THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS.
91
It may, indeed, be suggested, that women were admitted into craft guilds in cases where
such membership was not obviously unfit or unsuitable; but the masons' handicraft, being
so ill-adapted for female exercise, the balance of probability leans strongly against their
To this it may be
ever having been admitted to full membership in the masonic body.
that the trade of a carpenter was not more favourable to the employment of women
replied,
Yet in the carpenters' guild of Norwich, founded a.d. 1375, " In
fader and sone and holi gost, and of oure ladi seinte marie, cristes moder,
than that of a mason.
name
the
and
of y^
al y^ holi
sistrin."^
The
consist of
"
"
"
and
the ordinances were agreed to for
y"^ bretherin
of London describes the company to
charter of the Carpenters' Company
cumpayne
of heuene
the brethren and sisters of freemen of the said mystery," and the records of
"
on the 5th August 1679, Eebecca Gyles, spinster, sometime
this fraternity attest that
servant to Eebecca Cooper, a free servant of the company, was admitted to the freedome,
^
The "Gild of the
haveing served her said Mistres faithfully a terme of seaven years."
"
Peltyers
(Furriers), of a.d. 1376, also
numerous
made
provisio