Fairfield Lodge

Fairfield Lodge No 254

REGIUS MANUSCRIPT

The Regius Manuscript is the oldest version of English Masonic regulations yet to be discovered. This premier of the Old Charges, or pre-1717 documents of the regulations of the Craft, is also notable for being the only one written in verse. The poem was written before the advent of the printing press, sometime between 1390 and 1450 A.D. While the 1390 date is most often cited, that is about the earliest possible date for it, and recent scholarship puts it as more likely after 1425. It was written in a Middle English script, not Latin or Saxon or Old English, as sometimes mis-represented, though the headings were in Latin. It is barely recognizable today because it is in a Gothic or Germanic lettering style, and the alphabet and spellings have changed, but if sounded phoneticaly, most of the words are still understandable in our language of today. While the scribe may have been a literate mason, he was more likely a priest or monk commissioned by a local Operative Masonic lodge. Whoever he was, it has long been assumed that he was paraphrasing, and extending, an even older Masonic document no longer extant.

Structurally, the poem consists of 794 lines of rhymed couplets, plus 34 lines of unnumbered headings, making 828 lines in all on 64 pages, with the inner pages 11-14 lines each. You can click on the chart below for a larger and clearer version. There are no spacings around headings, but they are set apart by being in red ink rather than black, by being in Latin instead of Middle English, and by not participating in the rhyming.

Line No	DESCRIPTION
1-58	Foundation of Masonry by Euclid in Egypt ["Euclid's second art of geometry"](1+58 lines)
59-86	Introduction of Masonry into England under King Athelstan (0+28 lines)
87-260	The Lawful Duties [or duties for Masters] fifteen articles (15+174 lines)
261-470	The Moral Duties [or duties for Apprentices] fifteen points (15+210 lines)
471-496	Conclusion of Athelstan's story ["Another ordinance of the art of geometry"] (1+26 lines)
497-534	The story of the Four Crowned Ones ["Ars quatour coronatorum"] (1+38 lines)
535-550	The Tower of Babylon (0+16 lines)
551-576	Euclid Teaches The Seven Liberal Arts (0+26 lines)
577-692	An admonishment about Mass and how to behave in Church [Instructions for a Parish Priest and Merita Missa] (0+116 lines)
693-794	An instruction on Good Manners [Urbanitatis] (0+102 lines)

Line No

Hic incipiunt constituciones artis gemetriae secundum Eucyldem.

Here begin the constitutions of the art of Geometry according to Euclid.

Whose wol bothe wel rede and loke,

Whoever will both well read and look

He may fynde wryte yn olde boke

He may find written in old book

Of grete lordys and eke ladyysse,

Of great lords and also ladies,

That hade mony chyldryn y-fere, y-wisse;

That had many children together, certainly;

And hade no rentys to fynde hem wyth,

And had no income to keep them with,

Nowther yn towne, ny felde, ny fryth:

Neither in town nor field nor enclosed wood;

A cownsel togeder they cowthe hem take;

A council together they could them take,

To ordeyne for these chyldryn sake,

To ordain for these children's sake,

How they my[g]th best lede here lyfe

How they might best lead their life

Withoute gret desese, care and stryfe;

Without great disease, care and strife;

And most for the multytude that was comynge

And most for the multitude that was coming

Of here chyldryn after here [g]yndynge.

Of their children after their ending,

(They) sende thenne after grete clerkys,

They send them after great clerks,

To techyn hem thenne gode werkys;

To teach them then good works;

And pray we hem, for our Lordys sake,

And pray we them, for our Lord's sake.

To oure chyldryn sum werke to make,

To our children some work to make,

That they my[g]th gete here lyvynge therby,

That they might get their living thereby,

Bothe wel and onestlyche, ful sycurly.

Both well and honestly full securely.

Yn that tyme, thro[g]gh good gemetry,

In that time, through good geometry,

Thys onest craft of good masonry

This honest craft of good masonry

Wes ordeynt and made yn thys manere,

Was ordained and made in this manner,

Y-cownterfetyd of thys clerkys y-fere;

Counterfeited of these clerks together;

At these lordys prayers they cownterfetyd gemetry,

At these lord's prayers they counter-feited geometry,

And [g]af hyt the name of masonry,

And gave it the name of masonry,

For the moste oneste craft of alle.

For the most honest craft of all.

These lordys chyldryn therto dede falle,

These lords' children thereto did fall,

To lurne of hym the craft of gemetry,

To learn of him the craft of geometry,

The wheche he made ful curysly;

The which he made full curiously;

Thro[g]gh fadrys prayers and modrys also,

Through fathers' prayers and mothers' also,

Thys onest craft he putte hem to.

This honest craft he put them to.

He that lerned best, and were of onesté,

He learned best, and was of honesty,

And passud hys felows yn curysté;

And passed his fellows in curiosity,

[G]ef yn that craft he dede hym passe,

If in that craft he did him pass,

He schulde have more worschepe then the lasse.

