LE MANUSCRIT REGIUS
(Version originale)
Hic incipiunt constituciones
artis
gemetriae secundum
Eucyldem.
Whose wol bothe wel rede and
loke,
He may fynde wryte yn olde
boke
Of grete lordys and eke ladyysse,
That had mony chyldryn y-fere,
y-wisse;
And hade no rentys to fynde hem
wyth,
Nowther yn towne, ny felde, ny
fryth:
A cownsel togeder they cowthe hem
take;
To ordeyne for these chyldryn
sake,
How they myzth best lede here
lyfe
Withoute fret desese, care and
stryge;
And most for the multytude that
was comynge
Of here chyldryn after here
zyndynge.
(They) sende thenne after grete
clerkys,
To techyn hem thenne gode
werkys;
And pray we hem, for our Lordys
sake,
To oure chyldryn sum werke to
make,
That they myzth gete here lyvnge
therby,
Bothe wel and onestlyche, ful
sycurly.
Yn that tyme, throzgh good
gemetry,
Thys onest craft of good
masonry
Wes ordeynt and made yn thys
manere,
Y-cownterfetyd of thys clerkys
y-fere;
At these lordys prayers they
cownter-
fetyd gemetry,
And zaf hyt the name of
masonry,
For the moste oneste craft of
alle.
These lordys chyldryn therto dede
falle,
To lurne of hym the craft of
gemetry,
The wheche he made ful
curysly;
Throzgh fadrys prayers and modrys
also,
Thys onest craft he putte hem
to.
He that lerned best, and were of
oneste,
And passud hys felows yn
curyste;
Zef yn that craft he dede hym
passe,
He schulde have more worschepe
then the lasse.
Thys frete clerkys name was clept
Euclyde,
Hys name hyt spradde ful wondur
wyde.
Zet thys grete clerke more
ordeynt he
To hym that was herre yn thys
degre,
That he schulde teche the
synplyst of (wytte)
Yn that onest craft to be
parfytte;
And so uchon schulle techyn
othur,
And love togeder as syster and
brothur.
Forthermore zet that ordeynt
he,
Mayster y-called so schulde he
be;
So that he were most
y-worschepede,
Thenne sculde he be so
y-clepede:
But mason schulde never won other
calle,
Withynne the craft amongus hem
alle,
Ny soget, ny servant, my dere
brother,
Thazht he be not so perfyt as ys
another;
Uchon sculle calle other felows
by cuthe,
For cause they come of ladyes
burthe.
On thys maner, throz good wytte
of gemetry,
Bygan furst the craft of
masonry:
The clerk Euclyde on thys wyse
hyt fonde,
Thys craft of gemetry yn Egypte
londe.
Yn Egypte he tawzhte hyt ful
wyde,
Yn dyvers londe on every
syde;
Mony erys afterwarde, y
understonde,
Zer that the craft com ynto thys
londe,
Thys craft com ynto Englond, as y
zow say,
Yn tyme of good kynge Adelstonus
day;
He made tho bothe halle and eke
bowre,
And hye templus of gret
honowre,
To sportyn hym yn bothe day and
nyzth,
Thys goode lorde loved thys craft
ful wel,
And purposud to strenthyn hyt
every del,
For dyvers defawtys that yn the
craft he fonde;
He sende about ynto the
londe
After alle the masonus of the
crafte,
To come to hym ful evene
strazfte,
For to amende these defautys
alle
By good consel, zef hyt mytzth
falle.
A semble thenne he cowthe let
make
Of dyvers lordis, yn here
state,
Dukys, erlys, and barnes
also,
Kynzthys, sqwyers, and mony
mo,
And the grete burges of that
syte,
They were ther alle yn here
degre;
These were ther uchon
algate,
To ordeyne for these masonus
astate.
Ther they sowzton by here
wytte,
How they myzthyn governe
hytte:
Fyftene artyculus they ther
sowzton
And fyftene poyntys they
wrozton.
Hic incipit articulus
primus.
The furste artycul of thys
gemetry:--
The mayster mason moste be ful
securly
bothe stedefast, trusty, and
trwe,
Hyt schal hum never thenne
arewe:
And pay thy felows after the
coste,
As vytaylys goth thenne, wel thou
woste;
And pay them trwly, apon thy
fay,
What that they mowe serve
fore;
And spare, nowther for love ny
drede,
Of nowther partys to take no
mede;
Of lord ny felow, whether he
be,
Of hem thou take no maner of
fe;
And as a jugge stonde
upryzth,
And thenne thou dost to bothe
good ryzth;
And trwly do thys whersever thou
gost,
Thy worschep, thy profyt, hyt
shcal be most.
Articulus secundus.
The secunde artycul of good
masonry,
As ze mowe hyt here hyr
specyaly,
That every mayster, that ys a
mason,
Most ben at the generale
congregacyon,
So that he hyt resonably
z-tolde
Where that the semble schal be
holde;
And to that semble he most nede
gon,
But he have a resenabul
skwsacyon,
Or but he be unbuxom to that
craft,
Or with falssehed ys
over-raft,
Or ellus sekenes hath hym so
stronge,
That he may not com hem
amonge;
That ys a skwsacyon, good and
abulle,
To that semble withoute
fabulle.
Articulus tercius.
The thrydde artycul for sothe hyt
uysse,
That the mayster take to no
prentysse,
but he have good seuerans to
dwelle
Seven zer with hym, as y zow
telle,
Hys craft to lurne, that ys
profytable;
Withynne lasse he may not be
able
To lordys profyt, ny to his
owne,
As ze mowe knowe by good
resowne.
Articulus quartus.
The fowrhe artycul thys moste
be
That the mayster hym wel
be-se,
That he no bondemon prentys
make,
Ny for no covetyse do hym
take;
For the lord that he ys bonde
to,
May fache the prentes whersever
he go.
Zef yn the logge he were
y-take,
Muche desese hyt myzth ther
make,
And suche case hyt myzth
befalle,
That hyt myzth greve summe or
alle.
For alle the masonus tht ben
there
Wol stonde togedur hol
y-fere
Zef suche won yn that craft
schulde swelle,
Of dyvers desesys ze myzth
telle:
For more zese thenne, and of
honeste,
Take a prentes of herre
degre.
By olde tyme wryten y
fynde
That the prenes schulde be of
gentyl kynde;
And so symtyme grete lordys
blod
Toke thys gemetry, that ys ful
good.
Articulus quintus.
The fyfthe artycul ys swythe
good,
So that the prentes be of lawful
blod;
The mayster schal not, for no
vantage,
Make no prentes that ys
outrage;
Hyt ys to mene, as ze mowe
here,
That he have hys lymes hole alle
y-fere;
To the craft hyt were gret
schame,
To make an halt mon and a
lame,
For an unperfyt mon of suche
blod
Schulde do the craft but lytul
good.
Thus ze mowe knowe
everychon,
The craft wolde have a myzhty
mon;
A maymed mon he hath no
myzht,
Ze mowe hyt knowe long zer
nyzht.
Articulus sextus.
The syzte artycul ze mowe not
mysse,
That the mayster do the lord no
pregedysse,
To take of the lord, for hyse
prentyse,
Also muche as hys felows don, yn
alle vyse.
For yn that craft they ben ful
perfyt,
So ys not he, ze mowe sen
hyt.
Also hyt were azeynus good
reson,
To take hys, hure as hys felows
don.
Thys same artycul, yn thys
casse,
Juggythe the prentes to take
lasse
Thenne hys felows, that ben ful
perfyt.
