THE OLD CHARGES OF BRITISH FREEMASONS.
97
Kingdoms glorious Craftsmen about
full wide into divers countries some because of learning more knowledge and skill in the Craft
and some to teach others and soe it befell that there was a curious mason whose name was
Mamon \Naymus\ ^ Grecus that had been att the building of Solomon's Temple And bee came
Countrie of Jerusalem and in
into France
many
other Countries and
and there he taught the Craft of Masonrie
to
men
in France.
was a man in France named Carolus Martill came to this Mamon Grecus
aforesaid and learned of him the craft of Masonrie well bee tooke upon the charges And
afterwards by the grace of God bee was elected Kinge of France and where bee was in his
estate hee tooke many Masons and belpe to make men masons that were none before and sett
them on worke and gave them good wages and confirmed to them a Cliarter to hould theire
XXI. And
there
Assemblie from yeare to yeare where the would and cherished the
much and
thus came the
Craft of ]\Iasonrie into France.
time void from any charge of Masonrie untill the time of
Saint Albons and in bis time the Kinge of England being a pajan walled the Towne about
XXII. England stood
that
is
now
called Saint
att that
Albons and Saint Albons was a worthy Knight and chiefe steward
with the King and the governance of the Eealme and alsoe of the making of the Towne walls
and hee loved masons well and cherrished them right much and bee made theire pay right
good standing as the Eealme did then for be gave them two shillings and sixpence a weeke
and three-pence for thiere nonesynches and before that time throughout this Land A Mason
took but a pennie a day and his meate until Saint Albons did amend it and hee gave to them
a charter which hee obtained of the Kinge and bis Councill for to hold a general councell and
hee gave it the name of an Assemblie And hee being a INIason himself thereat hee was hee
helped to
make Masons and gave
to
them the charges
as
you
shall heare Afterwards
XXIII. Eight soone after the decease of Saint Albons there came men of divers nations
to warr against the Eealme of England soe that the Eule of good Masonrie was destroyed
untill the Time of King Athelston in his dayes hee was a worthy Kinge in England and
brought this Land to rest and peace and builded many great buildings of Abbey's and castles
and divers other great buildings And hee loved masons well.
XXIV. And
father did
much
hee had a sonn named Edwin and hee loved masons
much more then
bis
and hee was a great practizer in Geomet &