He should have more worship than the less,

Thys grete clerkys name was clept Euclyde,

This great clerk's name was Euclid,

Hys name hyt spradde ful wondur wyde.

His name it spread full wonder wide.

Get thys grete clerke more ordeynt he

Yet this great clerk ordained he

To hym that was herre yn thys degré,

To him that was higher in this degree,

That he schulde teche the synplyst of (wytte)

That he should teach the simplest of wit

Yn that onest craft to be parfytte;

In that honest craft to be perfect;

And so uchon schulle techyn othur,

And so each one shall teach the other,

And love togeder as syster and brothur.

And love together as sister and brother.

Forthermore [g]et that ordeynt he,

Futhermore yet that ordained he,

Mayster y-called so schulde he be;

Master called so should he be;

So that he were most y-worschepede,

So that he were most worshipped,

Thenne sculde he be so y-clepede:

Then should he be so called;

But mason schulde never won other calle,

But masons should never one another call,

Withynne the craft amongus hem alle,

Within the craft amongst them all,

Ny soget, ny servand, my dere brother,

Neither subject nor servant, my dear brother,

Tha[g]ht he be not so perfyt as ys another;

Though he be not so perfect as is another;

Uchon sculle calle other felows by cuthe,

Each shall call other fellows by friendship,

For cause they come of ladyes burthe.

Because they come of ladies' birth.

On thys maner, thro[g] good wytte of gemetry,

On this manner, through good wit of geometry,

Bygan furst the craft of masonry:

Began first the craft of masonry;

The clerk Euclyde on thys wyse hyt fonde,

The clerk Euclid on this wise it found,

Thys craft of gemetry yn Egypte londe.

This craft of geometry in Egypt land.

Yn Egypte he taw[g]hte hyt ful wyde,

In Egypt he taught it full wide,

Yn dyvers londe on every syde;

In divers lands on every side;

Mony erys afterwarde, y understonde,

Many years afterwards, I understand,

[G]er that the craft com ynto thys londe,

Ere that the craft came into this land.

Thys craft com ynto Englond, as y [g]ow say,

This craft came into England, as I you say,

Yn tyme of good kynge Adelstonus day;

In time of good King Athelstane's day;

He made tho bothe halle and eke bowre,

He made then both hall and even bower,

And hye templus of gret honowre,

And high temples of great honour,

To sportyn hym yn bothe day and ny[g]th,

To disport him in both day and night,

An to worschepe hys God with alle hys my[g]th.

And to worship his God with all his might.

Thys goode lorde loved thys craft ful wel,

This good lord loved this craft full well,

And purposud to strenthyn hyt every del,

And purposed to strengthen it every part,

For dyvers defawtys that yn the craft he fonde;

For divers faults that in the craft he found;

He sende about ynto the londe

He sent about into the land

After alle the masonus of the crafte,

After all the masons of the craft,

To come to hym ful evene stra[g]fte,

To come to him full even straight,

For to amende these defautys alle

For to amend these defaults all

By good consel, [g]ef hyt myt[g]th falle.

By good counsel, if it might fall.

A semblé thenne he cowthe let make

An assembly then could let make

Of dyvers lordis, yn here state,

Of divers lords in their state,

Dukys, erlys, and barnes also,

Dukes, earls, and barons also,

Kyn[g]thys, sqwyers, and mony mo,

Knights, squires and many more,

And the grete burges of that syté,

And the great burgesses of that city,

They were ther alle yn here degré;

They were there all in their degree;

These were ther uchon algate,

There were there each one always,

To ordeyne for these masonus astate.

To ordain for these masons' estate,

Ther they sow[g]ton by here wytte,

There they sought by their wit,

How they my[g]thyn governe hytte:

How they might govern it;

Fyftene artyculus they ther sow[g]ton

Fifteen articles they there sought,

And fyftene poyntys they wro[g]ton.

And fifteen points there they wrought,

Hic incipit articulus primus.

Here begins the first article.

The furste artycul of thys gemetry:--

The first article of this geometry;-

The mayster mason moste be ful securly

The master mason must be full securely

Bothe stedefast, trusty, and trwe,

Both steadfast, trusty and true,

Hyt schal hum never thenne arewe:

It shall him never then rue;

And pay thy felows after the coste,

And pay thy fellows after the cost,

As vytaylys goth thenne, wel thou woste;

As victuals goeth then, well thou knowest;

And pay them trwly, apon thy fay,

And pay them truly, upon thy faith,

What that they deserven may;

What they may deserve;

And to her hure take no more,

And to their hire take no more,

But what they mowe serve fore;

But what that they may serve for;

And spare, nowther for love ny drede,

And spare neither for love nor dread,

Of nowther partys to take no mede;

Of neither parties to take no bribe;

Of lord ny felow, whether he be,

Of lord nor fellow, whoever he be,

100

Of hem thou take no maner of fe;

Of them thou take no manner of fee;

101

And as a jugge stonde upry[g]th,

And as a judge stand upright,

102

And thenne thou dost to bothe good ry[g]th;

And then thou dost to both good right;

103

And trwly do thys whersever thou gost,

And truly do this wheresoever thou goest,

104

Thy worschep, thy profyt, hyt shcal be most.

