EDITION

SOURCES OF FREEMASONRY

HARLEIAN

MANUSCRIPT

TRANSLATED BY:

KARLO HAMEDER

BOOK No. 11

Rukopis Harley

(c. 1600. n.e.)

Prevod: Karla Hamedera

Ova e-knjiga posvećena je Katarini Karlu i Violi

Izvor:

Harleian Manuscript

(ca. 1600. CE.)

Translation by Karlo Hameder

This book is dedicated to Catherine Karl and Viola

Source:

UVOD

Harlievska Zbirka, koju je sačinio gospodin Robert Harli (Robert Harley), kasnije Erl od Oksforda i Mortimera, sadrži oko 10.000 svezaka rukopisa i više od 16.000 originalnih svitaka, povelja itd., čija je glavna namera da ilustruje istoriju, zakone, običaje i starine Engleske. U čitavoj ovoj velikoj zbirci postoje samo dva rukopisa koji se odnose na Slobodno zidarstvo; jedan u tomu 1942, koji smo reprodukovali u II svesku. ove serije Prepisa; i drugi u svesku 2054, koji dajemo ovde.

Ovaj svezak 2054 opisan je u službenom katalogu Britanskog muzeja sledećim rečima: "Knjiga u foliju koja se sastoji od mnogih traktata i slobodnih radova Randl Holma d.rugog i dr. … i prikaza glavnih sadržaja u ovoj knjizi od strane Randl Holma trećeg." Svezak sadrži transkripte povelja dodeljenih mnogim različitim zanatima, cehovima ili kompanijama Cestera (Chester). Transkribovali su ih Randl Holm drugi i treći, ponekad su datirani a ponekad ne, ali se pretpostavlja da su svi originali nastali pre 1600.

Rukopis sa kojim se ovde bavimo nesumnjivo je pisan rukom Randla Holma trećeg. Cesterski Holmovi, ded, otac i sin, svi istog imena Randl, svi su, jedan za drugim, bili zamenici Kralja grbova za grbove Cešira, Lankašira, Šropšira i Severnog Velsa (Cheshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, North Wales), a sledila su ih još dvojica istoga imena. Prvi je umro 1654-5., drugi 1649. godine (prema Br:. V. H. Rajlandsu (Rylands), koji je ispravio opšteprihvaćeni datum 1659.), a treći se rodio 24. decembra 1627. a umro 12. marta 1699-1700. Br:. R. F. Guld (Gould) stoga predlaže da je "1650. prilično rana godina za transkripciju "ovog dokumenta, ali original očigledno potiče iz ranijih vremena. On, međutim, na osnovu internih dokaza koje izvodi iz spiska imena, preferira c. 1665. godinu kao verovatniju. Randl Holm in. sam je bio Slobodni zidar, ne od struke, jer je bio herold, već po pripadnosti, što je vidljivo iz sledećeg citata iz njegovog dela, "Akademija Grbova " (Academie of Armory) (1688): -" Ne mogu a da ne poštujem Masonsku zajednicu zbog njene drevnosti; i još i više, pošto sam član tog Društva zvanog Slobodni zidari."

Sam rukopis se sastoji od četiri lista, koji sadrže šest i po gusto ispisanih stranica. Vodeni žig je nejasan i nema datum. Sledi ga format 33 od parčadi papira nepravilno otcepljenih, što se vidi na konturama našeg faksimila koji je ispisan istom rukom, što je očigledno bio oblik zakletve koji je tada davan kandidatima, gde je početna izjava bila od velike važnosti, otkrivajući, kako se čini, činjenicu da su Masonski znaci prepoznavanja čak i tada bili složenog karaktera. Da bi se uštedeo prostor ovaj fragment je reprodukovan u podnožju "Konstitucije"; umesto da zauzima celu stranicu kao u originalu.

Nakon toga, format 34, je spisak imena, bez sumnje, članova Lože, i mislim da predstavlja memorandum Rizničara o uplatama za inicijaciju. Što se tiče drugog popisa i njegovog sažetka u podnožju, sve je prilično jednostavno, ali pet imena na vrhu stranice sa crtama preko redaka nije tako lako objasniti; nisu uključeni u rezime, niti se crte slažu u potpunosti sa njim. Br:. Rajlands je marljivo ispitao testamente većine ove Braće, te se na osnovu njegovog iscrpnog članka u Masonskom časopisu iz 1882., može pretpostaviti da su samo četvorica bili Zidari po struci.

Prema klasifikaciji dr Begemana (Begemann), rukopis potiče od jednog ogranka Sloun porodice Sloun (Sloane). Guld (Gould) ga stavlja u (svoju) klasu 2, među one koji se sada čuvaju, ili su ranije čuvani, u Loži; prema tome velika (skoro najveća) njegova vrednost leži u dokazu, sa pravne tačke gledišta.

Rukopis je prethodno štampan u Hjuanovim (Hughan) Masonskim skicama i prepisima i u Masonskom časopisu, 1873. Br:. Rajlands je takođe reprodukovao delove rukopisa u obliku faksimila, kao prefiks svom eseju u Masonskom časopisu 1882. godine. Sada je, po prvi put, u potpunosti prikazan kao faksimil te je, po raznim osnovama, jedan od najzanimljivijih takvih dokumenata koji postoje.

