Masons Of England And Their Works.

Salisbury , in 1334 , an agreement with Eichard de Earleigh , builder , as he is designated in DodAvell ' s History of the Cathedral , who has not given the original Avord , but Avhich it would be interesting to possess , as from w-hat folloAvs it is an early instance of the conjunction , apparently , of the designer and constructorstipulates that he should be entrusted Avith

, the custody of the fabric , to order and to do all necessary work in the same ; and to superintend , direct , and appoint useful and faithful masons , and plaisterers * ( are latomi and cementarii the ori ginal words for these trades ?) with regard to himself that he should perform useful aud faithful Avorkand use

, circumspect diligence as Avell . as piwident discretion with regard to the artificers under him ; that he should repair thither and make such stay as the necessity or nature of the fabric shall require ; and that , notwithstanding his prior obligations at Bath ancl Beading , he should not neglect or delay the works of the

church . This Earleigh most probably designed the upper stories of the tower , Avith the spire : in 1394 , when settlements appeared from the effect of these works , an agreement Avas made with Nicholas Portland , mason , conceived in the said general terms as those already cited . When further repairs Avere

contemplated in 1415 , a similar agreement AA-as made Avith Eobert Wayte , mason . Geffrey de Carleton , at Windsor Castle , in 1359 , the same year that Wykeham was made constable and supervisor , had the appointments of chief mason and keeper of all the mason work . In the mention of the next name I

avail mj'self of the Avords of the great historian AVIIO claimed to be a descendant . "In this district of Kent , " he Avrites , " and in the hundred and parish of Eolvenden , the Gibbons were possessed of lands in the year 1326 ; and the elder branch of the same family , without much increase or diminution of property ,

still adheres to its native soil . Fourteen years after the first appearance of his name , John Gibbon is recorded as the marmorarius or architect of King-Edward the Third : the strong and stately castle of Queenborough , f Avhich guarded the entrance of the MedAvay , Avas a monument of his skill ; and the grant

of an hereditary toll on the passage from Sancbvich to Stonar , in the Isle of Thanet , is the reward of no vulgar artist . " This but little known reference Avas noted only a feAv days since , and the result of an attempt to verify the circumstances , induces me to believe that Gibbon most probably derived the

information from documents in his OAVU possession . M . William cle Wynneford , called cementarius and also lathomus , 1370-1403 , was employed for the king ; and at Winchester College and Cathedral , by William of Wykekam . M . Henry cle YeA'eley , 1365-95 , mason , was director of the king ' s Avorks at the Palace of Westminster , and Master Mason at Westminster Abbey , 1388-95 ; he , together with Stephen Lote ,

executed the tomb of Queen Anne of Bohemia , still existing in Westminster Abbey . Eobert de Skyllington , mason , 1392 , is noticed as haA'ing hired men for works at Kenilivorth Castle . Eichard Washbourne and John Swaive , masons , 1395 , contracted to raise the Avails of Westminster Hail , and to can e and place the corbels to receii-e the carpenter ' s work of

the present roof . The contract for the dormitory at Durham Cathedral was taken h y John de Middleton , mason , 1398 , and completed by Peter Dryng , 1401 , who signed the second contract Avith Eobert DajTi-Avell ancl William Landes , also masons . In the fifteenth century , M . William Colchester

was master mason afc Westminster Abbey . 1399-1416 , where he had at first only 100 s . annual fee , raised afterwards to £ 10 , " for ordering and surveying the works : " he was also master mason at York Cathedral , 1416-21 , as Avill be mentioned presently . Thomas Hyndeley , 1416 , cementarius , contracted for a portion

of the cloisters at Durham ; he there suceeded M . Thomas Mapilton , master mason , and obtained the stone for the lavatory therein , 1432 ; John Eethyrstanhalgh and other masons building the walls ; Lawrence Latoner , of NeAveastle , furnished the " spoivtys " ( Avhich may have been of stone , if the surname

"latoner " is mispelt for latomus , or , as has been suggested , they have been of metal , if latoner is placed for latten-er ) ; and William Sclater was employed for two days in " blaunching " or whitewashing , probably cleaning down the whole Avork . Eichard de Craeall , mason , 1412 , contracted f to rebuild Catterick Church , Yorkshire , in three years " UBAV as Avorkmanship Craft will . " The bridge at the same place * Avas also taken ,

1421-2 , by Thomas Ampliforde , John Garrett , and Eobert Maunsell , masons ; this was to be " made sufficient and workmanl y in masoneraft" for 260 marks ( £ 173 Qs . Sd ) . The contract for building WalbersAvick steeple , Suffolk , 1426 , was signed by Eichard Eussell ( or Eupel ) of DunAA'ich , and Adam PoAvleof Blythburghmasonsfor 40 s . and

per-, , , quisites , for labour only , working but two terms in the year . John Wode , masoun , 1435 , contracted for the labour of himself and servant in building the tower of the Abbey Church of St . Edinundsbury , " in all mannere of thinges that longe to free masounry . " William Horwodefreemason 1435 contracted to

, , , build Eotheringay Church , " by oversight of masters of the same Craft , " and "by oversight of master masons ofthe country . " It AA'as from Benet , the mason , that William of Wyrcestre obtained the names of the mouldings of the doorway of St . Mary Eedeliffe Bristol . Eobert Leget 1461-4 was chief mason at

, , Windsor Castle , receiving Gd . per day . John Stowell , ffremason , 1470 , contracted to execute " the workmanshipp and masonry crafte " of a frontal to an altar in St . Cuthbert ' s Church , W ells , for Avhich he was to receive £ 40 . William Orcheyerd , master mason , 1475-80 , built by contract the greater portion of Magdalen

College , Oxford . Eor St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor , Henry , or John Jennings , or Jenyns , master masons , 1474-82 , purchased the stone at the Stainton quarries in Oxfordshire . To this building Edward IV . in his will refers , Avhen he explicitly states that the chapel "begonne by us of neAve to be buylded bee thorougely finished in all things as Ave have appointed it ;"—AA'ho was his Devizor of Buildings ? The same