| peple of men and women that |ther| was |s|o myche pepull of yonge frute |that| they couth' not well lyue. And |the| lordys of the countre drew hem to gedyr and made a councell [480] how they myght helpe her childeryn |that| had no lyflode c|om|potente & abull for to fyn|de| hem selfe and here childron for |th|ey had |s|o many. and a mong hem all in councell was |this| worthy clerke Encli dnis and when he |s|a|we| |th|at all they cou|th|e not btynge a bout this mater. he |s|eyd [490] to hem woll ye take y|our| |s|on|ys| [Fol. 21 b.] in go|uer|nanns & I |s|chall tec|he| hen |s|uche a sciens |that| they |s|chall iyue ther by |j|entel manly vnder condicion |that| ye wyll be |s|wore to me to |per|fourme the go|uer|na|nn|s |that| I |s|chall |s|ette you too and hem bothe and the kyng of |the| londe and all |the| lordys [500] by one a|ss|ent gra|un|tyd |ther| too. REson wolde |that| e|uer|y m|an| woulde graunte to |that| thyng |that| were |pro|fetable to h|im| |s|elf. and they toke here |s|o [Fol 22.] nys to enclide to go|uer|ne hem at his owne wylle & he taught to hem the craft Masonry and yaf hit |th|e name of Gemetry by cav|s|e [510] of |the| |par|tyng of |the| grounde |that| he had taught to |the| peple in the time of |the| makyng of |the| wallys and diches a for |s|ayd to claw|s|e out |the| watyr. & I|s|odor |s|eyth in his Ethemolegies |that| Enclide callith the craft Gemetrya And |ther| this worthye clerke [Fol. 22 b.] yaf hit name and taught [520] hitt the lordis |s|onys of |the| londe |that| he had in his tech|in|g And he yaf h|em| a charge |that| they scholde calle here eche other ffelowe & no nother wise by cav|s|e |that| they were all of one crafte & of one gentyll berthe bore & lor|ds'| |s|onys. And also he |that| we|re| most of c|on|nyng scholde be [530] go|uer|nour of |the| werke and scholde be callyd mais|ter| & other charges mo |that| ben [Fol. 23.] wryten in |the| boke of char gys. And |s|o they wrought |with| lordys of |the| lond & made cities and tounys ca|s|telis & templis and lordis placis. WHat tyme |that |the| chil dren of i|s|rl dwellid [540] |in| egypte they lernyd |the| craft of masonry. And afturward |th|ey were dryuen ont of Egypte |th|ey come in to |th|e lond of bihest and is now callyd ierl|e|m and hit was ocupied & char [Fol. 23 b.] gys y holde. And |the| mak|yn|g of |s|alomonis tempull |that| Kyng Dauid be gan. k|yn|g [550] dauid louyd well ma|s|ons and he yaf hem ry|g|t nye as |th|ey be nowe. And at |the| makyng of |the| temple in |s|alomonis tyme as hit is seyd in |the| bibull in |the| ii|i| boke of Regu in |ter|cio Reg|um| Cap|itolo| quinto. That Salomon had iii|i|. score thow|s|and masons at [560] his werke. And |the| kyngi|s| [Fol 24.] |s|one of Tyry was |his| ma|s||ter| ma|s|en. And other crony clos hit is |s|eyd & in olde bokys of ma|s|onry that Salomon c|on|firmed |the| char gys |that| dauid has fadir had yeue to ma|s|ons. And |s|alo mon hym |s|elf taught h|em| here maners byt lityll [570] differans fro the maners that now ben u|s|yd. And fro thens |this| worthy |s|ciens was brought |in to fraunce And in to many o|ther| regi|on|s [Fol. 24 b.] SUmtyme ther w|as| a worthye kyng in ffrauns |that| was clepyd Ca rolus |s|'c|undu|s |that| ys to |s|ey Charlys |the| |s|ecunde. And |this| [580] Charlys was elyte kyng of ffrauns by the grace of god & by lynage also. And |s|u|mm|e men |s|ey |that| he was elite by fortune ||the| whiche is fals as by cronycle he was of |the| kynges blode Royal. And |this| |s|ame kyng Charlys was a ma|s|on [Fol. 25.] bi for |that| he was kyng. And [590] af|ter| |that| he was kyng he louyd ma|s|ons & cher|s|chid them and yaf hem chargys and ma|ner|ys at his deui|s|e |the| which|e| |s||um| ben yet u|s|ed in fraunce and he ordeynyd that |th|ey |s|cholde haue a |s|emly onys in |the| yere and come and |s|peke to gedyr and for to be reuled by ma|s|ters & felows [600] of thynges a my|ss|e. ANd |s||oo|ne af|ter| |that| come |s|eynt ad