Yn dyvers maters, conne qwyte
hyt,
The mayster may his prentes so
enforme,
That hys hure may crese ful
zurne,
And, zer hys terme come to an
ende,
Hys hure may ful wel
amende.
Articulus septimus.
The seventhe artycul that ys now
here,
Ful wel wol telle zow, alle
y-fere,
That no mayster, for favour ny
drede,
Schal no thef nowther clothe ny
fede.
Theves he schal herberon never
won,
Ny hym that hath y-quellude a
mon,
Wy thylike that hath a febul
name,
Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to
schame.
Articulus octavus.
The eghte artycul schewt zow
so,
That the mayster may hyt wel
do,
Zef that he have any mon of
crafte,
And be not also perfyt as he
auzte,
He may hym change sone
anon,
And take for hym a perfytur
mon.
Suche a mon, throze
rechelaschepe,
Myzth do the craft schert
worschepe.
Articulus nonus.
The nynthe artycul schewet ful
welle,
That the mayster be both wyse and
felle;
That no werke he
undurtake,
But he conne bothe hyt ende and
make;
And that hyt be to the lordes
profyt also,
And to hys craft, whersever he
go;
And that the grond be wel
y-take,
That hyt nowther fle ny
grake.
Articulus decimus.
The then the artycul ys for to
knowe,
Amonge the craft, to hye and
lowe,
There schal no mayster supplante
other,
But be togeder as systur and
brother,
Yn thys curyus craft, alle and
som,
That longuth to a maystur
mason.
Ny thys curyus craft, alle and
som,
That longuth to a maystur
mason.
Ny he schal not supplante non
other mon,
That hath y-take a werke hym
uppon,
Yn peyne therof that ys so
stronge,
That peyseth no lasse thenne ten
ponge,
But zef that he be gulty
y-fonde,
That toke furst the werke on
honde;
For no mon yn masonry
Schal no supplante othur
securly,
But zef that hyt be so
y-wrozth,
That hyt turne the werke to
nozth;
Thenne may a mason that werk
crave,
To the lordes profzt hyt for to
save;
Yn suche a case but hyt do
falle,
Ther schal no mason medul
withalle.
Forsothe he that begynnth the
gronde,
And he be a mason goode and
sonde,
For hath hyt sycurly yn hys
mynde
To brynge the werke to ful good
ende.
Articulus undecimus.
The eleventhe artycul y telle
the,
That he ys bothe fayr and
fre;
For he techyt, by hys
myzth,
That no mason schulde worche be
nyzth,
But zef hyt be yn practesynge of
wytte,
Zef that y cowthe amende
hytte.
Articulus duodecimus.
The twelfthe artycul ys of hye
honeste
To zevery mason, whersever he
be;
He schal not hys felows werk
deprave,
Zef that he wol hys honeste
save;
With honest wordes he hyt
comende,
By the wytte that God the dede
sende;
Buy hyt amende by al that thou
may,
Bytwynne zow bothe withoute
nay.
Articulus xiijus.
The threttene artycul, so God me
save,
Ys, zef that the mayster a
prentes have,
Enterlyche thenne that he hym
teche,
And meserable poyntes that he hym
reche,
That he the craft abelyche may
conne,
Whersever he go undur the
sonne.
Articulus xiiijus.
The fowrtene artycul, by food
reson,
Schewete the mayster how he schal
don;
He schal no prentes to hym
take,
Byt dyvers crys he have to
make,
That he may, withynne hys
terme,
Of hym dyvers poyntes may
lurne.
Articulus quindecimus.
The fyftene artcul maketh an
ende,
For to the maysterhe ys a
frende;
To lere hym so, that for no
mon,
No fals mantenans he take hym
apon,
Ny maynteine hys felows yn here
synne,
For no good that he myzth
wynne;
Ny no fals sware sofre hem to
make,
For drede of here sowles
sake;
Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to
schame,
And hymself to mechul
blame.
Plures Constituciones.
At thys semble were poyntes
y-ordeynt mo,
Of grete lordys and maystrys
also,
That whose wol conne thys craft
and com to
astate,
He most love wel God, and holy
churche algate,
And hys mayster also, that he ys
wythe,
Whersever he go, yn fylde or
frythe;
And thy felows thou love
also,
For that they craft wol that thou
do.
Secundus punctus.
The secunde poynt, as y zow
say,
That the mason worche apon the
werk day,
Also trwly, as he con or
may,
To deserve hys huyre for the
halyday,
And trwly to labrun on hys
dede,
Wel deserve to have hys
mede.
Tercius punctus.
The thrydde poynt most be
severele,
With the prentes knowe hyt
wele,
Hys mayster conwsel he kepe and
close,
And hys felows by hys goode
purpose;
The prevetyse of the chamber
telle he no man,
Ny yn the logge whatsever they
done;
Whatsever thou heryst, or syste
hem do,
Tells hyt no mon, whersever thou
go;
The conwesel of halls, and zeke
of bowre,
Kepe hyt wel to gret
honowre,
Lest hyt wolde torne thyself to
blame,
And brynge the craft ynto gret
schame.
Quartus punctus.
The fowrthe poynt techyth us
alse,
That no mon to hys craft be
false;
Errour he schal maynteine
none
Azeynus the craft, but let hyt
gone;
Ny no pregedysse he schal not
do
To hys mayster, ny hys felows
also;
And thatzth the prentes be under
awe,
Zet he wolde have the same
lawe.
Quintus punctus.
The fyfthe poynte ys, withoute
nay,
That whenne the mason taketh hys
pay
Of the mayster, y-ordent to
hym,
Ful mekely y-take so most hyt
byn;
Zet most the mayster, by good
resone,
Warne hem lawfully byfore
none,
Zef he nulle okepye hem no
more,
As he hath y-done ther
byfore;
Azeynus thys ordyr he may not
stryve,
Zef he thenke wel for to
thryve.
Sextus punctus.
The syxte poynt ys ful zef to
knowe,
Bothe to hye and eke to
lowe,
For such case hyt myzth
befalle,
Am nge the masonus, summe or
alle,
Throwghe envye, or dedly
hate,
Ofte aryseth ful gret
debate.
Thenne owyth the mason, zef that
he may,
Putte hem bothe under a
day;
But loveday zet schul they make
none;
Tyl that the werke day be clene
a-gone;
Apon the holyday ze mowe wel
take
Leyser y-nowzgth loveday to
make,
Lest that hyt wolde the werke
day
Latte here werke for suche
afray;
To suche ende thenne that hem
drawe,
That they stonde wel yn Goddes
lawe.
Septimus punctus.
The seventhe poynt he may wel
mene,
Of wel longe lyf that God us
lene,
As hyt dyscryeth wel
opunly,
Thou schal not by thy maysters
wyf ly,
Ny by the felows, yn no maner
wyse,
Lest the craft wolde the
despyse;
Ny by the felows
concubyne,
No more thou woldest he dede by
thyne.
The peyne thereof let hyt be
ser,
That he prentes ful seven
zer,
Zef he forfete yn eny of
hem,
So y-chasted thenne most he
ben;
Ful mekele care myzth ther
begynne,
For suche a fowle dedely
synne.
Octavus punctus.
The eghte poynt, he may be
sure,
Zef thou hast y-taken any
cure,
Under thy mayster thou be
trwe,
For that pynt thou schalt never
arewe;
Atrwe medyater thou most nede
be
To thy mayster, and thy felows
fre;
Do trwly al....that thou
myzth,
To both partyes, and that ys good
ryzth.
Nonus punctus.
