History | Page 113

THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS. V. There resteth more to Hermes the of: the And at the of the makeing Tower Ivinge of Eabilon that height loved well the Craft as and other thither 60 liee of Noah the same Hermarynes was afterwards called men: he found one of the two pillars of stone and hee found and he taught them to other men. the sonne of Sein father of wise the sciences written therin VI. you how the stones were found that tlie Sciences were the great Hermarynes that was Tusses liis Sonne the which tell written in after the said flood was the soune 95 of Eahilon there Nemorth and and when the Wemorth Kinge said with Masters of Histories is Cities of the East Asia should bee masons ISTemortli masonrye was much made himself was a Mason: and made this Citie of Neneve of Eabilon sent Kinge of Neneve his cousin and when they went forth manner that they should be true each of them to other att the desire of the gave them a charge in this and that they should love truly together soe that hee might have worshipp for his sending of them to his cousin the Kinge of Neneve And further hee gave them two charges as concerning their science And they were the first charge that ever any !Mason had of his works or Crafte. VII. Moreover when Abraham and Sarah his wife went into Egypt hee taught the seven sciences to the Egyptians And hee had a worthy schoUer whose name was Euclid which learned very well and became Master of all the seven sciences And in his Dais it Lords and Great befell that men and Dominions had soe many sonnes of those quarters some by their wives and some by other women for those Countries bee hott of Generation and they had not competent goods and hands to maintayne their children which made much care And the Kinge of that Land considering theire poverty called his counseU together and caused a Parliment to be houlden the greatest of liis intent was to know how they should maintajTie theire children and they could not find any way unlesse it were by cunning and good science whereupon he let a proclamation bee made through his Eealme if there were any that could teach an informe them in any good Cuning paynes and art or science hee should come unto them and bee very well contented proclamation made came this worthy Clarke EcUd and said unto the Kinge and his Nobles if you will betake your children unto my government I will teach them the seven Liberall for his Sciences whereby tliey and like travell : after this this condition that you them according as science ought to be ruled and upon this Covenant I shall take care and charge of them the Kinge and his counsel granted the same and seaUed the Comisson and then this worthy Docter tooke to him those Lordes sonnes and taught them the science of Geometric in practise for to worke aU will grant mee may live honestly gentlemen upon a Comisson to have rule and power over : manner of worthy workes manners Towers houses and that should bellong to all manner of buildings building of Temples Churches he gave them a charge. Castles And VIII. The First was that they should bee true to the Kinge and Lords they served. IX. X. And And that they should love weU together And be true each one to other. to call each other his fellowe or else his brother any other foule name. Aud not ser f