THE STONEMASONS OF GERMANY.
i6o
had already, however, worked as a master, the fact was pateut, and lie
used as towards the employers they may contract with
required no sponsors. No restraint is
thrown on their shoulders (Arts. 5 to 7),
any one, but the whole responsibility is thenceforth
to grant them the necessary advice, and even urges them to make
the craft is ready
If
qualifications.
lie
;
although
use of it.
From
as
probable that no secrets attached to the master's degree
he was simply vouched for by those who knew him, and had passed
the above,
a means of recognition
And
his masterpiece.
;
it is
this accords in the
main with what we know
of other crafts, excepting
Indeed, in spite of the assertions
of Fallou (p. 125), even the privileges of a master's son did not exist among the stonemasons,
In Art. LXXI. the master's son is even put at a slight
as -will appear from Art. LXII.
Nowhere does there occur any hint that he
further proof vide Art. 22).
disadvantage (for
Having attained his master's degree, or more correctly
experienced any exceptional treatment.
that
rank,
we have no
it
abuse of the institution.
information of any
by no means follows that the craftsman immediately received an order, or sought
Some few may have retired to the smaller towns, and undertaken job work on
to obtain one.
whilst others, with wider views, continued to work under a master as
journeymen, until a favourable opportunity arose for being placed at the head of a large
This appears to be confirmed by Art. 2, where (the masters having been previously
building.
their
own account
;
"
But the Torgau Ordinances also speak