The nynthe poynt we schul hym
calle,
That he be stwarde of oure
halle,
Zef that ze ben yn chambur
y-fere,
Uchon serve other, with mylde
chere;
Jentul felows, ze moste hyt
knowe,
For to be stwardus alle o
rowe,
Weke after weke withoute
dowte,
Stwardus to ben so alle
abowte,
Lovelyche to serven uchon
othur,
As thawgh they were syster and
brother;
Ther schal never won on other
costage
Fre hymself to no vantage,
But every mon schal be lyche
fre
Yn that costage, so moste hyt
be;
Loke that thou pay wele every mon
algate,
That thou hsat y-bowzht any
vytayles ate,
That no cravynge be y-mad to
the,
Ny to thy felows, yn no
degre,
To mon or to wommon, whether he
be,
Pay hem wel and trwly, for that
wol we;
Therof on thy felow trwe record
thou take,
For that good pay as thou dost
make,
Lest hyt wolde thy felowe
schame,
Any brynge thyself ynto gret
blame.
Zet good acowntes he most
make
Of suche godes as he hath
y-take,
Of thy felows goodes that thou
hast spende,
Wher, and how, and to what
ende;
Suche acowntes thou most come
to,
Whenne thy felows wollen that
thou do.
Decimus punctus.
The tenthe poynt presentyeth wel
god lyf,
To lyven withoute care and
stryf;
For and the mason lyve
amysse,
And yn hys werk be false,
y-wysse,
And thorwz suche a false
skewysasyon
May sclawndren hys felows oute
reson,
Throwz false sclawnder of suche
fame
May make the craft kachone
blame.
Zef he do the craft suche
vylany,
Do hym no favour thenne
securly.
Ny maynteine not hym yn wyked
lyf,
Lest hyt wolde turne to care and
stryf;
But zet hym ze schul not
delayme,
But that ze schullen hym
constrayne,
For to apere whersevor ze
wylle,
Whar that ze wolen, lowde, or
stylle;
To the nexte semble ze schul hym
calle,
To apere byfore hys felows
alle,
And but zef he wyl byfore hem
pere,
The crafte he moste nede
forswere;
He schal thenne be chasted after
the lawe
That was y-fownded by olde
dawe.
Punctus undecimus.
The eleventhe poynt ys of good
dyscrecyoun,
As ze mowe knowe by good
resoun;
A mason, and he thys craft wel
con,
That syzth hys felow hewen on a
ston,
Amende hyt sone, zef that thou
con,
And teche hym thenne hyt to
amende,
That the lordys werke be not
y-schende,
And teche hym esely hyt to
amende,
With fayre wordes, that God the
hath lende;
For hys sake that sytte
above,
With swete wordes noresche hym
love.
Punctus duodecimus.
The twelthe poynt of gret
ryolte,
Ther as the semble y-hole schal
be,
Ther schul be maystrys and felows
also,
And other grete lordes mony
mo;
There schal be the scheref of
that contre,
And also the meyr of that
syte,
Knyztes and ther schul be,
And other aldermen, as ze schul
se;
Suche ordynance as they maken
there,
They schul maynte hyt hol
y-fere
Azeynus that mon, whatsever he
be,
That longuth to the craft bothe
fayr and free.
Zef he any stryf azeynus hem
make,
Ynto here warde he schal be
take.
Xiijus punctus.
The threnteth poynt ys to us ful
luf.
He schal swere never to be no
thef,
Ny soker hym yn hys fals
craft,
For no good that he hath
byraft,
And thou mowe hyt knowe or
syn,
Nowther for hys good, ny for hys
kyn.
Xiijus punctus.
The fowrtethe poynt ys ful good
lawe
To hym that wold ben under
awe;
A good trwe othe he most ther
swere
To hys mayster and hys felows
that ben there;
He most be stedefast and trwe
also
To alle thys ordynance, whersever
he go,
And to hys lyge lord the
kynge,
To be trwe to hym, over alle
thynge.
And alle these poyntes hyr
before
To hem thou most nede by
y-swore,
And alle schul swere the same
ogth
Of the masonus, be they luf, ben
they loght,
To alle these poyntes hyr
byfore,
That hath ben ordeynt by ful good
lore.
And they schul enquere every
mon
On his party, as wyl as he
con,
Zef any mon mowe be y-fownde
gulty
Yn any of these poyntes
spesyaly;
And whad he be, let hym be
sowzht,
And to the semble let hym be
browzht.
Quindecimus punctus.
The fifethe poynt ys of ful good
lore,
For hem that schul ben ther
y-swore,
Suche ordyance at the semble wes
layd
Of grete lordes and maystres
byforesayd;
For thelke that be unbuxom,
y-wysse,
Azeynus the ordynance that ther
ysse
Of these artyculus, that were
y-meved there,
Of grete lordes and masonus al
y-fere.
And zef they ben y-preved
opunly
Byfore that semble, by an
by,
And for here gultes no mendys wol
make,
Thenne most they nede the craft
they schul refuse,
And swere hyt never more for to
use.
But zef that they wol mendys
make,
Azayn to the craft they schul
never take;
And zef that they nul not do
so,
The scheref schal come hem sone
to,
And putte here dodyes yn duppe
prison,
For the trespasse that they hav
y-don,
And take here goodes and here
cattelle
Ynto the kynges hond, everyt
delle,
And lete hem dwelle ther full
stylle,
Tyl hyt be oure lege kynges
wylle.
Alia ordinacio artis
gematriae.
They ordent ther a semble to be
y-holde
Every zer, whersever they
wolde,
To amende the defautes, zef any
where fonde
Amonge the craft withynne the
londe;
Uche zer or thrydde zer hyt
schuld be holde,
Yn every place whersever they
wolde;
Tyme and place most be ordeynt
also,
Yn what place they schul semble
to.
Alle the men of craft thr they
most ben,
And other grete lordes, as ze
mowe sen,
To mende the fautes that buth
ther y-spoke,
Zef that eny of hem ben thenne
y-broke.
Ther they schullen ben alle
y-swore,
That longuth to thys craftes
lore,
To kepe these statutes
everychon,
That ben y-ordeynt by kynge
Aldelston;
These statutes that y have hyr
y-fonde
Y chulle they ben holde throzh my
londe,
For the worsche of my
rygolte,
That y have by my dygnyte.
Also at every semble that ze
holde,
That ze come to zowre lyge kyng
bolde,
Bysechynge hym of hys hye
grace,
To stone with zow yn every
place,
To conferme the statutes of kynge
Adelston,
That he ordeydnt to thys craft by
good reson,
Ars quatuor coronatorum.
Pray we now to God
almyzht,
And to hys moder Mary
bryzht,
That we mowe keepe these
artyculus here,
And these poynts wel al
y-fere,
As dede these holy martyres
fowre,
That yn thys craft were of gret
honoure;
They were as gode masonus as on
erthe schul go,
Gravers and ymage-makers they
were also.
For they were werkemen of the
beste,
The emperour hade to hem gret
luste;
He wylned of hem a ymage to
make,
That mowzh be worscheped for his
sake;
Susch mawmetys he hade yn hys
dawe,
To turne the pepul from Crystus
lawe.
But they were stedefast yn
Crystes lay,
And to here craft, withouten
nay;
They loved wel God and alle hys
lore,
And weren yn hys serves ever
more.
Trwe men they were yn that
dawe,
And lyved wel y Goddus
lawe;
They thozght no mawmetys for to
make,
For no good that they myzth
take,
To levyn on that mawmetys for
here God,
They nolde do so thawz he were
wod;
For they nolde not forsake here
trw fay,
An beyleve on hys falsse
lay.
The emperour let take hem sone
anone,
And putte hem ynto a dep
presone;
The sarre he penest hem yn that
plase,
The more yoye wes to hem of
Cristus grace.