Introduction

THE Hairleian Collection, made by Mr. Robert Harley (afterwards Earl of Oxford and Mortimer,) consists of about 10,000 volumes of Manuscripts, and more than 16,000 original Rolls, Charters, etc., the main tendency of which is to illustrate the history, laws, customs and antiquities of England. In all this large collection there are but two manuscripts relating to Freemasonry; one in volume 1942, which we reproduced in volume II. of this series of Reprints; and another in volume 2054, which is now given.

This volume, 2054, is thus described in the official catalogue of the British Museum: — "A book in folio consisting of many tracts and loose papers by the second Randle Holme and others … and the third Randle Holme's account of the principal matters contained in this book." It contains transcripts of charters granted to a great many different trades, guilds or companies of Chester. They are transcribed by the second and third Randle Holme, sometimes dated and sometimes not, but the originals of all are supposed to be previous to 1600.

The particular MS. with which we are dealing is undoubtedly in the handwriting of the third Randle Holme. The Holmes of Chester, grandfather, father and son, all bearing the name of Randle, were each in turn deputy to Garter King of Arms for Cheshire, Lancashire, Shropshire, and North Wales and they were followed by two others of the same name. The first died in 1654-5, the second in 1649 (according to Bro. W. H. Rylands, who has corrected the usually received date of 1659), and the third was born on Dec. 24th, 1627, and died March 12th, 1699-1700. Bro. Robert Freke Gould, therefore, suggests that "1650 is quite early enough for the Transcription" of this document, but the original was obviously earlier. He, however, from internal evidence suggested by the list of names, prefers the date of circa 1665 as more probable. Randle Holme in was himself a Freemason, not by trade, being a herald, but by affiliation, as is evident by the following quotation from his work, "Academie of Armory" (1688): … "I cannot but Honor the Fellowship of the Masons because of its Antiquity; and the more, as being a Member of that Society, called Free-Masons."

The manuscript itself consists of four leaves, containing six-and-a-half pages of close writing. The water-mark is indistinct and bears no date. It is followed on fo. 33 by a scrap of paper torn off irregularly, as shown by the contour of our facsimile, on which is written in the same hand, what was apparently a form of oath administered to the candidates in those days, the initial statement being of great importance, revealing, as it seems to do, the fact that the Masonic tokens of recognition were even then of a complex nature. To save space this fragment has been reproduced at the foot of the "Constitutions" proper; instead of occupying a page to itself as in the original.

Following this, on fo. 34, is a list of names, doubtless the members of a lodge, and I fancy it represents a memorandum by the Lodge-Master of payments made for initiation. As regards the second list and the summary thereof at the foot, all is fairly plain sailing, but the five names at the top of the page, with the marks across the lines, are not so easily accounted for. They are not included in the summary, neither do the strokes quite agree with it. Bro. Rylands has laboriously traced the wills of most of these brethren, and from his exhaustive article in the Masonic Magazine, 1882, it may be assumed that only four were Masons by trade.

According to Dr. Begemann's classification, the manuscript is of the Sloane branch of the Sloane Family. Gould places it in (his) class 2, among those now or formerly in Lodge custody; thus according it high (almost the highest) value as evidence from a legal point of view.

It has previously been printed in Hughan's Masonic Sketches and Reprints, and in the Masonic Magazine, 1873. Parts of it were also reproduced in facsimile by Bro. Rylands, prefixed to his essay in the Masonic Magazine, 1882. It is now for the first time wholly presented in facsimile, and is, from various points of view, one of the most interesting of these documents extant.

RUKOPIS HARLEY Br. 2054

[A.Q.C. tom. v. 64]

Redovi i Konstitucije Slobodnih zidara

Moć oca nebesa, sa mudrošću slavnoga sina i kroz dobrotu duha svetoga, koji su tri lika u jednom Bogu, neka bude sa nama od našega početka i neka nam da milost i vodi nas u našem životu, da bismo dopali u njegovo blaženstvo koje treba da bude večno.

Dobra Braćo i kolege svrha nam je da vam kažemo kako je i na koji način ovaj nauk Zidarstva nastao, te kako je potom zasnovan od strane dostojnih kraljeva i prinčeva i mnogih drugih vrlih ljudi, a isto tako da bi za njih postojao, objavićemo dužnosti koje se odnose na svakog pravog Zidara; treba da ih čuvaju, jer u dobroj nameri ako se dobro paze i dobro održavaju, dostojno poverenje i zanimanje za nauku će da steknu, jer postoji 7 liberalnih nauka od kojih je ovo jedna: prva je gramatika koja uči čoveka da govori i piše istinito; druga je retorika koja uči čoveka da govori prefinjeno, suptilnim rečima; treća je logika, koja uči da se razluči istina od neistine; četvrta je aritmetika koja podučava računanju i preračunavanju svih načina brojeva; peta se zove geometrija i podučava čoveka merama i merenju zemlje i drugih stvari, kao i nauku Zidarstva; šesta je muzika koja uči pevanju i sviranju orgulja i harfe; sedma se naziva astrologija koja uči kretanju sunca i meseca kao i drugih ukrasa neba.

