Masons Of England And Their Works.

that Stowe * remarks , " They were formerly called freemasons . " I also find a notice of the " cementarii " guild in 1422 and 1423 ; and also that in 1501-2 , the Masons' Company had then only eleven members . There are certainly two curious coincidences connected with the above-mentioned date of 1375 . The first isthat the earliest of the Histories and

, copy Constitutions , to which I shall presently refer , is in writing of that period . The second , that some writers have considered it advisable to plaee at that date the origin of a wonderful society , caused , as they urge , by a combination of masons undertaking not to work without an advance of wagesat the time when they

, were summoned from several counties , by writs of Edward III ., more especially to assist in rebuilding and enlarging Windsor Castle , under the supervisorship of William of Wykeham and others . Accordingly , it is said that the masons agreed on certain signs and tokens by which they might know one

another , and assist each other against the then common custom of being impressed ; and further agreed not to work unless free and on their own terms , especially as the monarch would not pay them so highly as did his subjects . There is probability about much of this , but , I believe , no authority . The earliest of

such writs of impress in my notes is dated 1333 , and the circumstance is perhaps sufficiently well knowm to render it unnecessary for me to recite any of them ; but one exceptional document is worth mentioning , of about the date of 1353 , it being a special protection given to the workmen , consisting of ten masons , ten carpenters , and their servants , engaged upon the

erection of the church at Stratford-on-Avon , until the edifice be completed . But did any other circumstance occur previous to 1375 to render such a proceeding on the part of the masons probable ? " The Statutes at Large , " a small historical series into which I accidentally looked one dayaffords much valuable and hitherto unsought for

, matter in this branch of the inquiry . In the statute of 1349 , 23 Edward III ., the earliest relating to the subject , it is stated that " a great part of the people and especially of workmen and servants late died of the pestilence , Avhereby many demand excessive wages and will not work , "—the hours of labour were

therefore settled , because " that diverse artificers and labourers retained to work and serve , waste much part of the day and deserve not their wages , some time in late coming unto their work , early departing thereof , long sitting at their breakfast , at their dinner , and noon-meataud long time of sleeping at afternoonto

, , the loss and hurt of such persons as retained them in their service . " The statute of 1350-1 , ( only the next year ) complains that " to their ease and singular covetise , ( they ) do withdraw themselves to serve ( from serving ?) great men and others , unless they have livery and wages to the double or treble of that they

were wont . " Their wages were then settled . In 1360-1 , 34 Edward III ., the statute declares that "carpenters and masons and all other labourers shall take from henceforth wages by the clay and not by the w eek , nor in any other manner . " It would thus almost appear that not only the architects of the present day had gone back to the mediawal times , but the master builders as well ; and the workmen to re-

Masons Of England And Their Works.

taliate , having struck , in a very modern fashion , the statute continues , " that all alliances and covines of masons and carpenters , ( both trades it will be noticed ) , and congregations , chapters , ordinances and oaths betwixt them made or to be made , shall be from henceforth void and wholly annulled , so that every mason and carpenter of what condition that he beshall be

, compelled by his master to whom he serveth , to do every work that to him pertaineth to do , or of free stone or of rough stone ; and also every carpenter iu his degree ; but it shall be lawful to every lord or other to make bargain or covenant of their work in so that they perform such works well and

lawgross , fully according to their bargain or covenant with them thereof made . " I believe I am correct in stating that this important statute has been hitherto overlooked ; it was , however , enforced by others dated 1368 , 1378 , 1414 , 1423 , and by the well-known statute of the 3 rd Henry VI . 1425 again putting down all

, , chapters and congregations held by masons ( this time it is the masons only ) . This last act was passed at the " special request of the Commons . " This special request may be found in the printed Rolls of Parliament , otherwise it has never been reprinted . Again ,

in 1436-7 , 15 th Henry VI ., another statute was required to correct the " masters , wardens and people of the guilds , fraternities , and other companies incorporate , dwelling in divers parts of the realm , who make among themselve many unlawful and unreasonable ordinances , as well of many such things whereof the cognizancepunishment and correction all onl

, y pertaineth to the king , lords of franchises , and other persons , —aud made for their singular profit and common damage to the people . " All such wardens are to bring their letters patent to the justices and others where such guilds , fraternities , and companies befor their approval . In 1503-4 it was declared

, , that no ordinance is to be made or enforced without the approbation of the Chancellor . Again , in 1530-1 , the complaint was still that the masters and others " have by cautell and subtil measures compassed and practised to defraud and delude the good and wholesome statutes ; and have made acts and ordinances

that apprentices shall pay , " so much , " after their own sinister mind and pleasure , contrary to the meaning of the acts aforesaid , " In 154 S , the complaint was , that " artificers , handicraftmen , and labourers had made confederacies not to meddle with one another ' s

work , but had decided how much they would do in a day , and what hours and what times they would work , contrary to the laws , to the great hurt and impoverishment of the King ' s Majesty ' s subjects . " These statutes were of course superseded by the well-known statute of the 5 th Elizabeth , 1562-3 , which continued in force until so late as 1813 when that portion was repealed

, which empowered justices to rate the wages of . artificers and labourers . In 1814 , so much was repealed as forbade exercise of trades by persons not having served , and as regulated the mode of binding , & c , but at the same time the customs and privileges of cities and boroughs were saved .

It is certain , from all these observations , that there were fellowships or guilds of masons existing before the middle of the fourteenth century , but whether the one in London had any communication with other guilds then existing in the other corporate towns , or whether there was a supreme guild which led to a systematic working , is still without elucidation . All