Thy worship, thy profit, it shall be most.

Articulus secundus.

Second article.

105

The secunde artycul of good masonry,

The second article of good masonry,

106

As [g]e mowe hyt here hyr specyaly,

As you must it here hear specially,

107

That every mayster, that ys a mason,

That every master, that is a mason,

108

Most ben at the generale congregacyon,

Must be at the general congregation,

109

So that he hyt resonably y-tolde

So that he it reasonably be told

110

Where that the semblé schal be holde;

Where that the assembly shall be held;

111

And to that semblé he most nede gon,

And to that assembly he must needs go,

112

But he have a resenabul skwsacyon,

Unless he have a reasonable excuse,

113

Or but he be unbuxom to that craft,

Or unless he be disobedient to that craft

114

Or with falssehed ys over-raft,

Or with falsehood is overtaken,

115

Or ellus sekenes hath hym so stronge,

Or else sickness hath him so strong,

116

That he may not com hem amonge;

That he may not come them among;

117

That ys a skwsacyon, good and abulle,

That is an excuse good and able,

118

To that semblé withoute fabulle.

To that assembly without fable.

Articulus tercius.

Third article.

119

The thrydde artycul for sothe hyt ysse,

The third article forsooth it is,

120

That the mayster take to no prentysse,

That the master takes to no 'prentice,

121

but he have good seuerans to dwelle

Unless he have good assurance to dwell

122

Seven [g[wer with hym, as y [g]ow telle,

Seven years with him, as I you tell,

123

Hys craft to lurne, that ys profytable;

His craft to learn, that is profitable;

124

Withynne lasse he may not be able

Within less he may no be able

125

To lordys profyt, ny to his owne,

To lords' profit, nor to his own

126

As [g]e mowe knowe by good resowne.

As you may know by good reason.

Articulus quartus.

Fourth article.

127

The fowrhe artycul thys moste be

The fourth article this must be,

128

That the mayster hym wel be-se,

That the master him well besee,

129

That he no bondemon prentys make,

That he no bondman 'prentice make,

130

Ny for no covetyse do hym take;

Nor for no covetousness do him take;

131

For the lord that he ys bonde to,

For the lord that he is bound to,

132

May fache the prentes whersever he go.

May fetch the 'prentice wheresoever he go.

133

Gef yn the logge he were y-take,

If in the lodge he were taken,

134

Muche desese hyt mygth ther make,

Much disease it might there make,

135

And suche case hyt mygth befalle,

And such case it might befall,

136

That hyt mygth greve summe or alle.

That it might grieve some or all.

137

For alle the masonus tht ben there

For all the masons that be there

138

Wol stonde togedur hol y-fere

Will stand together all together.

139

Gef suche won yn that craft schulde swelle,

If such one in that craft should dwell,

140

Of dyvers desesys ge mygth telle:

Of divers disease you might tell;

141

For more gese thenne, and of honeste,

For more ease then, and of honesty,

142

Take a prentes of herre degre.

Take a 'prentice of higher degree.

143

By olde tyme wryten y fynde

By old time written I find

144

That the prenes schulde be of gentyl kynde;

That the 'prentice should be of gentle kind;

145

And so symtyme grete lordys blod

And so sometime, great lords' blood

146

Toke thys gemetry, that ys ful good.

Took this geometry that is full good.

Articulus quintus.

Fifth article.

147

The fyfthe artycul ys swythe good,

The fifth article is very good,

148

So that the prentes be of lawful blod;

So that the 'prentice be of lawful blood;

149

The mayster schal not, for no vantage,

The master shall not, for no advantage,

150

Make no prentes that ys outrage;

Make no 'prentice that is deformed;

151

Hyt ys to mene, as [g]e mowe here,

It is mean, as you may hear

152

That he have hys lymes hole alle y-fere;

That he have all his limbs whole all together;

153

To the craft hyt were gret schame,

To the craft it were great shame,

154

To make an halt mon and a lame,

To make a halt man and a lame,

155

For an unperfyt mon of suche blod

For an imperfect man of such blood

156

Schulde do the craft but lytul good.

Should do the craft but little good.

157

Thus [g]e mowe knowe everychon,

Thus you may know every one,

158

The craft wolde have a my[g]hty mon;

The craft would have a mighty man;

159

A maymed mon he hath no my[g]ht,

A maimed man he hath no might,

160

[G]e mowe hyt knowe long [g]er ny[g]ht.

You must it know long ere night.

Articulus sextus.

Sixth article.

161

The syxte artycul [g]e mowe not mysse,

The sixth article you must not miss

162

That the mayster do the lord no pregedysse,

That the master do the lord no prejudice,

163

To take of the lord, for hyse prentyse,

To take the lord for his 'prentice,

164

Also muche as hys felows don, yn alle vyse.

As much as his fellows do, in all wise.

165

For yn that craft they ben ful perfyt,

For in that craft they be full perfect,

166

So ys not he, [g]e mowe sen hyt.

