History | Page 160

THE STONEMASONS OF GERMANY. 138 Aud hold a general court in his lodge over his own fellows, and he shall judge righteously by his oath, and not of hatred, or of friendship, or of enmity. 40. And furthermore, no master shall judge alone of that which touches honour or good 39. master may but there shall be together three masters who shall then judge such matters. 41. And further, every master shall inquire of his fellows every quarter, on their oath, any hatred or envy be amongst them that might disadvantage the building such shall he repute if ii ; ; judge and put aside, and whatsoever fellow fail to comply herein, him shall he discharge, that no strife be found amongst them and even though it please not the lords or the master builder, yet shall the master do right and avoid wrong, that he may keep his oath. ; And he shall every quarter-day hold a hearing of lords and craftsmen, whether any were, whether they have wasted their time, lived riotously, gamed or otherwise 42. offence acted disorderly, known whence harm might come master that he to the may to wardens or master, that shall they make is meet and if the lords declare it not to punish therefor as ; master and forgive it the fellows, then shall the master not punish on account thereof and if a lord of tlie building know thereof and the master punish not, then doth he not tlie ; fulfil his oath. aught to be judged amongst masters concerning good report, or which miglit away work, or cause a false state of affairs, whence injury might arise, concerning 43. Is drive year work, or large buildings, that shall be judged where the Book of the Ordinances is then shall the deposited, and the masters assemble every year on the day as is aforesaid ; masters elect them an over-judge, and the wardens and fellows shall elect sheriffs to the judge, and they shall judge by plaint and answer on the oath as administered in anything disagree, they shall take to themselves arbiters, and take counsel ; and if they together that justice be done to all men. 44. And masters and fellows shall punish each other amongst themselves, righteously may not interfere through their perjury. for the best, that the lords Should the masters have one amongst them, be he master or fellow, and will not be in obedience, and set himself up against these ordinances, we pray all lords that none 45. take his part or defend be defended against us, demean him on his petition; should he we know well, according to the nevertheless, against Ordinances, how we all usage, shall then ourselves. Should there be a master or fellow who would defend himself contrary to usage, ye all cities and lords, and the matter before them, and enjoin them to upon lay help us maintain our right; for to him who shall help us to our right will we also be 46. are to call obedient w^hen they require oiir services. 47. And thus shall be the wardens, and maintain thus the old traditionary lodge rights, according to ancient usage and the Book, and the Ordinances of the oath. 48. is Every warden entrusted to him shall preserve his lodge, and all that he has sworn to, and all that of the place of work, that shall he keep and maintain for the good of the buUding. The warden shall goodwill, what they 49. of .show goodwill to the fellows, and show them, without anger shall ask of him. He shall use no more than right with and any fellow or apprentice, he shall always prove level and plumb-rule, and all that pertains thereto, that no faults be therein, and if the master himself prove not or prepare such, then is it