Old Undated Masonic Mss.

comprised in the ordinance , as all other servants ancl artificers , and that carpenters and masons take from henceforth Avages by the clay , and not by the week nor in other manner , ancl that the chief masters carpenters and masons take four pence a day ,

and the other three pence , or two pence according as they are Avorth , and that all alliances and cavins of masons and carpenters , and congregations , chapters , ordinances , and oaths betwixed them made , or to be made , shall be from henceforth

void and Avholly annulled , so that every mason and carpenter , of what condition lie he , shall be compelled by his master to whom he serve . h to do every Avork that to him appertain to do , or of free stone , or of rough stoneand also every carpenter of

, his degree ; but it shall be kvwful to every lord , or other , to make bargain or covenant of their Avork in gross , with such laborers and artificers when it please them , so that they perform such Avork well ancl lawfully according to the bargain or

covenant with them thereof made . " In 1362 ancl 13 ( 33 more tinkering of the laAvs of wages took place . In 1378 the statutes of Echvard III . Avere confirmed by

a Parliament of Richard II ., when it was ordained to have the laws openly proclaimed in all notable places . In 1385 the folloAving laAV Avas enacted : " Item . Whereas , divers villains ancl neiss , as Avell of great lords as of other peopleas well Spiritual as Temporaldo

, , [ fly Avithin ] cities , toAvns , and places enfranchised , as the city of London , and other like , and feign divers suits against their lords , to the intent to make them free by answer of their lords , it is accorded and assented , that the Lords nor other , shall

be forebarred of their villains , because of their answer in laAV . " In 1388 Parliament again Avhined about the naughty labourers . The ordinance says , tbat servants and labourers would not Avork '' Avithout outrageous ancl

excessive hire , ancl much more than has been given to such servants and laborers in any time past . " And because the Avages had not sufficientl y been defined , it Avas ordained that bailiffs of husbandry shall have l ° s . 4 d . and one suit of clothes a

year , carters and shepherds 10 s . per annum , cow and ox herds Gs . 8 d ., dairy maids 6 s . etc . In 1389 Parliament found out that there was something Avrong in its previous

legislation onSgfl > _ htgjXThe great Lords Avere indeed Avilling to fix the price of labour as it was in the 20 th year of Edward III ., but they were not inclined to fix tbe price of corn as it Avas on the above date ; the result Avas , in years of scarcity , " the great men" did not scruple to double or

, treble the price of corn , and the poor labourer had consequently to > eep himself and family on short allowance , ancl this no doubt tended to breed more pestilence among the poor , and caused further diminution of the labouring classes . The riots

of the Kentish men , Wat Tylers , etc ., though unsuccessful , must have forced some reason into the heads of the then legislators , consequently tho laAV Avas thus modified . " Item , It is ordained ancl assented ,

that the statutes and ordinances made in the last Parliament holden at Canterbury , as Avell of servants , laborers , artificers , and victualers , as tfell as of all other things , saving the exception of the next article before touching Justices of Peace , and also all other statutes and ordinances made before this time , ancl not repealed , shall be firmly kept , and duly executed . But forasmuch

as man cannot put the price of corn and other victuals in certain , it is accorded and assented , that Justices of the Peace in every county , in tAvo of their sessions to be holden betwixed Easter and St . Michael , shall make proclamation by their discretion according to the dearth of

victuals , how much every mason , carpenter , tyler , ancl other craftsmen , Avorkmen , ancl other labourers by the clay , as well as in harvest as in other times of the year , after their degree shall take by the clay Avith meat and drink , or Avithout meat

and drink , betAveen the two sessions beforesaid , notwithstanding the statutes thereof heretofore made , and that every man obey such proclamation from time to time as a thing done by statute . " In . the 7 th Henry IV . it Avas ordained

that " once a year laborers ancl artizens shall be sworn to serve and take for their service after the said statute . " It Avould be too tedious to enumerate all the statutes passed from the time of Edward III . to the Reformationand the

, numerous alterations in the punishments , thus , at first the offender could commute his punishment with a fine , afterwards nothing but imprisonment , stocks , etc .,