Thenne when he sye no nother
won,
To dethe he lette hem thenne
gon;
By the bok he may kyt
schowe,
In the legent of
scanctorum,
The name of quatour
coronatorum.
Here fest wol be, withoute
nay,
After Alle Halwen the eyght
day.
Ze mow here as y do rede,
That mony zeres after, for gret
drede
That Noees flod wes alle
y-ronne,
The tower of Babyloyne was
begonne,
Also playne werke of lyme and
ston,
As any mon schulde loke
uppon;
So long and brod hyt was
begonne,
Seven myle the hezghte schadweth
the sonne.
King Nabogodonosor let hyt
make,
To gret strenthe for monus
sake,
Thazgh suche a flod azayne
schulde come,
Over the werke hyt schulde not
nome;
For they hadde so hy pride, with
stronge
bost,
Alle that werke therfore was
y-lost;
An angele smot hem so with
dyveres speche,
That never won wyste what other
schuld
reche.
Mony eres after, the goode clerk
Euclyde
Tazghte the craft of gemetre
wonder wyde,
So he ded that tyme other
also,
Of dyvers craftes mony mo.
Throzgh hye grace of Crist yn
heven,
He commensed yn the syens
seven;
Gramatica ys the furste syens
y-wysse,
Dialetica the secunde, so have y
blysse,
Rethorica the thrydde, withoute
nay,
Musica ys the fowrth, as y zow
say,
Astromia ys the V, by my
snowte,
Arsmetica the Vi, withoute
dowte
Gemetria the seventhe maketh an
ende,
For he ys bothe make and
hende,
Gramer forsothe ys the
rote,
Whose wyl lurne on the
boke;
But art passeth yn hys
degre,
As the fryte doth the rote of the
tre;
Rethoryk metryth with orne speche
amonge,
And musyke hyt ys a swete
song;
Astronomy nombreth, my dere
brother,
Arsmetyk scheweth won thyng that
ys another,
Gemetre the seventh syens hyt
ysse,
That con deperte falshed from
trewthe y-wys.
These bene the syens
seven,
Whose useth hem wel, he may han
heven.
Now dere chyldren, by zowre
wytte,
Pride and covetyse that ze leven,
hytte,
And taketh hede to goode
dyscrecyon,
And to good norter, whersever ze
com.
Now y pray zow take good
hede,
For thys ze most kenne
nede,
But much more ze moste
wyten,
Thenne ze fynden hyr
y-wryten.
Zef the fayle therto
wytte,
Pray to God to send the
hytte;
For Crist hymself, he techet
ous
That holy churche ys Goddes
hous,
That ys y-mad for nothynge
ellus
but for to pray yn, as the bok
tellus;
Ther the pepul schal gedur
ynne,
To pray and wepe for here
synne.
Loke thou come not to churche
late,
For to speke harlotrey by the
gate;
Thenne to churche when thou dost
fare,
Have yn thy mynde ever
mare
To worschepe thy lord God bothe
day and nyzth,
With all thy wyttes, and eke thy
myzth.
To the churche dore when tou dost
come,
Of that holy water ther sum thow
nome,
For every drope thou felust
ther
Qwenchet a venyal synne, be thou
ser.
But furst thou most do down thy
hode,
For hyse love that dyed on the
rode.
Into the churche when thou dost
gon,
Pulle uppe thy herte to Crist,
anon;
Uppon the rode thou loke uppe
then,
And knele down fayre on bothe thy
knen;
Then pray to hym so hyr to
worche,
After the lawe of holy
churche,
For to kepe the comandementes
ten,
That God zaf to alle men;
And pray to hym with mylde
steven
To kepe the from the synnes
seven,
That thou hyr mowe, yn thy
lyve,
Kepe the wel from care and
stryve,
Forthermore he grante the grace,
In heven blysse to hav a
place.
In holy churche lef nyse
wordes
Of lewed speche, and fowle
bordes,
And putte away alle
vanyte,
And say thy pater noster and thyn
ave;
Loke also thou make no
bere,
But ay to be yn thy
prayere;
Zef thou wolt not thyselve
pray,
Latte non other mon by no
way.
In that place nowther sytte ny
stonde,
But knele fayre down on the
gronde,
And, when the Gospel me rede
schal,
Fayre thou stonde up fro the
wal,
And blesse the fayre, zef that
thou conne,
When gloria tibi is
begonne;
And when the gospel ys
y-done,
Azayn thou myzth knele
adown;
On bothe thy knen down thou
falle,
For hyse love that bowzht us
alle;
And when thou herest the belle
rynge
To that holy sakerynge,
Knele ze most, bothe zynge and
olde,
And bothe zor hondes fayr
upholde,
And say thenne yn thys
manere,
Fayr and softe, withoute
bere;
"Jhesu Lord, welcom thou
be,
Yn forme of bred, as y the
se.
Now Jhesu, for thyn holy
name,
Schulde me from synne and
schame,
Schryff and hosel thou grant me
bo,
Zer that y schal hennus
go,
And vey contrycyon of my
synne,
Tath y never, Lord, dye
therynne;
And, as thou were of a mayde
y-bore,
Sofre me never to be
y-lore;
But when y schal hennus
wende,
Grante me the blysse withoute
ende;
Amen! amen! so mot hyt be!
Now, swete lady, pray for
me."
Thus thou myzht say, or sum other
thynge,
When thou knelust at the
sakerynge.
For covetyse after good, spare
thou nought
To worschepe hym that alle hath
wrought;
For glad may a mon that day ben,
That onus yn the day may hym
sen;
Hyt ys so muche worthe, withoute
nay,
The vertu therof no mon telle
may;
But so meche good doth that
syht,
As seynt Austyn telluth ful
ryht,
That day thou syst Goddus
body,
Thou schalt have these, ful
securly;-
Mete and drynke at thy
nede,
Non that day schal the
gnede;
Ydul othes, an wordes bo,
God forzeveth the also;
Soden deth, that ylke day,
The dar not drede by no
way;
Also that day, y the
plyht,
Thou schalt not lese thy eye
syht;
And uche fote that thou gost
then,
That holy syht for to sen,
They schul be told to stonde yn
stede,
When thou hast therto gret
nede;
That messongere, the angele
Gabryelle,
Wol kepe hem to the ful
welle.
From thys mater now y may
passe,
To telle mo medys of the
masse:
To churche come zet, zef thou
may,
And here thy masse uche
day;
Zef thou mowe not come to
churche,
Wher that ever thou doste
worche,
When thou herest to masse
knylle,
Pray to God with herte
stylle,
To zeve the part of that
servyse,
That yn churche ther don
yse.
Forthermore zet, y wol zow
preche
To zowre felows, hyt for to
teche,
When thou comest byfore a
lorde,
Yn halle, yn bowre, or at the
borde,
Hod or cappe that thou of
do,
Zer thou come hym allynge
to;
Twyes or thryes, without
dowte,
To that lord thou moste
lowte;
With thy ryzth kne let hyt be
do,
Thynowne worschepe tou save
so.
Holde of thy cappe, and hod
also,
Tyl thou have leve hyt on to
do.
Al the whyle thou spekest with
hym,
Fayre and lovelyche bere up thy
chyn;
So, after the norter of the
boke,
Yn hys face lovely thou
loke.
Fot and hond, thou kepe ful
stylle
From clawynge and trypynge, ys
sckylle;
From spyttynge and snyftynge kepe
the also,
By privy avoydans let hyt
go.
And zef that thou be wyse and
felle,
Thou hast gret nede to governe
the welle.