To je 7 liberalnih nauka, koje bi sve bile jedna nauka, tj. geometrija; na taj način čovek može da dokaže da su sve nauke na svetu zasnovane na geometriji, jer ona podučava meri i merenju, proučava i određuje sve vidove zemlje i nema čoveka koji obavlja bilo koji zanat a da ne koristi neku meru i merenje, i svi koriste geometriju: zanatlije i trgovci ne nalaze (korist) od ijedne druge nauke, a naročito orači i oni koji obrađuju zemlju i polja, vinograde, gaje bilje, te prodavci plodova i zrna, a ni astronomija niti ijedna druga nauka ne može da pronađe meru ili merenje bez geometrije: zato smatram da je ta nauka najvrednija jer se sve ostale zasnivaju na njoj. Zato ću vam reći kako je ta nauka nastala: Pre Noinog potopa beše čovek po imenu Lamet (Lameth), kako piše u poglavlju 4 Knjige Postanka: Taj Lamet imade dve žene, jedna se zvala Ada, a druga Sila (Seala) i od prve žene Ade dobi on 2 sina od kojih se jedan zvao Džabel (Jabell), a drugi Džubel (Jubell), a od druge žene dobi sina i kćer i to četvoro dece zasnovaše sve zanate na svetu. Taj Džabel beše najstariji sin i on osnova nauk geometrije i podeli stada ovaca i jaganjaca u polju i prvi načini kuću od kamena i drveta. Zabeleženo je u gornjem poglavlju da njegov brat Džubal stvori muziku sa pevanjem, harfom i orguljama, a brat Džubalov započe zanat kovački i obrađivaše gvožđe i čelik, a njihova sestra zasnuje tkanje. Ta su deca znala da će se Bog osvetiti za Greh, bilo vatrom ili vodom, te stoga ispisaše Nauke, koje su tada postojale, na dva kamena stuba koji bi se pronašli nakon potopa: jedan je stub bio od mermera i vatra ga nije mogla uništiti, a drugi se zvao Latera, kojeg voda nije mogla da potopi. Namera nam je da vam iskreno kažemo kako i na koji način su ti kameni stubovi pronađeni, na kojima ti zanati behu ispisani na grčkom. Hermenestat (Hermenesthat) beše sin Usa (Ous), a Kas (Cas) beše sin Šema (Shem) koji beše Noin sin. Istog tog Hermenesa kasnije nazvaše Hermes, otac mudrih; on je našao 2 kamena stuba na kojima Nauke behu ispisane i podučavao ih je uz pomoć oba stuba, a pri gradnji Vavilonske kule prvi put se pojavio nauk Zidarstva i učinio mnogo i kralj Vavilona, koji se zvao Hembrot (Hembroth) ili Nembrot (Nembroth) beše Zidar i mnogo voleše taj zanat, kako rekoše pripovedači. Kada su Niniva i drugi gradovi istočne Azije trebali da se grade, kralj Vavilona posla tamo šezdeset zidara, po želji kralja Ninive, njegovog rođaka. Kada ovi podoše, on im da dužnosti po kojima treba da budu iskreni, da se istinski drže zajedno i treba da, za svoju nadnicu, služe gospodara verno: tako da bi bilo koristi od njihovog slanja, a dao im je i druge dužnosti i beše to prvi put da je neki Zidar dobio neku zanatsku dužnost; štaviše, kada su Avram i žena mu Sara otišli u Egipat, Egipćani su podučavani tim 7 Naukama. Bio je tu učen čovek imenom Euklid i znao je mnogo jer je bio Majstor svih 7 nauka i desilo se u njegovo vreme da su gospodari toga kraljevstva imali toliko sinova, koje su dobili od svojih žena i svojih robinja (jer je zemlja bila sveta zemlja i obilovala je generacijama i ne mogaše da obezbede odgovarajući život za svoju decu, pa stu, stoga, bili jako tužni) i Kralj te zemlje uputi molbu i zatraži savet o tome kako da toj deci pronađe sredstva pošto nije znao način da to ostvari, te razasla glasnike po celom kraljevstvu da pronađu nekoga ko bi ga obavestio o rešenju, pa taj neka mu dođe i biće bogato nagrađen i sam dobro plaćen; nakon tog poziva pojavi se taj vrsni službenik Euklid koji reče Kralju i njegovoj gospodi: ako hoćeš da se deca odgajaju i podučavaju kao gospoda, treba da se ispuni jedan uslov, da mi daš zadućenje po kom mogu da vladam njima pošteno, onako kako te Nauke zahtevaju; a Kralj i njegov savet pristanu i zapečate to zadućenje pa tada taj vrsni doktor uze sinove gospode i poduči ih praksi nauke geometrije da rade na sve načine Zidarstva, da grade zamkove, svakojake hramove i crkve u čast Gospoda i ostale zgrade i da im dužnosti u tom smislu, prvo da treba da budu iskreni prema Kralju i gospodarima koje služe, da treba da se vole i da budu iskreni jedni prema drugima, da se međusobno oslovljavaju kolegama, a ne slugama ili momcima ili drugim neprikladnim imenima i da treba iskreno da zasluže svoju nadnicu i treba da odrede najmudrijeg da bude Majstor gospodarevih radova i ne treba da zbog ljubavi, dobrog života niti zbog bogatstva postave nekog drugog koji nema dovoljno veštine da bude Majstor gospodarevih radova, čime ovaj ne bi bio dobro služen ili bi oni sami bili osramoćeni, a trebalo bi da upravnika radova zovu Majstorom radova dok rade sa njim, kao i mnoge druge dužnosti koje bi bilo predugo nabrojati. I naterao ih je da se zakunu na sve te dužnosti, kakav je u ta vremena bio običaj, i odredio razumnu nadnicu kako bi se svi pošteno držali pravila, a takođe da treba da se okupe zajedno sa drugima da se posavetuju u vezi svog zanata, da bi radili najbolje, na zadovoljstvo svoga gospodara i obezbedili mu profit, te da poštuju Boga i isprave svoje greške ako su zgrešili.