So is not he, you must see it.

167

Also hyt were a[g]eynus good reson,

Also it were against good reason,

168

To take hys, hure as hys felows don.

To take his hire as his fellows do.

169

Thys same artycul, yn thys casse,

This same article in this case,

170

Juggythe the prentes to take lasse

Judgeth his prentice to take less

171

Thenne hys felows, that ben ful perfyt.

Than his fellows, that be full perfect.

172

Yn dyvers maters, conne qwyte hyt,

In divers matters, know requite it,

173

The mayster may his prentes so enforme,

The master may his 'prentice so inform,

174

That hys hure may crese ful [g]urne,

That his hire may increase full soon,

175

And, ger hys terme come to an ende,

And ere his term come to an end,

176

Hys hure may ful wel amende.

His hire may full well amend.

Articulus septimus.

Seventh article.

177

The seventhe artycul that ys now here,

The seventh article that is now here,

178

Ful wel wol telle gow, alle y-fere,

Full well will tell you all together,

179

That no mayster, for favour ny drede,

That no master for favour nor dread,

180

Schal no thef nowther clothe ny fede.

Shall no thief neither clothe nor feed.

181

Theves he schal herberon never won,

Thieves he shall harbour never one,

182

Ny hym that hath y-quellude a mon,

Nor him that hath killed a man,

183

Wy thylike that hath a febul name,

Nor the same that hath a feeble name,

184

Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to schame.

Lest it would turn the craft to shame.

Articulus octavus.

Eighth article.

185

The eghte artycul schewt [g]ow so,

The eighth article sheweth you so,

186

That the mayster may hyt wel do,

That the master may it well do.

187

[G]ef that he have any mon of crafte,

If that he have any man of craft,

188

And be not also perfyt as he au[g]te,

And he be not so perfect as he ought,

189

He may hym change sone anon,

He may him change soon anon,

190

And take for hym a perfytur mon.

And take for him a more perfect man.

191

Suche a mon, thro[g]e rechelaschepe,

Such a man through recklessness,

192

My[g]th do the craft schert worschepe.

Might do the craft scant worship.

Articulus nonus.

Ninth article.

193

The nynthe artycul schewet ful welle,

The ninth article sheweth full well,

194

That the mayster be both wyse and felle;

That the master be both wise and strong;

195

That no werke he undurtake,

That he no work undertake,

196

But he conne bothe hyt ende and make;

Unless he can both it end and make;

197

And that hyt be to the lordes profyt also,

And that it be to the lords' profit also,

198

And to hys craft, whersever he go;

And to his craft, wheresoever he go;

199

And that the grond be wel y-take,

And that the ground be well taken,

200

That hyt nowther fle ny grake.

That it neither flaw nor crack.

Articulus decimus.

Tenth article.

201

The then the artycul ys for to knowe,

The tenth article is for to know,

202

Amonge the craft, to hye and lowe,

Among the craft, to high and low,

203

There schal no mayster supplante other,

There shall no master supplant another,

204

But be togeder as systur and brother,

But be together as sister and brother,

205

Yn thys curyus craft, alle and som,

In this curious craft, all and some,

206

That longuth to a maystur mason.

That belongeth to a master mason.

207

Ny he schal not supplante non other mon,

Nor shall he supplant no other man,

208

That hath y-take a werke hym uppon,

That hath taken a work him upon,

209

Yn peyne therof that ys so stronge,

In pain thereof that is so strong,

210

That peyseth no lasse thenne ten ponge,

That weigheth no less than ten pounds,

211

But [g]ef that he be gulty y-fonde,

but if that he be guilty found,

212

That toke furst the werke on honde;

That took first the work on hand;

213

For no mon yn masonry

For no man in masonry

214

Schal no supplante othur securly,

Shall not supplant other securely,

215

But [g]ef that hyt be so y-wro[g]th,

But if that it be so wrought,

216

That hyt turne the werke to nogth;

That in turn the work to nought;

217

Thenne may a mason that werk crave,

Then may a mason that work crave,

218

To the lordes profyt hyt for to save;

To the lords' profit for it to save

219

Yn suche a case but hyt do falle,

In such a case if it do fall,

220

Ther schal no mason medul withalle.

There shall no mason meddle withal.

221

Forsothe he that begynnyth the gronde,

Forsooth he that beginneth the ground,

222

And he be a mason goode and sonde,

If he be a mason good and sound,

223

For hath hyt sycurly yn hys mynde

He hath it securely in his mind

224

To brynge the werke to ful good ende.

To bring the work to full good end.

Articulus undecimus.

Eleventh article.

225

The eleventhe artycul y telle the,

The eleventh article I tell thee,

226

That he ys bothe fayr and fre;

That he is both fair and free;

227

For he techyt, by hys my[g]th,

For he teacheth, by his might,

228

That no mason schulde worche be ny[g]th,

That no mason should work by night,

229

But [g]ef hyt be yn practesynge of wytte,

But if be in practising of wit,

230

[G]ef that y cowthe amende hytte.

