Dr. Rawlinson's Ms.

TJnus Ex Seniorhus temiit Librum Itlivel Ille ponnet vel ponet mamun Super Librum el tam Articilee Precepta Debent Legi . " Saying this by way of Exhortation ; my Loving and respectful Brethren and Fellows , I humbly beseech you , as you love Your Lord ' s Good Etemall welfare Your

own credit and your Country ' s good , be very carefull in the observation of these Charges , or Articles , that J am about to read to this Deponent , if you find your Selves guilty of anything therein forbid , amend You again , and do so no more ; and

Especially you that are to bee Charged take good heed that you keep your Charge , for it is a great perill to forsware yourself on a Book , and everyone that is a Free Mason , is Obliged to perform his Charge as Avell as you ; So hoping of Your Care herein . Answer . —I will by God ' s grace Enableing me .

The Charge.

THE CHARGE .

1 . I am to adminish you to Honour God and his Holy Church , and that you use no Error , nor Eresie in your Understanding . 2 . To be true Leigemen to the King without Treason , Misprison of Treason , or falsehood ; and if know of any one Committing Treason shall ive notice to

, you g his Majest y ' s Privy Councell , or to some Magestrate Commissioned to Enquire thereof . 3 . To be true one to another , and do as you would be done unto . 4 . To keep Secret the obscure and

misterious part of the Science Abstruse and true Councell of that which ought to be kept by the way of True Masonry , not disclosing the Same to any but Such as Study and use the Same . 5 . To do your Avork truly and faithfully ,

endeavouring the proffit and advantage of him that is owner of the work , and to be true to the Master and Lord you Serve . 6 . To call your Masters , Brethren , or Fellows , without the addition of Knave , or any other bad or indecent Language .

7 . As usual . 8 . As usual . 9 . That you Shall well and truly pay for Your meat and Drink where you are Tabled , and do no manner of villany in the louse , whereby the Craft may beSlandred .

10 . That you Shall not take any man ' s work knowing yourself Unable , and unexpert to perform and Effect the Same , that no aspersion or discredit be Imputed to their Science , or the Lord of the work any Avays prejudiced thereby . 11 . That you Shall not take any work

at any Unreasonable rates , to Deceive the owners thereof , but So as he may truly and faithfully be Served to his own good , and that the Master may live honestly by it , and pay his Fellows Truly their pay as the Craft directs .

12 . That you Shall not Supplant any of your FelloAvs of their work , that is to say , if they or any of them have taken Avork upon him , or them , or any of them , or Stand Master of any Lord's worke or OAvner ' s , that you shall not put him or

them out or from the said Worke , Altho you perceive him or them Unable to finish the Same . 13 . That you Shall not take any Apprentice to Serve in the Science or Craft of Masonry under the term of Seven Years ,

or any but Such as are desended of Honest parents , and of reputable Birth and life ,, that no Indignity may be layd to the Charge of Masonry . 14 . That you Shall not take upon you to make any one a Free Mason without

the Privity or Concent or five , or Seven , Right Fellows ; and shall be assured that he who is to be Made a Mason is free born , and no bond-man , desended of parents of good Name and fame ; hath his right and perfect limbs , as a Man should have , and is Personable of body to and worthy the Science .

15 . You Shall not pay any of your FelloAvs more than he , or they deserved , that you be not deceived by false or Sli ght Work , and the owner thereof much wronged . 16 . You Shall not slander any of your fellows behind their hackto impair either

, their Temporal Estate or good name . 17 . You Shall not without good Cause answer any of your Fellows dogedly , or unGodly , hut as becometh Loving Brethren of the Same Science , 18 . You Shall Duly reverence your

bellows , prefer them , put them to Credit , that the bond of Charity and mutual Love may Augment and Continue , and be Stable amongst You .