I tako je nauk geometrije tamo određen, a taj vrsni Gospodin mu dade ime Geometrija i u toj zemlji se dugo nakon toga zvalo Zidarstvo: sada je ono među nama u zemlji Jerusalimu gde je Kralj David započeo gradnju Hrama jerusalimskog, hram posvećen Bogu, a isti Kralj David mnogo voleše Zidare i brinuše o njima i dade im dobre nadnice i dužnosti za vremena koja slede. Nakon smrti Kralja Davida, Solomon, koji beše njegov sin, završi hram koji započe njegov otac i kasnije okupi Zidare iz različitih zemalja tako da imaše četiri puta po hiljadu radnika koji obrađivahu kamen i oni su se zvali kameno-zidari i imaše njih tri hiljade koji su bili Majstori i nadzornici i beše tamo jedan kralj iz jednog drugog kraja koga su zvali Hiram, i taj je mnogo voleo Kralja Solomona i dao mu je drvnu građu za njegove radove, a imaše sina koji se zvao Ajnon (Aynon) i taj beše Majstor geometrije i bio je upravnik svih Zidara i Majstor svih klesarskih radova i svih drugih Zidara koji su radili na hramu i o tome postoji svedočanstvo u Bibliji u Samuilovoj Knjizi 2: poglavlje 5 i tom sinu Solomon potvrdi i dužnosti i manire koje njegov otac beše dao Zidarima i to beše taj vrstan nauk Zidarstva u zemlji Jerusalimu i mnogim drugim kraljevstvima u koja su vršioci zanata odlazili, neki da bi učili, a neki da bi podučavali druge svom zanatu, pa se tako desilo da je radoznali zidar po imenu Nimus Grekus (Nymus Graecus), koji beše radio na gradnji Solomonovog hrama, došao u Francusku i podučavao čoveka po imenu Šarl Martel (Charles Martill) koji mnogo voleše taj nauk, pa ga je on privukao tom Nimus Grekusu i tu izuči od njega Zanat i primi dužnosti i manire, pa kasnije, milošću Božjom, postade Kralj Francuske pa kad beše na svom posedu uze mnoge Zidare i proizvede ih tamo gde ih nije bilo i da im posao i dodeli im i dužnosti i manire i dobre nadnice, što sazna od drugih Zidara, i potvrdi im povelju od 7 do 7 da drže tamo. I tako nauk dospe u Francusku.

A u to vreme Engleska beše bez dužnosti ili Zidarstva sve do vremena Sv. Albana i u to vreme Kralj Engleske beše paganin i Sv. Alban izgradi zidine oko grada koji se sada zove po njemu i u njegovo vreme vrli vitez beše izabran da bude Nadzornik Kralja i upravljao je kraljevinom a takođe i gradnjom zidina grada, a mnogo je voleo Zidare i štitio ih i davao im dobre nadnice kako je dolikovalo Kraljevstvu jer im je svake sedmice isplaćivao 3 šilinga i 6 penija udvostručujući im nadnice, mada pre tog vremena u celoj zemlji Zidar uzimao 1 peni dnevno. A posle tog vremena Sv. Alban to ispravi i obezbedi im je povelju od Kralja i njegovog Saveta i odredi Skupštinu u kojoj je i on sam učestvovao i proizveo Zidare i dao im dužnosti o kojima ćeš čuti kasnije. Nakon smrti Sv. Albana sledili su mučni ratovi sa drugim državama jer je dobra vlast Zidara uništena i nije postojala sve do vremena Kralja Atelstana (Athelstan) koji beše vrli Kralj Engleske i smirio je prilike u zemlji i ponovo joj doneo mir i izgradio mnoge fine zamkove i opatije i mnoge druge zgrade i mnogo je voleo Zidare i imaše sina imenom Hadrijan koji voleše Zidare i više od oca svog jer je upražnjavao geometriju čime je sarađivao sa Zidarima i svakim od njih u zanatu, a kasnije je, iz ljubavi prema Zidarima i zanatu, i sam postao Zidar, te je od Kralja, njegovog oca pribavio povelju i zaduženje da održava svakog 7 skupštinu gdegod bi želeo u granicama kraljevine, i putem statuta ispravi prekršaje ako ih je bilo u okviru nauka , te je održao skupštinu u Jorku gde je inicirao Zidare i dao im dužnosti i podučio ih manirima zidara i zapovedio da se to pravilo održava do daljnjeg i uzeo za njih povelju i zaduženje da se skupštine održavaju i dalje i naredio da se se to pravilo prenosi od kralja do kralja. Kada se skupština okupila pozvao je sve zidare, i mlade i stare koji su imali nekakav dokument ili razumevanje dužnosti koji je ispostavljen ranije u ovoj ili bilo kojoj drugoj zemlji, da ga prikažu; bilo ih je na francuskom, grčkom, engleskom i na drugim jezicima, a cilj im je bio isti, te je zapovedio da se sastavi knjiga o tome kako je nauk nastao i takođe je zapovedio da se ta knjiga pročita i objasni svaki put kad se inicira neki zidar i daju mu se dužnosti, te s vremena na vreme, sve do današnjeg dana, zidarstvo se održalo u tom obliku i redu, kao i da se na isti način vodi skupština, štaviše, različite skupštine i da se na osnovu najboljih saveta Majstora i pomoćnika dodaju izvesne dužnosti.