If that I could amend it.

Articulus duodecimus.

Twelfth article.

231

The twelfthe artycul ys of hye honesté

The twelfth article is of high honesty

232

To [g]every mason, whersever he be;

To every mason wheresoever he be,

233

He schal not hys felows werk deprave,

He shall not his fellows' work deprave,

234

[G]ef that he wol hys honesté save;

If that he will his honesty save;

235

With honest wordes he hyt comende,

With honest words he it commend,

236

By the wytte that God the dede sende;

By the wit God did thee send;

237

Buy hyt amende by al that thou may,

But it amend by all that thou may,

238

Bytwynne [g]ow bothe withoute nay.

Between you both without doubt.

Articulus xiijus.

Thirteenth article.

239

The threttene artycul, so God me save,

The thirteenth article, so God me save,

240

Ys,[g]ef that the mayster a prentes have,

Is if that the master a 'prentice have,

241

Enterlyche thenne that he hym teche,

Entirely then that he him tell,

242

And meserable poyntes that he hym reche,

And measurable points that he him tell,

243

That he the craft abelyche may conne,

That he the craft ably may know,

244

Whersever he go undur the sonne.

Wheresoever he go under the sun.

Articulus xiiijus.

Fourteenth article.

245

The fowrtene artycul, by good reson,

The fourteenth article by good reason,

246

Scheweth the mayster how he schal don;

Show the master how he shall do;

247

He schal no prentes to hym take,

He shall no 'prentice to him take,

248

Byt dyvers crys he have to make,

Unless diver cares he have to make,

249

That he may, withynne hys terme,

That he may within his term,

250

Of hym dyvers poyntes may lurne.

Of him divers points may learn.

Articulus quindecimus.

Fifteenth article.

251

The fyftene artycul maketh an ende,

The fifteenth article maketh an end,

252

For to the mayster he ys a frende;

For to the master he is a friend;

253

To lere hym so, that for no mon,

To teach him so, that for no man,

254

No fals mantenans he take hym apon,

No false maintenance he take him upon,

255

Ny maynteine hys felows yn here synne,

Nor maintain his fellows in their sin,

256

For no good that he my[g]th wynne;

For no good that he might win;

257

Ny no fals sware sofre hem to make,

Nor no false oath suffer him to make,

258

For drede of here sowles sake;

For dread of their souls' sake,

259

Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to schame,

Lest it would turn the craft to shame,

260

And hymself to mechul blame.

And himself to very much blame.

Plures Constituciones.

Plural constitutions.

261

At thys semblé were poyntes y-ordeynt mo,

At this assembly were points ordained more,

262

Of grete lordys and maystrys also,

Of great lords and masters also.

263

That whose wol conne thys craft and com to astate,

That who will know this craft and come to estate,

264

He most love wel God, and holy churche algate,

He must love well God and holy church always,

265

And hys mayster also, that he ys wythe,

And his master also that he is with,

266

Whersever he go, yn fylde or frythe;

Whersoever he go in field or enclosed wood,

267

And thy felows thou love also,

And thy fellows thou love also,

268

For that they craft wol that thou do.

For that thy craft will that thou do.

Secundus punctus.

Second Point.

269

The secunde poynt, as y [g]ow say,

The second point as I you say,

270

That the mason worche apon the werk day,

That the mason work upon the work day,

271

Also trwly, as he con or may,

As truly as he can or may,

272

To deserve hys huyre for the halyday,

To deserve his hire for the holy-day,

273

And trwly to labrun on hys dede,

And truly to labour on his deed,

274

Wel deserve to have hys mede.

Well deserve to have his reward.

Tercius punctus.

Third point.

275

The thrydde poynt most be severele,

The third point must be severely,

276

With the prentes knowe hyt wele,

With the 'prentice know it well,

277

Hys mayster conwsel he kepe and close,

His master's counsel he keep and close,

278

And hys felows by hys goode purpose;

And his fellows by his good purpose;

279

The prevetyse of the chamber telle he no man,

The privities of the chamber tell he no man,

280

Ny yn the logge whatsever they done;

Nor in the lodge whatsoever they do;

281

Whatsever thou heryst, or syste hem do,

Whatsoever thou hearest or seest them do,

282

Telle hyt no mon, whersever thou go;

Tell it no man wheresoever you go;

283

The conwsel of halls, and [g]eke of bowre,

The counsel of hall, and even of bower,

284

Kepe hyt wel to gret honowre,

Keep it well to great honour,

285

Lest hyt wolde torne thyself to blame,

Lest it would turn thyself to blame,

286

And brynge the craft ynto gret schame.

And bring the craft into great shame.

Quartus punctus.

Fourth point.

287

The fowrthe poynt techyth us alse,

The fourth point teacheth us also,

288

That no mon to hys craft be false;

That no man to his craft be false;

289

Errour he schal maynteine none

Error he shall maintain none

290

A[g]eynus the craft, but let hyt gone;

Against the craft, but let it go;

291

Ny no pregedysse he schal not do

Nor no prejudice he shall no do

292

To hys mayster, ny hys felows also;

To his master, nor his fellow also;

293

And that[g]th the prentes be under awe,

And though the 'prentice be under awe,

294

[G]et he wolde have the same lawe.

