Ears Of Wheat From A Cornucopia,

micht nocht pay muckill , bot Avald doe his deutie sa fat as he micht to pay that thing he micht for his fredome to the Craft . The deakin and Craft foirsaid havand compasonn upon him , lies entert the sd . George to work as brother and fallow of

Craft in the toun all work he can werk except hewin Avork , hewing and laying exceptit . For the qlk libertie the sd . George lies payit to the Deakin and Craft instantlie the soume of fyve pundis and ane pitcher of aill . Quha hes maid his aith to be leill and trew to the Craft , as use is . "

" Jan . xxiv ., 1604 . . . . Andro Alane wes resseavit frieman to the hbertie of the Craft to work his Craft , to Avitt , to kuppall ane thak Iious , to big ane Avail without hewin Avark , thekin of ane hous , and lykwayis privilege to work ony

other work he can use and maister , and sail pay thairfoir four lb ., Avith xs penaltie in cais of failzrie . "

" April xxi ., 1671 Qlk day compevit William Smyth , son lawful to John Smyth , squairman , AA'ha being received as ane Wright be the sd Deacon and tved to be aiie frieman with them in all fcynie coming , and to exercise

the trade of ane wri ght ; . . . Farder , the sd Deacon and tred gives libertie to the sd Willm . Smyth to work Cowan Avark , he heving noe libertie by thir presents to Avork hewen wark of the Mason tred . "

" Oct . xxiii ., 1677 . . . . Qlk day James Kennedie Avas admittit and receavit frieman with the tred , with libertie to him to Avoi'k Avright work and Cowand Avork , and not to Avork any hewin wark ; and hes maid aith as befoir to observe the

actis aud statutis of the tred . " ¦• Nov . xi 1686 . . . . William Murdoch , Wright , Avas admittit frieman of the sd tred , AA'ith power to him to exercis his tred as AA right and CoAvan , but not to Avork ane kewiu Avork , conform to the priA r iledge and actis of the sd tred . "

" Eodem die . . . . Robert Hunter , wright and Cowancl , NeAYtoun , wes receaved journeyman with the tred , Avha payit in his deus to the tred and is to hev the privilege to Avork journeywark with ony frieman of the tred . "

The line of policy by which the Ayr Squaremen were guided in their intercourse AA'ith a class of Craftsmen lying under the ban of Mother Kilwinning and of the recognised Masonic power in Edinburgh , sheAvs a difference to have existed between the laws of the old Mason courts as

contrasted with those of the more modern sections of the Craft incorporated by charter under the hand of Mary Queen of Scots ; and at the same time favours the opinion that the independent action of the latter courts tended materially to

neutralise the power nominally held by the Lodge of Kilwinning aud the other Masonic courts of prior erection . Relaxing somewhat of the strictness of its laAvs against the employment of the uninitiated , the Lodge of Kilwinning , in 1705—a

quarter of a century before its transformation from an operative to a speculative lodge of Freemasons —authorised the employment of Cowans when circumstances prevented Masters obtaining the services of regular Masons—a privilege Avhich ,

according to certain so-called " ancient charges , " Avas conceded also to English Craftsmen . The Masonic lodges and incorporations of the 16 th and 17 th centuries , Avliile independent of each other , possessed many points of similarity in

regard to the government of the Fraternity ; and this being the case , the Avonder is that any body of the Craft could be found licensing and

encouraging irregular Masons Avhose labours could not but tend injuriously to affect the wages of the initiated . Such a proceeding seems stranger still , when it is known that certain members of the Ayr Squaremen Incorporation consenting to the

freedom of the trade being conferred upon CoAvaus Avere also at the same time , in their capacity as members of the Mason court of Kilwinning , parties to the infliction of fines upon infringers of the laAV of the lodge against Avorking with or

employment of uninitiated Craftsmen . Master Cowans could hold office in the Incorporation , and their " servitors" could , on payment of certain fees , be " admittit to Avork ony jorneA r mark

Avith ony frieman of tred . " It ought to be borne in mind that the Squaremen of Ayr held a place in the councils of the Craft in 1627-8 , the signature of their Deacon appearing in the charter given to Sir William St . Clair of Eoslin , in

confirmation of his succession to the hereditary post of Grand Master . Of " cowans" there is no mention in the Squaremen books subsequent to 1 GS 6 , nor in those of Kilwinning after 1705 , although , from a clause in the charter granted to

the Earl of Kilmarnock and certain Masons in the toAvn of Kilmarnock , it is evident that the term Avas in use in 1734 among the Fraternity at Kilwinning , its application having special reference to operative Masonry .