THE HARLEIAN, No. 2054 MANUSCRIPT

[A.Q.C. vol. v. 64]

The free Masons' orders and constitutions.

THE might of the father of heaven, with the wisdom of the glorious son, through the goodness of the holy ghost that are 3 persons in one God, be with us at our beginning and give us grace to govern us in our living, that we may come to his bliss that shall never end.

Good Brethern and fellows, our purpose is to tell you how and in what manner this craft of Masonry was begun, and founded afterwards, by worthy kings and princes and many other worthy men, and also to those who be here we will declare to them the charges that every true Mason shall keep, for in good sooth if you take heed thereto, it is well worth keeping it for a worthy trust and curiosity in Science. There are 7 liberal Sciences of which it is one: the first is Grammar that teaches a man to speak truly and to write truly; the second is Rhetoric that teaches a man to speak nicely and in subtle terms; the third is Logic that teaches to discern truth from falshood; the fourth is Arithmetic that teaches to count and recount all the manners of numbers; the fifth is called Geometry and it teaches a man to meter and measure the earth and other things, whose science is Masonry; the sixth is Music which teaches singing or playing the organ and the harp; the seventh is called Astrology which teaches the knowledge of the course of the sun and the moon and other ornaments of the heaven.

These are the 7 liberal Sciences, which are all one science, that is to say Geometry; thus may a man prove that all the Sciences in the world have been founded by Geometry for it teaches to meter and measure, ponder and weigh in all manners the earth and there is no man who works in any craft and does not use some measure and weight and all is Geometry and craftsmen and merchants find no other of the 7 Sciences like Geometry and especially plowmen and tillers and men of the ground, who tend fields, vines and plants, sellers of all fruits and grains, nor Astronomy or any of all these sciences can find a single measure or meter without Geometry: wherefore I think that that Science is the worthiest, which founded all the others. How this worthy Science was first begun I shall tell you: before Noah's flood there was a man called Lamech, as it is written in the 4th chapter of Genesis, and this Lameth had 2 wives; one was called Ada and the other Seala, and from the first wife Ada he got 2 sons - one was called Jabell and the othe one Jubell and from the other wife he had one son and a daughter and these four children founded the beginning of all the crafts in the whole of the world. This Jabell was the elder son and he founded the craft of Geometry, and he departed flocks of sheep and lambs in the field and he first wrought a house of Stone and wood and it is noted in the aforesaid chapter that his brother Juball founded the Music of singing, the harp and the organ. The Brother of Juball founded the Smith's craft of iron and steele and their sister founded weaving and these children knew that God would take vengeance for the Sin either by fire or water wherefore they wrote the Sciences that were founded on two pillars of stone that might be found after the flood: one of the two stones was called marble, which cannot be burnt by fire, the other was called Latera which cannot sink in water. Our intent is to tell you truly how and in what manner these stones, where these crafts were written in Greek, were found. Hermenesthat was the son of Zeus and Cas was the son of Shem, who was the son of Noah. The same Hermenes was afterwards called Hermes, the father of wise men, and he found the 2 pillars of Stone where the Sciences were written and taught them all that were written on both pillars and at the making of the tower of Babilon the craft of Masonry was first founded and it created much and the King of Babilon, who was called Nimrod or Nembroth, was a Mason and loved the craft a lot, as it is said by the Master of Stories, and when the city of Nineveh and other cities of Est Asia were to be made, the King of Babilon sent there sixty masons at the desire of the King of Ninive, his cousin. Before they went forth, he gave them charges so that they should be true and line together truly, and that they should serve the Lord truly for their payment: so that he might have a reason for sending them, and he gave them other charges and that was was the first time that any Mason had any charge of the craft. Moreover, when Abraham and Sarah, his wife, went to Egypt, 7 Sciences were taught to the Egyptians and they had a worthy scholar called Euclid and he was a well learned man and he was Master of all the 7 Sciences and it befell in his day that the Lords of the Realm had so many sons that they had got some from their wives and some from Ladies of the Realm (for the land is a holy land and replenished with generations and they had no competent living for their children, wherefore they made much sorrow, and the King of the land asked for a counsel and made an appeal to know how they might find their children means and they could find no good ways and sent messengers throughout the Realm asking if there was any man that could inform him, that he should come to him and he would be well rewarded and should himself be well paid; and after this appeal was made, there came this worthy clerk Euclid and said to the King and all his great Lords: if you let your children be governed and taught honestly as gentlemen, they should be under one condition - you will grant me a comission that I may have power to rule them honestly, as these Sciences ought to be ruled; and the King, together with his Council granted him and sealed that comission and then the worthy Doctor took the Lords' sons and taught them the practice of this Science of Geometry, to do Masonry and all manners of worthy jobs that refer to building castles and all kinds of temples and churches of the Lord, with all other buildings and he gave them charges in the following manner: first, they should be true to the King and to the lords they serve and they should love each other and be true to one another and they should call each other Fellows and not servants or knaves nor other foul names and they should truly deserve their payment from their Lord that they serve and they should ordain the wisest to be Master of the Lord's works and neither for love, great living, nor for riches, they should set another one that has little cunning to be Master no. 1 of the Lord's works, whereby he might be badly served or they be ashamed and that they should call the governor of the works Master of the Works while they work with him, and he (Euclid) gave many other charges which would be too long to tell you. And to all these charges he made them swear the great oath that men used at that time, and ordained for them reasonable payment so that they might line by it honestly and also that they should come and assemble with others, that he might share counsel in their craft, so that they might work best to serve their Lord for the profit and worship and correct their sins if they had tresspassed.