Ynto the halle when thou dost
wende,
Amonges the genteles, good and
hende,
Presume not to hye for
nothynge,
For thyn hye blod, ny thy
connynge,
Nowther to sytte, ny to
lene,
That ys norther good and
clene.
Let not thy cowntenans therfore
abate,
Forsothe, good norter wol save
thy state.
Fader and moder, whatsever they
be,
Wel ys the chyld that wel may the
,
Yn halle, yn chamber, wher thou
dost gon;
Gode maners maken a mon.
To the nexte degre loke
wysly,
To do hem reverans by and
by;
Do hem zet no reverans al o-rowe,
But zef that thou do hem
know.
To the mete when thou art
y-sette,
Fayre and onestelyche thou ete
hytte;
Fyrst loke that thyn honden be
clene,
And that thy knyf be scharpe and
kene;
And kette thy bed al at thy mete,
Ryzth as hyt may be ther
y-ete.
Zef thou sytte by a worththyur
mon.
Then thy selven thou art
won,
Sofre hym fyrst to toyche the
mete,
Zer thyself to hyt reche.
To the fayrest mossel thou myzht
not strike,
Thaght that thou do hyt wel
lyke;
Kepe thyn hondes, fayr and
wel,
From fowle smogynge of thy
towel;
Theron thou schalt not thy nese
snyte,
Ny at the mete thy tothe thou
pyke;
To depe yn the coppe thou myzght
not synke,
Thagh thou have good wyl to
drynke,
Lest thyn enyn wolde wattryn
therby-
Then were hyt no curtesy
Loke yn thy mowth ther be no
mete,
When thou begynnyst to drynke or
speke.
When thou syst any mon
drynkiynge,
That taketh hed to thy
carpynge,
Sone anonn thou sese thy
tale,
Whether he drynke wyn other
ale.
Loke also thou scorne no
mon,
Yn what degre thou syst hym
gon;
Ny thou schalt no mon
deprave,
Zef thou wolt thy worschepe
save;
For suche worde myzht ther
outberste,
That myzht make the sytte yn evel
reste,
Close thy honde yn thy fyste,
And kepe the wel from
"had-y-wyste."
Yn chamber amonge the ladyes
bryght,
Holde thy tonge and spende thy
syght;
Lawze thou not with no gret
cry,
Ny make no ragynge with
rybody.
Play thou not buyt with thy
peres,
Ny tel thou not al that thou
heres;
Dyskever thou not thyn owne
dede,
For no merthe, ny for no
mede;
With fayr speceh thou myght have
thy wylle,
With hyt thou myght thy selven
spylle.
When thou metyst a worthy
mon,
Cappe and hod thou holle no
on;
Yn churche, yn chepyns, or yn
gate,
Do hym reverans after hys
state.
Zef thou gost with a worthyor
mon,
Then thyselven thou art
won,
Let thy forther schulder sewe
backe,
For that ys norter withoute
lacke;
When he doth speke, holte the
stylle,
When he hath don, sey for thy
wylle,
Yn thy speche that thou be
felle,
And what thou sayst avyse the
welle;
But byref thou no hym hys
tale,
Nowther at the wyn, ny at the
ale.
Cryst then of hys hye
grace,
Zeve zow bothe wytte and
space,
Wel thys boke to conne and
rede,
Heven to have for zowre
mede.
Amen! amen! so mot hyt be!
Say we so alle per
charyte.
|
LE MANUSCRIT REGIUS
(Anglais moderne)
A Poem of Moral Duties
Here begin the constitutions of
the art
of Geometry according to
Euclid.
Whoever will both well read and
look
He may find written in old
book
Of great lords and also
ladies,
That had many children together,
certainly;
And had no income to keep them
with,
Neither in town nor field nor
enclosed wood;
A council together they could
them take,
To ordain for these children's
sake,
How they might best lead their
life
Without great disease, care and
strife;
And most for the multitude that
was coming
Of their children after great
clerks,
To teach them then good
works;
And pray we them, for our Lord's
sake.
To our children some work to
make,
That they might get their living
thereby,
Both well and honestly full
securely.
In that time, through good
geometry,
This honest craft of good
masonry
Was ordained and made in this
manner,
Counterfeited of these clerks
together;
At these lord's prayers they
counter-
feited geometry,
And gave it the name of
masonry,
For the most honest craft of
all.
These lords' children thereto did
fall,
To learn of him the craft of
geometry,
The which he made full
curiously;
Through fathers' prayers and
mothers' also,
This honest craft he put them
to.
He learned best, and was of
honesty,
And passed his fellows in
curiosity,
If in that craft he did him
pass,
He should have more worship than
the less,
This great clerk's name was
Euclid,
His name it spread full wonder
wide.
Yet this great clerk ordained
he
To him that was higher in this
degree,
That he should teach the simplest
of wit
In that honest craft to be
perfect;
And so each one shall teach the
other,
And love together as sister and
brother.
Futhermore yet that ordained
he,
Master called so should he
be;
So that he were most
worshipped,
Then should he be so
called;
But masons should never one
another call,
Within the craft amongst them
all,
Neither subject nor servant, my
dear brother,
Though he be not so perfect as is
another;
Each shall call other fellows by
friendship,
Because they come of ladies'
birth.
On this manner, through good wit
of geometry,
Began first the craft of
masonry;
The clerk Euclid on this wise it
found,
This craft of geometry in Egypt
land.
In Egypt he taught it full
wide,
In divers lands on every
side;
Many years afterwards, I
understand,
Ere that the craft came into this
land.
This craft came into England, as
I you say,
In time of good King Athelstane's
day;
He made then both hall and even
bower,
And high temples of great
honour,
To disport him in both day and
night,
And to worship his God with all
his might.
This good lord loved this craft
full well,
And purposed to strengthen it
every part,
For divers faults that in the
craft he found;
He sent about into the
land
After all the masons of the
craft,
To come to him full even
straight,
For to amend these defaults
all
By good counsel, if it might
fall.
An assembly then could let
make
Of divers lords in their
state,
Dukes, earls, and barons
also,
Knights, squires and many
more,
And the great burgesses of that
city,
They were there all in their
degree;
There were there each one
always,
To ordain for these masons'
estate,
There they sought by their
wit,
How they might govern it;
Fifteen articles they there
sought,
And fifteen points there they
wrought,
Here begins the first
article.
The first article of this
geometry;-
The master mason must be full
securely
Both steadfast, trusty and
true,
It shall him never then
rue;
And pay thy fellows after the
cost,
As victuals goeth then, well thou
knowest;
And pay them truly, upon thy
faith,
What they may deserve;
And to their hire take no
more,
But what that they may serve
for;
And spare neither for love nor
dread,
Of neither parties to take no
bribe;
Of lord nor fellow, whoever he
be,
Of them thou take no manner of
fee;
And as a judge stand
upright,
And then thou dost to both good
right;
And truly do this wheresoever
thou goest,
Thy worship, thy profit, it shall
be most.
Second article.
The second article of good
masonry,
As you must it here hear
specially,
That every master, that is a
mason,
Must be at the general
congregation,
So that he it reasonably be
told
Where that the assembly shall be
held;
And to that assembly he must
needs go,
Unless he have a reasonable
excuse,
Or unless he be disobedient to
that craft
Or with falsehood is
overtaken,
Or else sickness hath him so
strong,
That he may not come them
among;
That is an excuse good and
able,
To that assembly without
fable.
Third article.
The third article forsooth it
is,
That the master takes to no
'prentice,
Unless he have good assurance to
dwell
Seven years with him, as I you
tell,
His craft to learn, that is
profitable;
Within less he may no be
able
To lords' profit, nor to his
own
As you may know by good
reason.