habell in to Englond [Fol. 25 b.] and he c|on||uer|tyd |s|eynt Albon to cristendome. And |s|eynt Albon lovyd well ma|s|ons and he yaf hem fyr|s|t he|re| charges & maners fyr|s|t in Englond. And he or deyned c|on|uenyent to pay [610] for |the| trauayle. And af|ter| |theat| was a worthy kyn|ge| in Englond |that| was callyd Athelstone and his yong est |s|one lovyd well the |s|ciens of Gemetry. and he wy|s|t well|that| hand craft [Fol. 26.] had the practyke of |the |s|ci ens of Gemetry to well as masons wherefore he [620] drewe hym |to| c|on|sell and ler nyd practyke of |that| |s|ciens to his |s|peculatyf. For of |s|pec culatyfe he was a ma|s||ter| and he lovyd well ma |s|onry and ma|s|ons. And he bicome a mason hym |s|elfe. And he yaf hem charg|es| and names as hit is now vsyd id Englond. and in [630] othere countries. And he [Fol. 26 b.] ordyned |that| |th|ey |s|chulde haue re|s|onabull pay. And pur cha|s|ed a fre patent of |the| k|y|ng that they |s|choulde make a |s|embly whan thei |s|awe re|-| |s|onably tyme a c|u| to gedir to he|re| counsel|le| of |the| whiche Charges manors & |s|emble as is write and taught |in| |th|e [640] boke of our charges wher for I leue hit at this tyme. GOod men for this cau|s|e and |this| man|er| ma|s|onry toke fir|s|te begyn|-| [Fol 27.] nyng. hit befyll |s||um|tyme |that| grete lordis had not |s|o grete po|s||s| e|s||s|ions |that| they myghte not a vaunce here fre bigeton childeryn for [650] |th|ey had so many. Therefore they toke coun|s|ell howe |th|ey my|g|t here childeryn ava|n|ce and ordeyn hem one|s|tly to lyue. And |s|ende af|ter| wy|s|e mai|s|ters of |the| worthy |s|ci ens of Gemetry |that| |they| thorou here wy|s|dome |s|chold ordey/ne hem |s||um| hone|s|t lyuyng [Fol. 27 b.] Then on of them |that| had |the| [660] name whiche was callyd Englet |that| was most |s|otell & wi|s|e founder ordeyned and art and callyd hit ma |s|onry. and so |with| his art ho nestly he tho|g|t |the| childeren of get lordis bi |the| pray er of |the| fathers and |the| fre will of here children. |the| wiche when thei tau|g|t |with| [670] hie Cure bi a |s|erteyn ty|me| |th|ey were not all ilyke ab/ull for to take of |the| for|s|eyde art [Fol. 28.] Wherefore |the| for|s|ayde mai|s||ter| Englet ordeynet thei were pa|s||s|ing of conyng |s|chold be pa|s||s|ing honoured. And ded to call |the| c|on|nyn|ger| mai|s|ter| for to enforme |the| la|s||s|e of c|on| nyng ma|s|ters of |the| wiche [680] were callyd ma|s|ters of no bilite of witte and c|on|nyng of |that| art. Ne|ver||th|ele|s||s|e |th|ei c|om| maundid |that| thei |that| were la|s||s|e of witte |s|chold not be callyd |s|eruan|ter| ner |s|ogett but felau ffor nobilite of here gentyll [Fol. 28 b.] nlode. In this ma|n|e|r| was |the| for|s|ayde art begunne |i|n |the| lond of Egypte by |the| for|s|ayde [690] mai|s||ter| Englat & so hit went fro lond to londe and fro k|yn|g dome to kyngdome af|ter| |that| ma|-| ny yeris in |the| tyme of kyng adhel|s|tone wiche was |s|um tyme kynge of Englonde bi his co|un|n|s|el|ler| and other gre|ter| lordys of |the| lond bi c|om|yn a|s||s|ent for grete defavt y fennde amon|ger| ma|s|ons |th|ei [700] ordeyned a certayne reule [Fol 29.] a mongys hom on tyme of |the| yere or in ii|i| yere as nede were to |the| kyn|g| and gret lordys of |the| londe and all |the| comente fro |pr|oynce to |pr|o|yn|ce and fro co|u|ntre to co|u|ntre c|on|gregacions |s|cholde be made by mai|s|ters of all mai|s||ter|s ma|s|ons and felaus in the [710] for|s|ayd art. And |s|o at |s|uche c|on|gregac|o|ns they |that| be mad ma|s|ters |s|chold be examined of |the| articuls af|ter| writen. & be ran|s|akyd whether thei be [Fol. 29 b.] abull and kunnyn|g| to |the| |pr| fyte of |the| lordys hem to serue and to |the| honour of |the| for|s|aid art and more o|uer| they |s|chulde receyue here charge |that| they [720] |s|chuld well and trewly di|s| pende |the| goodys of here lordis and as well |the| lowi|s|t as |the| hie|s|t for they ben