And thus the craft of Geometry was governed there and that worthy Master gave it the name of Geometry and it is called Masonry in this land long afterwards: it is now amongst us in the country of Jerusalem where King David began the temple of Jerusalem, i.e. the templum dei, and the same King David loved Masons a lot and cherished them and gave them good payment and he gave charges that hereafter and after the decease of King David, Solomon, that was the son of David, performed the temple that his father had begun and Solomon was sent Masons from diverse lands and gathered them together so that he had fourscore thousand workers of Stone and they were named Masons, and he had three thousand of them who were ordained Masters and governors: and there was a King in an other Region that men called Hyram and he loved King Solomon a lot and gave him timber for his works and he had a son who was named Aynon and he was Master of Geometry and he was the chief Master of all his Masons and Master of all his graving works and of all other Masons that worked on the temple and this is found in the Bible in Book 2 Samuel: chapter 5 and this son Solomon confirmed both the charges and manners that his father had given to Masons and this was the worthy craft of the Masons concerned in the country of Jerusalem and in many other glorious Kingdoms and craftsmen were walking abroad to diverse countries, some because of learning more craft and some others to teach their craft; and so it happened that a curious Mason who was named Nymus Graecus and had been at the making of Salomon's temple and came into France and there he taught the craft of Masonry to the man of France that was named Charles Martel, who loved this craft a lot and was drawn to this Namus Greacus and learned from him the Craft and took upon himself the charges and manners and afterwards, by the grace of God, he was elected King of France and when he was in his estate he took many Masons and made Masons where there had been none and got them into the works and gave them both charges and manners and good payment, which he had learned from other Masons, and confirmed them a charter to hold there. And thus came the craft into France.

And in those times England was void both of any charges or Masonry until the time of St. Alban, and in that time the King of England, who was a pagan, he walled the town that is now called St. Alban, and in Alban's time the worthy Knight was chosen Steward to the King and he had governed the Realm and also the making of the town walls, and he loved Masons a lot and cherished them and made the payment of their wages good, as the Realm did require, for he gave them every week 3s 6d to double their wages, though before that time all over the land a Mason took 1d a day and after that time St. Alban mended it; he got them a charter from the King and his Council and gave it the name of Assembly and he himself was in it, and he made Masons and gave them charges as we shall hear hereafter. After the decease of St. Alban there came grave wars with other nations into England, for the good rule of Masonry was destroyed until the time of Athelstan, who was a worthy King in England: and he brought the land into good rest and peace again and he built many great Castles and Abbeys and many other buildings and he loved Masons very much and he had a son who was called Hadrian and he loved Masons much more than his father, for he practised Geometry, wherefore he drew himself to Masons and through some of them to the craft and afterwards, for the love he had for Masons and for the craft, he was made a Mason himself and he got from the King, his father, a charter and a comission to hold every 7 an assembly, where he would, within the Realm, correct themselves the statutes and trespasses, if they happened within the craft and he himself held an assembly at York where he made Masons and gave them charges and taught them manners of the masons and commanded those Rules to be held ever after and took the charter and comission for them to keep and ordained that it should be respected from King to King. When that assembly gathered, he proclaimed that all Masons, both young and old, who had any writing or understanding of the charges, which were made before in this land or any other land, to show them and there were some in French, some in Greek, some in English and some in other languages, and the intent therof was the same, and he comanded a book to be made on how the craft was first founded and made and he commanded that it should be read and explained when a mason was to be made and given his charges and from time to time, until this day, Masonry has been kept in that form and order, as well as it might be governed in the same way: furthermore at diverse assemblies, certain charges have been put forward and added according to the best advice of Masters and fellows.

Vrla i pobožna zakletva Zidara

Svaki Zidar treba da pazi na svoje dužnosti ako se nađe krivim za kršenje bilo koje od njih i naročito treba da pazi ako je optužen za nepoštovanje neke od njih da se drži te dužnosti, jer za čoveka predstavlja veliko pročišćenje da se zakune na knjigu.