Yet he would have the same law.

Quintus punctus.

Fifth point.

295

The fyfthe poynte ys, withoute nay,

The fifth point is without doubt,

296

That whenne the mason taketh hys pay

That when the mason taketh his pay

297

Of the mayster, y-ordent to hym,

Of the master, ordained to him,

298

Ful mekely y-take so most hyt byn;

Full meekly taken so must it be;

299

[G]et most the mayster, by good resone,

Yet must the master by good reason,

300

Warne hem lawfully byfore none,

Warn him lawfully before noon,

301

[G]ef he nulle okepye hem no more,

If he will not occupy him no more,

302

As he hath y-done ther byfore;

As he hath done there before;

303

A[g]eynus thys ordyr he may not stryve,

Against this order he may no strive,

304

[G]ef he thenke wel for to thryve.

If he think well for to thrive.

Sextus punctus.

Sixth point.

305

The syxte poynt ys ful [g]ef to knowe,

The sixth point is full given to know,

306

Bothe to hye and eke to lowe,

Both to high and even low,

307

For suche case hyt my[g]th befalle,

For such case it might befall;

308

Amonge the masonus, summe or alle,

Among the masons some or all,

309

Throwghe envye, or dedly hate,

Through envy or deadly hate,

310

Ofte aryseth ful gret debate.

Oft ariseth full great debate.

311

Thenne owyth the mason, [g]ef that he may,

Then ought the mason if that he may,

312

Putte hem bothe under a day;

Put them both under a day;

313

But loveday [g]et schul they make none;

But loveday yet shall they make none,

314

Tyl that the werke day be clene a-gone;

Till that the work-day you must well take

315

Apon the holyday [g]e mowe wel take

Upon the Holy Day the more we'll take.

316

Leyser y-now[g]gth loveday to make,

Leisure enough loveday to make,

317

Lest that hyt wolde the werke day

Less that it would the work-day,

318

Latte here werke for suche afray;

Hinder their work for such a fray;

319

To suche ende thenne that hem drawe,

To such end then that you them draw.

320

That they stonde wel yn Goddes lawe.

That they stand well in God's law.

Septimus punctus.

Seventh point.

321

The seventhe poynt he may wel mene,

The seventh point he may well mean,

322

Of wel longe lyf that God us lene,

Of well long life that God us lend,

323

As hyt dyscryeth wel opunly,

As it descrieth well openly,

324

Thou schal not by thy maysters wyf ly,

Thou shalt not by thy master's wife lie,

325

Ny by the felows, yn no maner wyse,

Nor by thy fellows', in no manner wise,

326

Lest the craft wolde the despyse;

Lest the craft would thee despise;

327

Ny by the felows concubyne,

Nor by thy fellows' concubine,

328

No more thou woldest he dede by thyne.

No more thou wouldst he did by thine.

329

The peyne thereof let hyt be ser,

The pain thereof let it be sure,

330

That he prentes ful seven [g]er,

That he be 'prentice full seven year,

331

[G]ef he forfete yn eny of hem,

If he forfeit in any of them

332

So y-chasted thenne most he ben;

So chastised then must he be;

333

Ful mekele care my[g]th ther begynne,

Full much care might there begin,

334

For suche a fowle dedely synne.

For such a foul deadly sin.

Octavus punctus.

Eighth point.

335

The eghte poynt, he may be sure,

The eighth point, he may be sure,

336

[G]ef thou hast y-taken any cure,

If thou hast taken any cure,

337

Under thy mayster thou be trwe,

Under thy master thou be true,

338

For that pynt thou schalt never arewe;

For that point thous shalt never rue;

339

A trwe medyater thou most nede be

A true mediator thou must needs be

340

To thy mayster, and thy felows fre;

To thy master, and thy fellows free;

341

Do trwly al....that thou my[g]th,

Do truly all that thou might,

342

To both partyes, and that ys good ry[g]th.

To both parties, and that is good right.

Nonus punctus.

Ninth point.

343

The nynthe poynt we schul hym calle,

The ninth point we shall him call,

344

That he be stwarde of oure halle,

That he be steward of our hall,

345

Gef that ge ben yn chambur y-fere,

If that you be in chamber together,

346

Uchon serve other, with mylde chere;

Each one serve other with mild cheer;

347

Jentul felows, ge moste hyt knowe,

Gentle fellows, you must it know,

348

For to be stwardus alle o rowe,

For to be stewards all in turn,

349

Weke after weke withoute dowte,

Week after week without doubt,

350

Stwardus to ben so alle abowte,

Stewards to be so all in turn about,

351

Lovelyche to serven uchon othur,

Amiably to serve each one other,

352

As thawgh they were syster and brother;

As though they were sister and brother;