her lordys for |the| tyme of whom |h|ei take here pay for here cervyce and for here trauayle. The fir|s|te article ys this |that| e|uer|y mai|s||ter| of |th|is art |s|chulde be wy|s||s|e and trewe to |the| lord |that| he [730] |s|eruyth di|s|pendyng his godis trule as he wolde his awne were di|s|pendyd. and not yefe more pay to no ma|s|on than he wot he may di|s|erue af|ter| |the| derthe of korne & vytayl in |the| c|o|ntry no fauour |with| stond|y|g for e|uer|y ma|n| to be rewardyd af|ter| his trauayle. The se|c|nd article is this |that| e|uer|y ma|s||ter| [740] of |this| art |s|cholde be warned by fore to cum to his cogrega|t| |that| thei com dewly but yf thei [Fol. 30 b.] may a|s||s|cu|s|yd by |s|ume ma|ner| cause. But ne|uer|le|s||s|e if |th|ey be founde rebell at |s|uche c|on| gregacions or fauty in eny ma|ner| harme of here lordys and reprene of this art thei |s|chulde not be excu|s|yd in no [750] ma|ner|e out take |per|ell of dethe and thow they be in |per|yll of dethe they |s|call warne |the| mai|s||ter| |that| is pryncipall of |the| gederyng of his de|s||s|e|s|e. |the| article is this |that| no ma|s||ter| take noprentes for la|s||s|e terme [Fol. 31.] than vi|i| yer at |the| le|s|t. by caus|e| whi |s|uche as ben |with| |i| la|s||s|e terme may not |pro|fitely [760] come to his art. nor abull to serue truly his lorde to take as a mason |s|chulde take. The iii|i| article is |this| |that| no ma|s||ter| for no |pro|fyte take no prentis for to be lernyd that is bore of bonde blode fore bi cau|s|e of his lorde to whom he is bonde woll tak|e| hym as he well may fro [770] his art & lede hym |with| h|ym| out of his logge or out of his place |that| he worchyth in for his felaus |per|auen|ter| wold help hym and debte for h|ym|. and thereoff man|s|laughter my|g|t ry|s|e hit is forbede. And also for a nother cau|s|e of his art hit toke begynnyng of grete lordis children frely beget|yn| [780] as hit is |i|seyd bi for. The v. article is thys |that| no ma|s|ter| yef more to his prentis in tyme of his prenti|s|hode for no |pro|phite to be take than he [Fol 32.] note well he may di|s||s|erue of |the| lorde |that| he |s|eruith |nor| not |s|o moche |that| |the| lorde of |the| place |that| he is taught |i|nne may haue |s|um |pro|fyte bi his te|-| [790] chyng. The v|i|. article is this |that| no ma|s||ter| for no coue ty|s|e ne|r| |pro|fite take no p|re|n tis to teche |that| is un|per|fyte |that| is to |s|ey havyng eny ma|ym| for |the| whiche he may not trewely worche as hym ought for to do. The vi|i|. article is this |that| np mai|s||ter| be [Fol. 32 b.] y founde wittyngly or help [800] or |pro|cure to be maynte|ner| & |s|u|s|tey|ner| any comyn ny|g|twal ker to robbe bi the whiche ma|ner| of ny|g|twalkin|g| thei may not fulfyll |ther| day|s| werke and traueyell thorow |the|c|on|dicion he|r| felaus my|g|t be made wrowthe. The vii|i| article is this |that| yf hit befall |that| any ma|s|on |that| be |per|fyte and [810] c|on|nyng come for to |s|eche werke and fynde any vn|per|fit and vnkunnyng worchyng [Fol. 33.] |the| ma|s||ter| of |the| place |s|chall re ceyue |the| |per|fite and do a wey |the| vn|per|fite to |the| |pro|fite of his lord The ix. article is this |th|at no mai|s||ter| |s|chall supplant a nother for hit is |s|eyd in |the| art of ma|s|onry |that| no man [820] |s|cholde make ende |s|o well of werke bigonne bi a no ther to |the| |pro|fite of his lorde as he bigan hit for to end hit bi his maters or to wh|om|e he |s|cheweth his maters. This councell ys made bi dy [Fol. 33 b.] uers lordis & mai|s|ters of dyvers |pro|vynces and di|uer|s c|on|gregacions of ma|s|onry [830] and hit is to wyte |that| who |that| covetyth for to come to the |s|tate of |that| for|s|eyd art hit be hoveth hem fyrst |pri|ncypally to god and holy chyrche & all halowis and his mas|ter| and his felowis as his a|wn|e brotheryn. The |s|econde poynt he mo|s|t fulfylle his dayes werke truly |that| he takyth for [840] his