Fourth article.
The fourth article this must
be,
That the master him well
besee,
That he no bondman 'prentice
make,
Nor for no covetousness do him
take;
For the lord that he is bound
to,
May fetch the 'prentice
wheresoever he go.
If in the lodge he were
taken,
Much disease it might there
make,
And such case it might
befall,
That it might grieve some or
all.
For all the masons that be
there
Will stand together all
together.
If such one in that craft should
dwell,
Of divers disease you might
tell;
For more ease then, and of
honesty,
Take a 'prentice of higher
degree.
By old time written I find
That the 'prentice should be of
gentle kind;
And so sometime, great lords'
blood
Took this geometry that is full
good.
Fifth article.
The fifth article is very
good,
So that the 'prentice be of
lawful blood;
The master shall not, for no
advantage,
Make no 'prentice that is
deformed;
It is mean, as you may
hear
That he have all his limbs whole
all together;
To the craft it were great shame,
To make a halt man and a
lame,
For an imperfect man of such
blood
Should do the craft but little
good.
Thus you may know every
one,
The craft would have a mighty
man;
A maimed man he hath no
might,
You must it know long ere
night.
Sixth article.
The sixth article you must not
miss
That the master do the lord no
prejudice,
To take the lord for his
'prentice,
As much as his fellows do, in all
wise.
For in that craft they be full
perfect,
So is not he, you must see
it.
Also it were against good
reason,
To take his hire as his fellows
do.
This same article in this
case,
Judgeth his prentice to take
less
Than his fellows, that be full
perfect.
In divers matters, know requite
it,
The master may his 'prentice so
inform,
That his hire may increase full
soon,
And ere his term come to an
end,
His hire may full well
amend.
Seventh article.
The seventh article that is now
here,
Full well will tell you all
together,
That no master for favour nor
dread,
Shall no thief neither clothe nor
feed.
Thieves he shall harbour never
one,
Nor him that hath killed a
man,
Nor the same that hath a feeble
name,
Lest it would turn the craft to
shame.
Eighth article.
The eighth article sheweth you
so,
That the master may it well
do.
If that he have any man of
craft,
And he be not so perfect as he
ought,
He may him change soon
anon,
And take for him a more perfect
man.
Such a man through
recklessness,
Might do the craft scant
worship.
Ninth article.
The ninth article sheweth full
well,
That the master be both wise and
strong;
That he no work undertake,
Unless he can both it end and
make;
And that it be to the lords'
profit also,
And to his craft, wheresoever he
go;
And that the ground be well
taken,
That it neither flaw nor
crack.
Tenth article.
The tenth article is for to
know,
Among the craft, to high and
low,
There shall no master supplant
another,
But be together as sister and
brother,
In this curious craft, all and
some,
That belongeth to a master
mason.
Nor shall he supplant no other
man,
That hath taken a work him
upon,
In pain thereof that is so
strong,
That weigheth no less than ten
pounds,
but if that he be guilty
found,
That took first the work on
hand;
For no man in masonry
Shall not supplant other
securely,
But if that it be so
wrought,
That in turn the work to
nought;
Then may a mason that work
crave,
To the lords' profit for it to
save
In such a case if it do
fall,
There shall no mason meddle
withal.
Forsooth he that beginneth the
ground,
If he be a mason good and
sound,
He hath it securely in his
mind
To bring the work to full good
end.
Eleventh article.
The eleventh article I tell
thee,
That he is both fair and
free;
For he teacheth, by his
might,
That no mason should work by
night,
But if be in practising of
wit,
If that I could amend it.
Twelfth article.
The twelfth article is of high
honesty
To every mason wheresoever he
be,
He shall not his fellows' work
deprave,
If that he will his honesty
save;
With honest words he it
commend,
By the wit God did thee
send;
But it amend by all that thou
may,
Between you both without
doubt.
Thirteenth article.
The thirteenth article, so God me
save,
Is if that the master a 'prentice
have,
Entirely then that he him
tell,
That he the craft ably may
know,
Wheresoever he go under the
sun.
Fourteenth article.
The fourteenth article by good
reason,
Sheweth the master how he shall
do;
He shall no 'prentice to him
take,
Unless diver cares he have to
make,
That he may within his
term,
Of him divers points may
learn.
Fifteenth article.
The fifteenth article maketh an
end,
For to the master he is a
friend;
To teach him so, that for no
man,
No false maintenance he take him
upon,
Nor maintain his fellows in their
sin,
For no good that he might
win;
Nor no false oath suffer him to
make,
For dread of their souls'
sake,
Lest it would turn the craft to
shame,
And himself to very much
blame.
Plural constitutions.
At this assembly were points
ordained more,
Of great lords and masters
also.
That who will know this craft and
come to
estate,
He must love well God and holy
church always,
And his master also that he is
with,
Whersoever he go in field or
enclosed wood,
And thy fellows thou love
also,
For that thy craft will that thou
do.
Second Point.
The second point as I you
say,
That the mason work upon the work
day,
As truly as he can or may,
To deserve his hire for the
holy-day,
And truly to labour on his
deed,
Well deserve to have his
reward.
Third point.
The third point must be
severely,
With the 'prentice know it
well,
His master's counsel he keep and
close,
And his fellows by his good
purpose;
The privities of the chamber tell
he no man,
Nor in the lodge whatsoever they
do;
Whatsoever thou hearest or seest
them do,
Tell it no man wheresoever you
go;
The counsel of hall, and even of
bower,
Keep it well to great
honour,
Lest it would turn thyself to
blame,
And bring the craft into great
shame.
Fourth point.
The fourth point teacheth us
also,
That no man to his craft be
false;
Error he shall maintain
none
Against the craft, but let it
go;
Nor no prejudice he shall no
do
To his master, nor his fellow
also;
And though the 'prentice be under
awe,
Yet he would have the same
law.
Fifth point.
The fifth point is without
doubt,
That when the mason taketh his
pay
Of the master, ordained to
him,
Full meekly taken so must it
be;
Yet must the master by good
reason,
Warn him lawfully before
noon,
If he will not occupy him no
more,
As he hath done there
before;
Against this order he may no
strive,
If he think well for to
thrive.
Sixth point.
The sixth point is full given to
know,
Both to high and even low,
For such case it might
befall;
Among the masons some or
all,
Through envy or deadly
hate,
Oft ariseth full great
debate.
Then ought the mason if that he
may,
Put them both under a day;
But loveday yet shall they make
none,
Till that the work-day you must
well take
Leisure enough loveday to
make,
Hinder their work for such a
fray;
To such end then that you them
draw.
That they stand well in God's
law.
Seventh point.
The seventh point he may well
mean,
Of well long life that God us
lend,
As it descrieth well
openly,
Thou shalt not by thy master's
wife lie,
Nor by thy fellows', in no manner
wise,
Lest the craft would thee
despise;
Nor by thy fellows'
concubine,
No more thou wouldst he did by
thine.
The pain thereof let it be
sure,
That he be 'prentice full seven
year,
If he forfeit in any of
them
So chastised then must he
be;
Full much care might there
begin,
For such a foul deadly
sin.
Eighth point.
The eighth point, he may be
sure,
If thou hast taken any
cure,
Under thy master thou be
true,
For that point thous shalt never
rue;
A true mediator thou must needs
be
To thy master, and thy fellows
free;
Do truly all that thou might,
To both parties, and that is good
right.
Ninth point.