353

Ther schal never won on other costage

There shall never one another cost

354

Fre hymself to no vantage,

Free himself to no advantage,

355

But every mon schal be lyche fre

But every man shall be equally free

356

Yn that costage, so moste hyt be;

In that cost, so must it be;

357

Loke that thou pay wele every mon algate,

Look that thou pay well every man always,

358

That thou hsat y-bow[g]ht any vytayles ate,

That thou hast bought any victuals eaten,

359

That no cravynge be y-mad to the,

That no craving be made to thee,

360

Ny to thy felows, yn no degré,

Nor to thy fellows in no degree,

361

To mon or to wommon, whether he be,

To man or to woman, whoever he be,

362

Pay hem wel and trwly, for that wol we;

Pay them well and truly, for that will we;

363

Therof on thy felow trwe record thou take,

Therof on thy fellow true record thou take,

364

For that good pay as thou dost make,

365

Lest hyt wolde thy felowe schame,

Lest it would thy fellow shame,

366

Any brynge thyself ynto gret blame.

And bring thyself into great blame.

367

[G]et good acowntes he most make

Yet good accounts he must make

368

Of suche godes as he hath y-take,

Of such goods as he hath taken,

369

Of thy felows goodes that thou hast spende,

Of thy fellows' goods that thou hast spent,

370

Wher, and how, and to what ende;

Where and how and to what end;

371

Suche acowntes thou most come to,

Such accounts thou must come to,

372

Whenne thy felows wollen that thou do.

When thy fellows wish that thou do.

Decimus punctus.

Tenth point.

373

The tenthe poynt presentyeth wel god lyf,

The tenth point presenteth well good life,

374

To lyven withoute care and stryf;

To live without care and strife;

375

For and the mason lyve amysse,

For if the mason live amiss,

376

And yn hys werk be false, y-wysse,

And in his work be false I know,

377

And thorw[g] suche a false skewysasyon

And through such a false excuse

378

May sclawndren hys felows oute reson,

May slander his fellows without reason,

379

Throw[g] false sclawnder of suche fame

Through false slander of such fame

380

May make the craft kachone blame.

May make the craft acquire blame.

381

[G]ef he do the craft suche vylany,

If he do the craft such villainy,

382

Do hym no favour thenne securly.

Do him no favour then securely,

383

Ny maynteine not hym yn wyked lyf,

Nor maintain not him in wicked life,

384

Lest hyt wolde turne to care and stryf;

Lest it would turn to care and strife;

385

But get hym [g]e schul not delayme,

But yet him you shall not delay,

386

But that [g]e schullen hym constrayne,

Unless that you shall him constrain,

387

For to apere whersevor [g]e wylle,

For to appear wheresoever you will,

388

Whar that [g]e wolen, lowde, or stylle;

Where that you will, loud, or still;

389

To the nexte semblé [g]e schul hym calle,

To the next assembly you him call,

390

To apere byfore hys felows alle,

To appear before his fellows all,

391

And but [g]ef he wyl byfore hem pere,

And unless he will before them appear,

392

The crafte he moste nede forswere;

The craft he must need forswear;

393

He schal thenne be chasted after the lawe

He shall then be punished after the law

394

That was y-fownded by olde dawe.

That was founded by old day.

Punctus undecimus.

Eleventh point.

395

The eleventhe poynt ys of good dyscrecyoun,

The eleventh point is of good discretion,

396

As [g]e mowe knowe by good resoun;

As you must know by good reason;

397

A mason, and he thys craft wel con,

A mason, if he this craft well know,

398

That sy[g]th hys felow hewen on a ston,

That seeth his fellow hew on a stone,

399

And ys yn poynt to spylle that ston,

And is in point to spoil that stone,

400

Amende hyt sone, [g]ef that thou con,

Amend it soon if that thou can,

401

And teche hym thenne hyt to amende,

And teach him then it to amend,

402

That the l(ordys) werke be not y-schende,

That the lords' work be not spoiled,

403

And teche hym esely hyt to amende,

And teach him easily it to amend,

404

With fayre wordes, that God the hath lende;

With fair words, that God thee hath lent;

405

For hys sake that sytte above,

For his sake that sit above,

406

With swete wordes noresche hym love.

With sweet words nourish his love.

Punctus duodecimus.

Twelfth point.

407

The twelthe poynt of gret ryolté,

The twelfth point is of great royalty,

408

Ther as the semblé y-hole schal be,

There as the assembly held shall be,

409

Ther schul be maystrys and felows also,

There shall be masters and fellows also,

410

And other grete lordes mony mo;

And other great lords many more;

411

There schal be the scheref of that contré,

There shall be the sheriff of that country,

412

And also the meyr of that syté,

And also the mayor of that city,

413

Kny[g]tes and sqwyers ther schul be,

Knights and squires there shall be,

414

And other aldermen, as [g]e schul se;

And also aldermen, as you shall see;

415

Suche ordynance as they maken there,

Such ordinance as thy make there,

416

They schul maynté hyt hol y-fere

They shall maintain it all together

417

A[g]eynus that mon, whatsever he be,

Against that man, whatsoever he be,

418

That longuth to the craft bothe fayr and fre.

