THE CRAFT GUILDS OF FRANCE.
201
and copper smiths, and, above all, the thousand and one varieties of iron smiths and
Yet we nowhere find in Germany, France, or England that any of these
forge workers ?
hammer-wielders have claimed a legendary protector in Charles Martel.
Whilst the
tin
—
—
French and English masons, who, in truth, never use a hammer, but a gavel or maul,
which instruments, although answering the same purpose, are totally distinct, agree in
claiming this valiant soldier as their patron.
As there can scarcely be a better proof of identity of origin than common traditions, the
agreement between the French and English legends, may justify the deduction that they are
derived from the same source, unless, having regard to the close intercourse which subsisted
between the craftsmen of Gaul and Britain
—we go a step
further,
and concede the
possibility
of the traditionary history, recorded in our English manuscript constitutions, having received
a French impress, which time itself has failed wholly to obliterate.
The latter seems the more probable inference of the two, and the further question arises,
Did the French workmen introduce anything else of importance ? The next chapter (on the
Companionage) will show the possibility of this question being answered in the affirmative.
The French masons have also claimed {jxice M. Capefigue), as one of the chiefs of their craft,
Emperor Charlemagne himself; whilst
the
Eousillon, Eoland,
failed to
his gallant
comrades in arms, such as Gerard de
were fellowcraftsmen ^ {Compagnons travailleurs).
etc.,
meet with any further traces of
or allusions to this tradition
;
if,
I
indeed,
have, however,
it
ever existed.
Additional proof of the corporate existence at an early age of the building trades
may present some interest. At Amiens the masons (rnachons) appear to have taken part in
In 1387 the municipality had a city
the municipal elections, for the first time, in 1348."
architect {maitrc dcs ouvrages, master of the wotks).
The archives
of Montpellier supply the following references
^
1201. Bertrandus
*
1244. Paul Olivier
:
:
fai la peira (does stone work).
maistre de peira (master-mason).
^1334. Peri Daspanhayc: viaistre que hohra al iiont de Castlcnou (master who works at
:
the bridge of Castlenau).
The statutes of the probes homines of Avignon regulate, in 1243, the pay of the stonemasons.*
In 1493, Peyre Borgonhon, master-mason, reports to the consuls of Montpellier that he
could no longer find masons to work at the fortifications under 4 soiis per diem and these,
"
after taking information respecting the prices elsewhere, and considering also that the days
;
'