The ninth point we shall him
call,
That he be steward of our
hall,
If that you be in chamber
together,
Each one serve other with mild
cheer;
Gentle fellows, you must it
know,
For to be stewards all in
turn,
Week after week without
doubt,
Stewards to be so all in turn
about,
Amiably to serve each one
other,
As though they were sister and
brother;
There shall never one another
cost
Free himself to no
advantage,
But every man shall be equally
free
In that cost, so must it
be;
Look that thou pay well every man
always,
That thou hast bought any
victuals eaten,
That no craving be made to
thee,
Nor to thy fellows in no
degree,
To man or to woman, whoever he
be,
Pay them well and truly, for that
will we;
Therof on thy fellow true record
thou take,
For that good pay as thou dost
make,
Lest it would thy fellow
shame,
And bring thyself into great
blame.
Yet good accounts he must
make
Of such goods as he hath
taken,
Of thy fellows' goods that thou
hast spent,
Where and how and to what
end;
Such accounts thou must come
to,
When thy fellows wish that thou
do.
Tenth point.
The tenth point presenteth well
good life,
To live without care and
strife;
For if the mason live
amiss,
And in his work be false I
know,
And through such a false
excuse
May slander his fellows without
reason,
Through false slander of such
fame
May make the craft acquire
blame.
If he do the craft such
villainy,
Do him no favour then
securely,
Nor maintain not him in wicked
life,
Lest it would turn to care and
strife;
But yet him you shall not
delay,
Unless that you shall him
constrain,
For to appear wheresoever you
will,
Where that you will, loud, or
still;
To the next assembly you him
call,
To appear before his fellows
all,
And unless he will before them
appear,
The craft he must need
forswear;
He shall then be punished after
the law
That was founded by old
day.
Eleventh point.
The eleventh point is of good
discretion,
As you must know by good
reason;
A mason, if he this craft well
know,
That seeth his fellow hew on a
stone,
And is in point to spoil that
stone,
Amend it soon if that thou
can,
And teach him then it to
amend,
That the lords' work be not
spoiled,
And teach him easily it to
amend,
With fair words, that God thee
hath lent;
For his sake that sit
above,
With sweet words nourish his
love.
Twelfth point.
The twelfth point is of great
royalty,
There as the assembly held shall
be,
There shall be masters and
fellows also,
And other great lords many
more;
There shall be the sheriff of
that country,
And also the mayor of that
city,
Knights and squires there shall
be,
And also aldermen, as you shall
see;
Such ordinance as thy make
there,
They shall maintain it all
together
Against that man, whatsoever he
be,
That belongeth to the craft both
fair and
free.
If he any strife against them
make,
Into their custody he shall be
taken.
Thirteenth point.
The thirteenth point is to us
full lief,
He shall swear never to be no
thief,
Nor succour him in his false
craft,
For no good that he hath
bereft,
And thou must it know or
sin,
Neither for his good, nor for his
kin.
Fourteenth point.
The fourteenth point is full good
law
To him that would be under
awe;
A good true oath he must there
swear
To his master and his fellows
that be there;
He must be steadfast be and true
also
To all this ordinance,
wheresoever he go,
And to his liege lord the
king,
To be true to him over all
thing.
And all these points here
before
To them thou must need be
sworn,
And all shall swear the same
oath
Of the masons, be they lief be
they loath.
To all these points here
before,
That hath been ordained by full
good lore.
And they shall enquire every
man
Of his party, as well as he
can,
If any man may be found
guilty
In any of these points
specially;
And who he be, let him be
sought,
And to the assembly let him be
brought.
Fifteen point.
The fifteenth point is full good
lore,
For them that shall be there
sworn,
Such ordinance at the assembly
was laid
Of great lords and masters before
said;
For the same that be disobedient,
I know,
Against the ordinance that there
is,
Of these articles that were moved
there,
Of great lords and masons all
together,
And if they be proved
openly
Before that assembly, by and
by,
And for their guilt's no amends
will make,
Then must they need the craft
forsake;
And no masons craft they shall
refuse,
And swear it never more to
use.
But if that they will amends
make,
Again to the craft they shall
never take;
And if that they will no do
so,
The sheriff shall come them soon
to,
And put their bodies in deep
prison,
For the trespass that they have
done,
And take their goods and their
cattle
Into the king's hand, every
part,
And let them dwell there full
still,
Till it be our liege king's
will.
Another ordinance of the art of
geometry.
They ordained there an assembly
to be hold,
Every year, wheresoever they
would,
To amend the defaults, if any
were found
Among the craft within the
land;
Each year or third year it should
be held,
In every place weresoever they
would;
Time and place must be ordained
also,
In what place they should
assemble to,
All the men of craft there they
must be,
And other great lords, as you
must see,
To mend the faults the he there
spoken,
If that any of them be then
broken.
There they shall be all
sworn,
That belongeth to this craft's
lore,
To keep their statutes every
one
That were ordained by King
Althelstane;
These statutes that I have here
found
I ordain they be held through my
land,
For the worship of my
royalty,
That I have by my dignity.
Also at every assembly that you
hold,
That you come to your liege king
bold,
Beseeching him of his
grace,
To stand with you in every
place,
To confirm the statutes of King
Athelstane,
That he ordained to this craft by
good reason.
The art of the four crowned
ones.
Pray we now to God
almighty,
And to his mother Mary
bright,
That we may keep these articles
here,
And these points well all
together,
As did these holy martyrs
four,
That in this craft were of great
honour;
They were as good masons as on
earth shall go,
Gravers and image-makers they
were also.
For they were workmen of the
best,
The emperor had to them great
liking;
He willed of them an image to
make
That might be worshipped for his
sake;
Such monuments he had in his
day,
To turn the people from Christ's
law.
But they were steadfast in
Christ's law,
And to their craft without
doubt;
They loved well God and all his
lore,
And were in his service ever
more.
True men they were in that
day,
And lived well in God's
law;
They thought no monuments for to
make,
For no good that they might
take,
To believe on that monument for
their God,
They would not do so, though he
was furious;
For they would not forsake their
true faith,
And believe on his false
law,
The emperor let take them soon
anon,
And put them in a deep
prison;
The more sorely he punished them
in that place,
The more joy was to them of
Christ's grace,
Then when he saw no other
one,
To death he let them then
go;
By the book he might it
show
In legend of holy ones,
The names of the four-crowned
ones.
Their feast will be without
doubt,
After Hallow-e'en eighth
day.
You may hear as I do read,
That many years after, for great
dread
That Noah's flood was all
run,
The tower of Babylon was begun,
As plain work of lime and
stone,
As any man should look
upon;
So long and broad it was
begun,
Seven miles the height shadoweth
the sun.
King Nebuchadnezzar let it
make
To great strength for man's
sake,
Though such a flood again should
come,
Over the work it should not
take;
For they had so high pride, with
strong
boast
All that work therefore was
lost;
An angel smote them so with
divers speech,
That never one knew what the
other should
tell.
Many years after, the good clerk
Euclid
Taught the craft of geometry full
wonder wide,
So he did that other time
also,
Of divers crafts many
more.
Through high grace of Christ in
heaven,
He commenced in the sciences
seven;
Grammar is the first science I
know,
Dialect the second, so I have I
bliss,
Rhetoric the third without
doubt,
Music is the fourth, as I you
say,
Astronomy is the fifth, by my
snout,
Arithmetic the sixth, without
doubt,
Geometry the seventh maketh an
end,
For he is both meek and
courteous,
Grammar forsooth is the
root,
Whoever will learn on the
book;
But art passeth in his
degree,
As the fruit doth the root of the
tree;
Rhetoric measureth with ornate
speech among,
And music it is a sweet
song;
Astronomy numbereth, my dear
brother,
Arithmetic sheweth one thing that
is another,
Geometry the seventh science it
is,
That can separate falsehood from
truth, I know
These be the sciences
seven,
Who useth them well he may have
heaven.
