THE ROMAN COLLEGIA.
mecbanical
radiated to distant countries a knowledge of
skill,
45
art.
Corporations of Luilders,
were permitted outside the limits of the Byzantine
empire to live and exercise a judicial government among themselves, according to the laws of
the country to which they owed allegiance.
This principle, or doctrine, of personal right to
according to jMliller/ of Grecian birth,
declare under
what law a
codes of Europe from the
citizen
fall
of
would
Eome
elect to live,
was publicly recognised in
until late in the tlrirteenth century."
all
the legal
^
"This was denominated his profession of law. Therefore, the coi-porations of artists, in
retaining their connection with Byzantium, no doubt carried with them such privileges of
Grecian citizenship, and when in Italy or other foreign lands, lived and governed themselves
Koman law
in accordance with the well-established principles of
at the time such
associations
;
one of which privileges was,
Southern Europe, during
of builders were introduced into
the reigns of Theoderich and Theodosius, the undoubted right of a corporate recognition.
Consequently, wherever their labour was demanded throughout Europe, they were recognised
as a distinct and privileged class of workmen, who, differing from the less skilled artists of
other countries, necessarily formed a separate society apart from that in which they temporarily
resided."^
in
"History of Architecture," divides the influence of the early colleges
In England, he
corporations upon British and Continental Masonry respectively.
thinks it possible that the colleges may have influenced the brotherhood in their external
Stieglitz,
his
or
development, but he records a tradition that at the time the Lombards were in possession
of Northern Italy, from the sixth to the seventli century, the Byzantine builders formed
themselves into guilds
and
associations,
and that on account of having received from
own laws and ordinances, they were called
the Popes the privilege of living according to their
Freemasons.*
This assumption, wliich has derived much supiport from the highly imaginative essay
of the late Mr Hope, will be hereafter examined.
At present I shall content myself with
summarising the further remarks
the
This
builders.
Byzantine
Freemasons were
to
which
writer
]\Ir
agrees
Fort has given expression with regard to
Mr Hope, that the associations of
with
formed in Lombardy, although he considers that their i