1)   Prva je dužnost da se bude iskren prema Bogu i svetoj crkvi i čovek treba da bude oprezan da se ne oda jeresu niti pravi grešku u razumevanju ili učenju.
2)   Takođe, treba da budete verni Kralju da se čuvate izdaje i laži i ne treba da znate za izdaju već da je popravite ako je ima ili upozorite Kralja ili njegov savet na nju.

3)   Takođe, treba da budete iskreni jedan prema drugom, tj. prema svakom Majstoru i pomoćniku nauka Zidarstva koji su prihvaćeni Zidari i treba prema njima da se odnosite onako kako biste hteli da se oni odnose prema vama.
4)   Takođe svaki Zidar treba da prihvata savete Lože i Komore i sve druge savete kojih treba da se pridržava na osnovu pripadnosti Zidarstvu.
5)   Takođe u Društvu ne sme da bude lopova, po najboljem znanju svih.
6)   Takođe treba da budeš iskren prema gospodaru i majstoru kojeg služiš i iskreno imaš na umu njegov profit i prednost.
7)   Takođe ne smeš da budeš neučtiv u kući u kojoj bi nauk trebao da bude smešten.

Here follows the worthy & godly oath of Masons.

Every man that is a Mason shall take heed well of these charges and if he finds himself guilty of any of them, he may amend it; especially of those for which might be charged with he shall take good heed to respect them for it is a great prill for a man to foreswear himself on a book.

1)   The first charge is that you shall be true men to God and the holy church & that you shall use no heresy nor error in your understanding or teaching of discreet men.
2)   Also you shall be true Liege men to the King, without treason or falsehood, and you shall know no treason, but that you shall amend it if you may, or else warn the King or his Council thereof.
3)   Also you shall be true one to another, that is to say to yout Master and fellows of the craft of Masonry who are accepted Masons, and that you shall behave to them, as you would like them to behave to you.
4)   Also that every Mason shall keep truly the counsel of the Lodge and the Chamber and all other counsel that ought to be kept by the way of Masonry.
5)   Also that no Mason shall be a thief in the company as far as you shall know.
6)   Also that you shall be true to the Lord & Master who you serve and truly see to his profit and advantage.

7)   Also that you shall do no uncivility in the house where the craft should stay.

Ovo su opšte dužnosti kojih treba da se pridržava svaki Zidar bez obzira da li je Majstor ili Pomoćnik.
Sada ću navesti ostale dužnosti, u jednini,
za Majstore i Pomoćnike.

1)   Nijedan majstor ne treba da se prihvata posla kod gospodara niti nekog drugog posla ako sam nije sposoban i vešt da ga izvrši, da nauk ne bi izgubio čast i da bi gospodar bio verno služen.
2)   Takođe, svaki Majstor treba da se prihvta posla koji razumno može da izvrši, tako da bi gospodar bio verno služen za svoje dobro, a Majstor mogao da živi pošteno i plaća svoje pomoćnike adekvatno, onako kako struka zahteva.
3)   Takođe, nijedan Majstor ili pomoćnik ne sme da zameni drugog u njegovom poslu, tj. ako se taj prihvatio posla ili tezge Majstora gospodarevih radova, ne smeš da ga lišiš tog posla, ako je ovaj dovoljno vešt da ga završi.
4)   Takođe, nijedan Majstor ili pomoćnik ne treba da uzme učenika na manje od 7 godina, a i taj treba da bude dobroga roda i da su mu svi udovi na broju, kako je normalno.

5)   Takođe, nijedan Majstor niti pomoćnik ne treba da postane Zidar bez pristanka najmanje petoro ili šestoro svojih kolega, da on koji treba da postane Zidar treba da zadovolji sve uslove, tj. da je slobodnog roda i dobroga porekla i da nije kmet i da mu svi udovi budu na broju, kao kod drugih ljudi.
6)   Takođe, da nijedan Majstor ne sme da angažuje gospodarevog čoveka koji treba da pođe na put (šegrtuje).
7)   Takođe, svaki Zidar treba da plati svoje pomoćnike samo onoliko koliko ovi zasluže, da ga ne bi prevarili lažni radnici.

