The York Ms. No. 5, A.D. 1670.

y' they should Come and assemble themselves together once every yeare to Consult how they might best work for their Lords profit & their own Credit & to Correct within themselves Him y' trespassed against y Science & thus was y . Science grounded and y worthy M Euclid y first y' gave Itt y name of Geometric which Is called Masonrie throughout all y nation and after y' when y Children of Israel Came into y Land of Behes which Is now called among

y County of Iury King David begun y temple y * is now Called Templum Domini & Is named with us y temple of Jerusalem & y said King David Loved well Masonrie & Cherished y '" much & gave y ™ good wages & he gave y ™ both y ° Charges & maners as he had Learned in Egypt given formerly by Euclid & other more Charges wliich you shall have afterwards & after y ° Decease of King David Solomon His Son finished out c temple l his father had

y y begun & he sent for out of Divers Countries & lands & gathered y together So y' he had fourschore Thousand workers of Stone which were after named masons , & he Chose out of y "' three thousand y were ordained Masters & governors of his work & furtherrooTe there was a King of another region y' men called Hieram & he loved King Solomon well & he gave him timber to his work & lie had a Son named Anion & he was a master of Geometrie & he

was Chief Master of all his gravings & Carvings & of all his Masons & masonrie as appears In Scripture in y ° first Booke of Kings y fifth Chapter & y Solomon Confirmed both Charge and manner y his father had given to Masons & thus was y worthy Science of Masonry confirmed in y' County of Iury & in y ° Citty of Jerusalem , in many other Countries Curious Craftsmen walked about full wide & Spread themselves Into clivers Countries some to l

learn more Craft and dining & some to teach y yhad little Skill & dining & Itt befell y' one Namus Greacus y * had been att y building of Solomons temple came into Franco & there he taught y Science of Masonrie to men of Franco & there was one of y ° royal Line of France named Charles Martial & he was a man yt loved well such a Craft & he drew to y Namus Greacns above said & he learned of him ° Craft & took him e Charge & & after

y upon y maner - wards by y providence of God he was elected King of France & when he was in y' State lie took & hel ped to make men Masons which before there was none & gave y both y Charge & manner & good pay as he had learned from other Masons & also confirmed a Charge from year to year to hold their assembly where they would & he Cherished y much & thus Came y famous Craft Into France .

England in all y time Stood void of Masonrie especiall y for any Charge Imposed upon y ° Science untill S' Albons time & in his Days the King of England being y" a pagan walled y ° town of S' Albons about y S' Albons was a worthy Knight & Steward of y Kings Houshold & had y ° governance of y Realme & also had y ordering of y said towns wall & he loved well Masons & Cherished y " right much & gave y their pay right good

Considering how wages and other things y" for he gave y 2 6 a week & 3 d for their non finch & before y' time a Mason had ' but a Penny a clay untill S Albons advanced itt as abovesaid & procured for y a Charter from y ° King & his Council whereb y to hold General Council & gave Itt a name of assembly & thereatt he was himself & he helped to make men Masons & gave y a Charge which you shall hereafter hear but Itt happened shortl

y after y « death of S' Albons y' there arose great Wars in England which out of Divers Nations So y' y good order of Masons was destroyed untill y days of King Athelstone who was a worthy King of England & brought y Land into good rest and peace he builded many great works as Abbyes Towers and other maner of buildings & loved well Masons & he had a son named Edwin & he loved much more " his father & he was a great practioner in

y Geometrie & he delighted to commune with Masons and to learn of y Skill and Cunning & afterwards for y ' love he bore to masons & to their Science he was made a mason himself and he procured for y of his father a Charter & Commis-E 2