History | Page 158

THE STONEMASONS OF GERMANY. i.-S work choose wbomsoever tliey will, and are enjoined to take two or four which they have sworn to the guild inquire of them on their oath tliom a master workmasters, and shall whether the master be truly able to undertake the work. who has not formerly undertaken such work, for take not craftsmen, and loss occur thereby, thereof shall nor master nor stately buildings and fellows judge, neither punish. if 6. 7. it For, lords or cities appoint one And no fail And craftsmen. he make good the 8. land ; ; and should and also for us master shall undertake a work unless he be able to accomplish be that he herein, that it is for the lords of the work to restrain him, must he rue with one and twenty pounds of wax, and it to the lord must loss. of the every one shall keep his time according to the ancient traditionary usages that he is free, and even if he do it not with counsel, according to the usages he do And if and the of the land craft. And no master shall diminish or reduce the pay. 10. And every master shall be upright in all things. 9. He shall incite neither warden nor fellow nor apprentice to evil, nor to aught whence harm may arise. 11. And every master shall keep his lodge free of all strife, yea, his lodge shall he keep pure as the seat of justice. 12. And no master shall bear false witness in his lodge, neither shall he defile 'it in any manner. no master allow a harlot to enter his lodge, but if any one have aught to commune with her he shall depart from the place of labour so far as one may cast a gavel. 13. Therefore shall masters learn thereof, they shall fine him for each offence in five pounds of wax. Natheless, it is not for the fellows to fine any master, but they are to withdraw 14. If other 15. from him and forbid other craftsmen his lodge, so that none consort with him, until he shall have been 16. fined. any place, or take aught from any place of labour whereby he be murderer or outlaw, him shall ye altogether thrust from out Whatsoever master any one suffer loss, or if shall rob the guild of the craft and suffer 17. Whatsoever master so done by, or do him him shall in naught. summon evil or speak ill another master before the law, or suffer him to be of h.im, he is empty of all honour, and fit for neither fellow nor master. 18. A master shall appoint his warden, master and warden being both present; and he no warden unless he be able thereto, so that the craftsmen and he be supplied. shall appoint He him with the wardenship, and receive prevent harm to the building or the master. shall impress gauge to 19. So shall neither master nor his wardens be 20. When his oath to the saints on square and illegally set over the fellows. a master has set a warden, the fellows shall swear to be obedient unto him as unto the master, and the warden shall pledge master and 21. And no master shall accept any fee from a warden or fellow on account of his fellows. requirements, nor any offering; for discharged on the Saturday. if he be not able to earn his wages then shall he be master shall out of goodwill accept any apprentice before he have served his time and won his right that is not in the master's power to the extent of one week. 22. No ;