8)   Takođe, niko u Loži ili van nje ne treba drugom da odgovori na bezbožan način bez razumnog razloga.
9)   Takođe, nijedan član Lože ne sme da ogovara drugog iza njegovih leđa, da bi ovaj izgubio dobar glas ili da bi ga lišio imovine.
10)   Takođe, svaki Zidar treba da poštuje svog Starešinu.
11)   Takođe, nijedan Zidar ne sme da učestvuje u igrama na sreću ili drugim nezakonitim igrama, čime bi mogao da izgubi dobar glas.
12)   Takođe, nijedan Zidar ne sme da bude sklon razvratu, da na taj način šteti nauku i nijedan pomoćnik ne sme, bez pratnje drugog pomoćnika, da ide u grad gde postoji pomoćnička loža, da bi pratilac mogao da posvedoči da je ovaj bio u časnom društvu.
13)   Takođe, svaki Majstor i pomoćnik moraju da dođu na skupštinu ako se ona održava u krugu od pet milja od njegovog mesta stanovanja, ako primi poziv, i treba da bude na raspolaganju ostalim Majstorima i pomoćnicima.
14)   Takođe, svaki Majstor i pomoćnik, ako je zgrešio, treba da bude na raspolaganju ostalim Majstorima i pomoćnicima, da omogući ovima da se slože (ako mogu), ali ako ne mogu, da prihvati običajno pravo.
15)   Takođe, nijedan Zidar ne sme da izrađuje kalupe, kvadratne ili ravne, za bilo kakve grube slojeve.
16)   Takođe, nijedan Zidar ne sme da postavlja slojeve u okviru lože bez da ima kamenove izlivene jednim kalupom svoje izrade.
17)   Takođe, kada neko dođe u našu zemlju, treba da ga zaposli kako dolikuje, tj. ako su izliveni kamenovi na mestu, zaposliće ga na najmanje dve sedmice i dati mu svoj najam, a ako za njega nema kamenova, treba da mu da nešto novca i otpravi u sledeću ložu.
18)   Takođe, svaki zidar treba da služi verno i završi posao pošteno, bez obzira da li se radi o zadatku ili šegrtovanju, ako je plaćen kako treba.

tunc unus ex senioribus teneat libru et illi vel ille teneat
libra et …
tunc incip. hie jurare sodales.

Ove dužnosti koje smo naveli, kao i sve druge u vezi Zidarstva, po najboljem svom umenju, neka ti pomogne Bog i sadržaj ove knjige.

Kraj

Ima nekoliko reči i znakova Slobodnih zidara koji će ti se otkriti i na koje ćeš odgovarati: pred Bogom, na dan velikog i strašnog suda; treba da čuvaš tajnu i ne smeš je otkriti ušima ijedne osobe izuzev Majstorima i pomoćnicima navedenog Društva Slobodnih zidara, tako mi Bog pomogao: koje je Villiam Vade napravio da postane slobodni zidar.

These be the charges in general which every Mason
should hold to, both Masters and fellows.
Now I will rehearse other charges in singular
for Masters and fellows:

1)   that no Master shall take upon him any Lord's work nor other work but only that which he knows himself and is able and cunning to perform, so that the craft have no disworship but the Lord may be served truly.
2)   Also that no Master shall take any work but that which is reasonable, so that the lord may be truly served for his own good, and the Master to live honestly and pay his fellows truly as the manners of the craft do require.
3)   Also that no Master and no fellow shall subplant others of their work, that is to say, if they have taken a job or the stand of the Master of a lord's works, they shall not put him out of it if he is able or cunning to end the works.
4)   Also that no Master or fellow shall take any apprentice, who is an accepted apprentice, for fewer than 7 years, and that the apprentice is able from birth and have all the limbs as he ought to.
5)   Also that no Master nor fellow shall take allowance to be made a Mason without the assent of his fellows, that is at the least 5 or 6 of them, and that he that shall be made a mason to hold against all our tests, that is to say that he shall be free born and be of a good kindred and not be a bondman and have all his limbs as a man ought to have.
6)   Also that no Master shall put a Lord's man to task who is about to go on a journey.
7)   Also that every Mason shall give no pay to his fellows just as much as they may deserve, so that he may not be deceived by false workmen.
8)   Also no fellow within the lodge, or without, shall answer in an other ungodly way without a reasonable cause.
9)   Also that no fellow shall slander an other falsly behind his back to make him lose his good name or his worldly goods.

10)   Also every Mason shall prefer to worship his Elder.
11)   Also that no Mason shall play a hazard game, or any other unlawful game, whereby they may be slandered.

12)   Also that no Mason shall take part in Lechery to make the craft be slandered, and that no fellow shall go to the town where there is a Lodge of Fellows without a fellow with him, who may bear him wittness, that he was in honest company.

13)   Also that every Master and fellow shall come to the assembly if it is within five miles from him, if he is summoned, and to stand at the disposal of Masters & fellows.

14)   Also that every Master and fellow, if they have trespassed shall stand at the disposal of Masters and fellows to make them accord (if they may) but if they may not,to go to the comon law.

15)   Also that no Mason shall make moulds, square or rule, to any rough layers.
16) Also that no Mason shall set layers within a lodge or without having Mould Stones with one Mould of his working.

17)   Also when they come to our country, to set them on work as the manner is (that is to say) if they have mould stones in place, he shall be set on work at least for a fortnight and given his hire;if there are no stones for him, then refresh him with some money and send him to the next lodge.
18)   Also, like every mason, you shall serve the works truly and make an end of your work, be it a task or journey, and be paid as you ought to have.

while one of the elders held the book (Bible) in one hand
and in the other the Scales, …
he was then sworn a member.

These charges that we have rehearsed and all others that belong to Masonry, you shall keep to the best of your knowledge, so help you God, and by the contents of this book.

The end.

There are several words and signs of a free Mason to be revealed to you, which you will answer: before God at the Great and terrible day of Judgement, you will have to keep them secret and shall not reveal them into the ears of any person but to the Masters and fellows of the said Society of free Masons, so help me God: which William Wade made to become a free Mason.