Old Charges of the Operative Masons – Manuscript YORK No. I.

“YORK MS. No. I.” (D)

About A.D., 1600.

An Anagraime upon the name of Masonrie
William Kay to his friend Rob^t Preston
vpon his Artt of Masonrie as followeth.

Much might be said of the noble Artt
A Crafts thats worth estieming in eich part
Sundry Nations Noobles & their Kings also
Oh how they sought its worth to know
Nimrod & Solomon the wisest of all men
Reason saw to love this Science then
Ile say noe more lest by my shallow verses I
Endeavouring to praise should blemish Masonrie.

THE CONSTITUTIONS OF
MASONRIE.

THE might of the Father of heaven with wisedome of y^e blessed Sonne through y^e grace of God & goodnesse of y^e holy ghost y^t be three psons in one godhead be with vs at our beginning & give vs grace soe to governe vs here in this life y^t we may come to his blessing y^t nev^r shall have ending: And good brethren & fellows our purpose is to tell y^u how and in what manner this worty Science of Masonrie was begun & afterward how it was found by worty Kings & Princes & by many other Worshipfull men, And also to them y^t be here we will declare y^e charges y^t belonge to every Free Mason to keep sure in good faith. And therefore take good heed hereto it is well worthy to be kept well for y^t y^e Science is ancient for there be vij liberall Sciences of y^e w^ch it is one & y^e names of y^e seven Sciences be these. first Grammer w^ch teacheth a man to speak truly & write truly. And y^e second is Rhetoricke & teacheth a man to speak faire plaine in subtile termes & y^e third is Dielectick or Lodgick y^t teacheth a man to discern truth from falshood. And y^e fourth is Arithmetick & that teacheth a man to reckon & to accompt all mann^r of numb^s. And y^e fifth is called Geomatrie & teacheth all measur^e of grounds of all other things of y^e w^ch Science is grounded Masonrie: & y^e fifth Science is called Musicke & y^t teacheth a man y^e Science of Song & violl of tongue & organ harp trumpett. And y^e seventh Science is called Astronomie & y^t teacheth a man to know y^e course of y^e Sonne Moone & Starrs.

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