Now dear children by your
wit
Pride and covetousness that you
leave it,
And taketh heed to good
discretion,
And to good nurture, wheresoever
you come.
Now I pray you take good
heed,
For this you must know
needs,
But much more you must
know,
Than you find here
written.
If thee fail therto wit,
Pray to God to send thee
it;
For Christ himself, he teacheth
us
That holy church is God's
house,
That is made for nothing
else
But for to pray in, as the book
tells us;
There the people shall gather
in,
To pray and weep for their
sin.
Look thou come not to church
late,
For to speak harlotry by the
gate;
Then to church when thou dost
fare,
Have in thy mind ever more
To worship thy lord God both day
and night,
With all thy wits and even thy
might.
To the church door when thou dost
come
Of that holy water there some
thou take,
For every drop thou feelest
there
Quencheth a venial sin, be thou
sure.
But first thou must do down thy
hood,
For his love that died on the
rood.
Into the church when thou dost
go,
Pull up thy heart to Christ,
anon;
Upon the rood thou look up
then,
And kneel down fair upon thy
knees,
Then pray to him so here to
work,
After the law of holy
church,
For to keep the commandments ten,
That God gave to all men;
And pray to him with mild
voice
To keep thee from the sins
seven,
That thou here may, in this
life,
Keep thee well from care and
strife;
Furthermore he grant thee
grace,
In heaven's bliss to have a
place.
In holy church leave trifling
words
Of lewd speech and foul
jests,
And put away all vanity,
And say thy pater noster and
thine ave;
Look also that thou make no
noise,
But always to be in thy
prayer;
If thou wilt not thyself
pray,
Hinder no other man by no
way.
In that place neither sit nor
stand,
But kneel fair down on the
ground,
And when the Gospel me read
shall,
Fairly thou stand up from the
wall,
And bless the fare if that thou
can,
When gloria tibi is begun;
And when the gospel is
done,
Again thou might kneel
down,
On both knees down thou
fall,
For his love that bought us
all;
And when thou hearest the bell
ring
To that holy sacrament,
Kneel you must both young and
old,
And both your hands fair
uphold,
And say then in this
manner,
Fair and soft without
noise;
"Jesu Lord welcome thou
be,
In form of bread as I thee
see,
Now Jesu for thine holy
name,
Shield me from sin and
shame;
Shrift and Eucharist thou grand
me both,
Ere that I shall hence go,
And very contrition for my
sin,
That I never, Lord, die
therein;
And as thou were of maid
born,
Suffer me never to be
lost;
But when I shall hence
wend,
Grant me the bliss without
end;
Amen! Amen! so mote it be!
Now sweet lady pray for
me."
Thus thou might say, or some
other thing,
When thou kneelest at the
sacrament.
For covetousness after good,
spare thou not
To worship him that all hath
wrought;
For glad may a man that day
be,
That once in the day may him
see;
It is so much worth, without
doubt,
The virtue thereof no man tell
may;
But so much good doth that
sight,
That Saint Austin telleth full
right,
That day thou seest God's
body,
Thou shalt have these full
securely:-
Meet and drink at thy
need,
None that day shalt thou
lack;
Idle oaths and words both,
God forgiveth thee also;
Sudden death that same day
Thee dare not dread by no
way;
Also that day, I thee
plight,
Thou shalt not lose thy eye
sight;
And each foot that thou goest
then,
That holy sight for to
see,
They shall be told to stand
instead,
When thou hast thereto great
need;
That messenger the angel
Gabriel,
Will keep them to thee full
well.
From this matter now I may
pass,
To tell more benefits of the
mass:
To church come yet, if thou
may,
And hear the mass each
day;
If thou may not come to
church,
Where that ever thou dost
work,
When thou hearest the mass
toll,
Pray to God with heart
still,
To give thy part of that
service,
That in church there done
is.
Furthermore yet, I will you
preach
To your fellows, it for to
teach,
When thou comest before a
lord,
In hall, in bower, or at the
board,
Hood or cap that thou off
do,
Ere thou come him entirely
to;
Twice or thrice, without
doubt,
To that lord thou must
bow;
With thy right knee let it be
done,
Thine own worship thou save
so.
Hold off thy cap and hood
also,
Till thou have leave it on to
put.
All the time thou speakest with
him,
Fair and amiably hold up thy
chin;
So after the nurture of the book,
In his face kindly thou
look.
Foot and hand thou keep full
still,
For clawing and tripping, is
skill;
From spitting and sniffling keep
thee also,
By private expulsion let it
go,
And if that thou be wise and
discrete,
Thou has great need to govern
thee well.
Into the hall when thou dost
wend,
Amongst the gentles, good and
courteous,
Presume not too high for
nothing,
For thine high blood, nor thy
cunning,
Neither to sit nor to
lean,
That is nurture good and
clean.
Let not thy countenance therefor
abate,
Forsooth good nurture will save
thy state.
Father and mother, whatsoever
they be,
Well is the child that well may
thee,
In hall, in chamber, where thou
dost go;
Good manners make a man.
To the next degree look
wisely,
To do them reverence by and
by;
Do them yet no reverence all in
turn,
Unless that thou do them
know.
To the meat when thou art
set,
Fair and honestly thou eat
it;
First look that thine hands be
clean,
And that thy knife be sharp and
keen,
And cut thy bread all at thy
meat,
Right as it may be there
eaten,
If thou sit by a worthier
man,
Then thy self thou art
one,
Suffer him first to touch the
meat,
Ere thyself to it reach.
To the fairest morsel thou might
not strike,
Though that thou do it well
like;
Keep thine hands fair and
well,
From foul smudging of thy
towel;
Thereon thou shalt not thy nose
blow,
Nor at the meat thy tooth thou
pick;
Too deep in cup thou might not
sink,
Though thou have good will to
drink,
Lest thine eyes would water
thereby-
Then were it no courtesy.
Look in thy mouth there be no
meat,
When thou begins to drink or
speak.
When thou seest any man
drinking,
That taketh heed to thy
speech,
Soon anaon thou cease thy
tale,
Whether he drink wine or
ale,
Look also thou scorn no
man,
In what degree thou seest him
gone;
Nor thou shalt no man
deprave,
If thou wilt thy worship
save;
For such word might there
outburst.
That might make thee sit in evil
rest.
Close thy hand in thy
fist,
And keep thee well from
"had I known."
Hold thy tongue and spend thy
sight;
Laugh thou not with no great
cry,
Nor make no lewd sport and
ribaldry.
Play thou not but with thy
peers,
Nor tell thou not all that thou
hears;
Discover thou not thine own
deed,
For no mirth, nor for no
reward;
With fair speech thou might have
thy will,
With it thou might thy self
spoil.
When thou meetest a worthy
man,
Cap and hood thou hold not
on;
In church, in market, or in the
gate,
Do him reverance after his
state.
If thou goest with a worthier
man
Then thyself thou art one,
Let thy foremost shoulder follow
his back,
For that is nurture without
lack;
When he doth speak, hold thee
still,
When he hath done, say for thy
will,
In thy speech that thou be
discreet,
And what thou sayest consider
thee well;
But deprive thou not him his
tale,
Neither at the wine nor at the
ale.
Christ then of his high
grace,
Save you both wit and
space,
Well this book to know and
read,
Heaven to have for your
reward.
Amen! Amen! so mote it be!
So say we all for charity.
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