Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Historical Account Of Master And Free Masons.
Westerley , master-carpenter for Eton College . —Hot . Pat . 26 Hen . VI . p . 2 . m . . 35 . 1450 . Edward Seamer , or Semerk , mastermason of St . George ' s Chapel at Windsor , 1480 and 1499 . Wages one shilling a-
day . John Woolrich , master-mason of King ' s College ; 1476 . John Woode , Abbey of St . Edmunsbury . Roger Keys and John Druet Avere supervisors of the building of All-Souls' College . A'Wood g ives the names of Hethe , Wrabey , and Balle , as master-masons , 1438 .
William Orcheyerde , " master of masonry of Magdalene College , Oxford , 1475 . "A'Wood ' s Antiquities cf Oxford , p . 310 . XVI . Century . John Cole , master-mason , ' tower and spire of LouthLincolnshire 1500—1506 .
, , Archasologia , vol . x . —Britton ' s Arcbitec Antiq . vol . iv . 4 to . Robert Vertue , Avorks in the Tower of London , 1501 . Henry Smyth , for works in the Palace of Richmond , 1505 .
Hector Ashley , at Hunsdon and other Palaces , before 1530 . Some of my readers may object to this as a meagre catalogue , but I proposed to g ive notices only of actual masons , not of patrons and amateurs , among the
ecclesiastics , ancl it is therefore narrowed to positive evidence , as far as I have found it , and , of course , with certain omissions . Jn the art of sculpture , at least of carved work , not as confined to architectural embellishment only , but of the human figure , they had attained to a high degree of excellence . They had few opportunities
of displaying anatomical science ; in basreliefs , positively none . In statutes , being usually enclosed in narrow niches , their skill could be chiefly shown in draperies or armour ; yet in the heads Ave may often discover great boldness , and a freedom of execution ; ancl in the countenances of
female saints absolute and characteristic beauty , more especially in that of the Virgin Mary . This is most remarkable before the close of the fourteenth century * Sonic of the more ingenious among them Avere capable of carving tbe recumbent sepulchral figures , as large as life . These , in numerous contracts , are denominated " marblers . "
The political history of the Freemasons in England must be the next subject of investigation ; and no proof has been as yet adduced from any chronicle or history of this country , that , as a fraternity or guild , they at any period possessed or held by patent any exclusive privilege Avhatsoever ;
all that may be collected from the records is of a contrarv tendency . The statute " of the 24 th of Edward III , 1351 , did not originate in any political jealousy , but in punishment of the contumacious Masons Avhom be had assembled
at Windsor Castle , under the direction of William of Wykeham , the comptroller of the royal works ( magister operum ) . They refused the wages , Avithdrew from their engagements , ancl , at last , openly refused to return . Tbe subjoined penalties Avere then enacted , t Nor can we collect from
the preamble of the second Act , in the reign of Henry VI . that any allusion is made to a political conspiracy , but merely to enforce the restrictions imposed on them by the Statute of Labourers .. ! : They were
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Historical Account Of Master And Free Masons.
Westerley , master-carpenter for Eton College . —Hot . Pat . 26 Hen . VI . p . 2 . m . . 35 . 1450 . Edward Seamer , or Semerk , mastermason of St . George ' s Chapel at Windsor , 1480 and 1499 . Wages one shilling a-
day . John Woolrich , master-mason of King ' s College ; 1476 . John Woode , Abbey of St . Edmunsbury . Roger Keys and John Druet Avere supervisors of the building of All-Souls' College . A'Wood g ives the names of Hethe , Wrabey , and Balle , as master-masons , 1438 .
William Orcheyerde , " master of masonry of Magdalene College , Oxford , 1475 . "A'Wood ' s Antiquities cf Oxford , p . 310 . XVI . Century . John Cole , master-mason , ' tower and spire of LouthLincolnshire 1500—1506 .
, , Archasologia , vol . x . —Britton ' s Arcbitec Antiq . vol . iv . 4 to . Robert Vertue , Avorks in the Tower of London , 1501 . Henry Smyth , for works in the Palace of Richmond , 1505 .
Hector Ashley , at Hunsdon and other Palaces , before 1530 . Some of my readers may object to this as a meagre catalogue , but I proposed to g ive notices only of actual masons , not of patrons and amateurs , among the
ecclesiastics , ancl it is therefore narrowed to positive evidence , as far as I have found it , and , of course , with certain omissions . Jn the art of sculpture , at least of carved work , not as confined to architectural embellishment only , but of the human figure , they had attained to a high degree of excellence . They had few opportunities
of displaying anatomical science ; in basreliefs , positively none . In statutes , being usually enclosed in narrow niches , their skill could be chiefly shown in draperies or armour ; yet in the heads Ave may often discover great boldness , and a freedom of execution ; ancl in the countenances of
female saints absolute and characteristic beauty , more especially in that of the Virgin Mary . This is most remarkable before the close of the fourteenth century * Sonic of the more ingenious among them Avere capable of carving tbe recumbent sepulchral figures , as large as life . These , in numerous contracts , are denominated " marblers . "
The political history of the Freemasons in England must be the next subject of investigation ; and no proof has been as yet adduced from any chronicle or history of this country , that , as a fraternity or guild , they at any period possessed or held by patent any exclusive privilege Avhatsoever ;
all that may be collected from the records is of a contrarv tendency . The statute " of the 24 th of Edward III , 1351 , did not originate in any political jealousy , but in punishment of the contumacious Masons Avhom be had assembled
at Windsor Castle , under the direction of William of Wykeham , the comptroller of the royal works ( magister operum ) . They refused the wages , Avithdrew from their engagements , ancl , at last , openly refused to return . Tbe subjoined penalties Avere then enacted , t Nor can we collect from
the preamble of the second Act , in the reign of Henry VI . that any allusion is made to a political conspiracy , but merely to enforce the restrictions imposed on them by the Statute of Labourers .. ! : They were