pay. The. ii|i|. |point| he can [Fol. 34.] hele the councell of his felo|ws| in logge and in chambere and in e|uer|y place |ther| as ma|s||on|s beth. The iii|i|. poynt |that| he be no di|s||s|eyver of |the| for|s|eyd art ne do no |pre|iudice ne |s|u|s|teyne none articles ayen|s|t |the| art ne a yen|s|t none of |the| art but he |s|chall |s|u|s|teyne hit [850] in all honovre in as moche as he may. The. v. poynt whan he schall take his pay |that| he take hit mekely as the tyme ys ordeynyd bi [Fol. 34 b.] the mai|s||ter| to be done and |that| he fulfylle the accepcions of trauayle and of his re|s|t y ordeyned and |s|ette by |the| mai|s||ter|. The. v|i|. poynt yf [860] eny di|s|corde |s|chall be bitwe ne hym & his felows he |s|chall a bey hym mekely & be stylle at |the| byddyng of his ma|s||ter| or of |the| wardeyne of his ma|s||ter| in his ma|s||ter|s absens to |the| holy day fo|-| lowyng and |that| he accorde then at |the| di|s|pocion of his felaus and not upon |the| wer [870] keday for lettyng of here werke and |pro|fyte of his lord The. vi|i|. poynt |that| he covet not |the| wyfe ne |the| doughter of his ma|s|ters no|ther| of his felaws but yf hit be in ma|-| tuge nor holde c|on|cubines for dy|s|cord |that| my|g|t fall a monges them. The. vii|i| poynt yf hit befalle hym [880] ffor to be wardeyne vndyr his ma|s||ter| |that| he be trewe mene bitwene his ma|s||ter| & his [Fol. 35 b.] felaws and |that| he be be|s|y in the ab|s|ence of his ma|s||ter| to |the| honor of his ma|s||ter| and |pro||-| fit to |the| lorde |that he |s|erueth The. iX. poynt yf he be wy|s|er and |s|otellere |th|an his felawe worchyng |with| hym in his [890] logge or in eny other place and he |per||s|eyue hit |that| he |s|chold lefe the stone |that| he worchyt a|-| pon for defawte of c|on|nyng and can teche hym and a mende |the| |s|tone he |s|chall en/forme hym and helpe h|im| |that| the more loue may encre|s|e among h|em| and |that| |the| werke of |the| lorde be not [900] lo|s|t. Whan the ma|s||ter| and |the| fe lawes be for warned ben y come to |s|uche c|on|gregac|on|ns if nede be |the| Schereffe of |the| countre or the mayer of |the| Cyte or alderman of |the| town|e| in wyche the c|on|gregac|on|s ys hold|en| |s|chall be felaw and so ciat to |the| ma|s||ter| of the c|on|gre gacion in helpe of h|ym| ayenst re [910] belles and vpberyng |the| ry|g|t of the reme. At |the| fyrst beg|yn| [Fol. 36 b.] nyng new men |that| ne|uer| we|re| chargyd bi fore beth charged in |th|is manere that |s|chold neuer be theuys nor |th|euys meynteners and |that| |s|chuld tryuly fulfyll he|re| dayes werke and truayle for he|re| pay that |th|ey |s|chull take of [920] here lord and trewe a coun|t| yeue to here felaus in th|yn| gys |that| be to be a countyd of hem and to here and hem loue as hem |s|elfe and they |s|chall be trew to the kynge of englond and to the reme and that they kepe |with| all |ther| my|g|t and all the articles a for |s|ayd. Af|ter| that hit |s|chall [930] be enqueryd if ony ma|s||ter| or felaw that is y warnyd haue y broke ony article be for|s|ayd the whiche if they haue done hit schall be de termyned |ther|. Therefore hit is to wyte if eny ma|s||ter| or felawe that is warnyd bifore to come to |s|uche c|on|gregac|on|ns and be rebell and woll not come or [Fol. 37 b.] els haue tre|s|pa|s||s|ed a yen|s|t any article befor|s|ayd if hit may be |pro|uyd he |s|chall for|-| |s|were his ma|s|onri and |s|chal no more v|s|e his craft. The whiche if he |pre||s|ume for to do |the| Sc|her|efe of |the| countre |in| |the| which he may be founde worchyn|ge| he |s|chall |pri||s|on h|im| & take all his godys |in| to |the| kynges hond [950] tyll his |gra|ce be |gra|ntyd h|im| & y |s|che wed for |this| cau|s|e |pri|ncipally w|her| |th|es c|on|gregat|on|ns ben y ordeyned that as well the lowist as [Fol 38.] as the hie|s|t |s|chuld be well and trewely y |s|eruyd in his art bifore|s|ayd thorow owt all the kyngdom of Englond. Amen |s|o mote hit be [960]