That belongeth to the craft both fair and free.

419

[G]ef he any stryf a[g]eynus hem make,

If he any strife against them make,

420

Ynto here warde he schal be take.

Into their custody he shall be taken.

xiijus punctus.

Thirteenth point.

421

The threnteth poynt ys to us ful luf.

The thirteenth point is to us full lief,

422

He schal swere never to be no thef,

He shall swear never to be no thief,

423

Ny soker hym yn hys fals craft,

Nor succour him in his false craft,

424

For no good that he hath byraft,

For no good that he hath bereft,

425

And thou mowe hyt knowe or syn,

And thou must it know or sin,

426

Nowther for hys good, ny for hys kyn.

Neither for his good, nor for his kin.

xiiijus punctus.

Fourteenth point.

427

The fowrtethe poynt ys ful good lawe

The fourteenth point is full good law

428

To hym that wold ben under awe;

To him that would be under awe;

429

A good trwe othe he most ther swere

A good true oath he must there swear

430

To hys mayster and hys felows that ben there;

To his master and his fellows that be there;

431

He most be stedefast and trwe also

He must be steadfast be and true also

432

To alle thys ordynance, whersever he go,

To all this ordinance, wheresoever he go,

433

And to hys lyge lord the kynge,

And to his liege lord the king,

434

To be trwe to hym, over alle thynge.

To be true to him over all thing.

435

And alle these poyntes hyr before

And all these points here before

436

To hem thou most nede by y-swore,

To them thou must need be sworn,

437

And alle schul swere the same ogth

And all shall swear the same oath

438

Of the masonus, be they luf, ben they loght,

Of the masons, be they lief be they loath.

439

To alle these poyntes hyr byfore,

To all these points here before,

440

That hath ben ordeynt by ful good lore.

That hath been ordained by full good lore.

441

And they schul enquere every mon

And they shall enquire every man

442

On his party, as wyl as he con,

Of his party, as well as he can,

443

[G]ef any mon mowe be y-fownde gulty

If any man may be found guilty

444

Yn any of these poyntes spesyaly;

In any of these points specially;

445

And whad he be, let hym be sow[g]ht,

And who he be, let him be sought,

446

And to the semblé let hym be brow[g]ht.

And to the assembly let him be brought.

Quindecimus punctus.

Fifteen point.

447

The fiftethe poynt ys of ful good lore,

The fifteenth point is full good lore,

448

For hem that schul ben ther y-swore,

For them that shall be there sworn,

449

Suche ordyance at the semblé wes layd

Such ordinance at the assembly was laid

450

Of grete lordes and maystres byforesayd;

Of great lords and masters before said;

451

For thelke that be unbuxom, y-wysse,

For the same that be disobedient, I know,

452

A[g]eynus the ordynance that ther ysse

Against the ordinance that there is,

453

Of these artyculus, that were y-meved there,

Of these articles that were moved there,

454

Of grete lordes and masonus al y-fere.

Of great lords and masons all together,

455

And [g]ef they ben y-preved opunly

And if they be proved openly

456

Byfore that semblé, by an by,

Before that assembly, by and by,

457

And for here gultes no mendys wol make,

And for their guilt's no amends will make,

458

Thenne most they nede the crafy forsake;

Then must they need the craft forsake;

459

And so masonus craft they schul refuse,

And no masons craft they shall refuse,

460

And swere hyt never more for to use.

And swear it never more to use.

461

But [g]ef that they wol mendys make,

But if that they will amends make,

462

A[g]ayn to the craft they schul never take;

Again to the craft they shall never take;

463

And [g]ef that they nul not do so,

And if that they will no do so,

464

The scheref schal come hem sone to,

The sheriff shall come them soon to,

465

And putte here bodyes yn duppe prison,

And put their bodies in deep prison,

466

For the trespasse that they hav y-don,

For the trespass that they have done,

467

And take here goodes and here cattelle

And take their goods and their cattle

468

Ynto the kynges hond, everyt delle,

Into the king's hand, every part,

469

And lete hem dwelle ther full stylle,

And let them dwell there full still,

470

Tyl hyt be oure lege kynges wylle.

Till it be our liege king's will.

Alia ordinacio artis gematriae. yes

Another ordinance of the art of geometry.

471

They ordent ther a semblé to be y-holde

They ordained there an assembly to be hold,

472

Every [g]er, whersever they wolde,

Every year, wheresoever they would,

473

To amende the defautes, [g]ef any where fonde

To amend the defaults, if any were found

474

Amonge the craft withynne the londe;

Among the craft within the land;

475

Uche [g]er or thrydde [g]er hyt schuld be holde,

Each year or third year it should be held,

476

Yn every place whersever they wolde;

In every place weresoever they would;

477

Tyme and place most be ordeynt also,

Time and place must be ordained also,

478

Yn what place they schul semble to.

In what place they should assemble to,

479

Alle the men of craft tehr they most ben,

All the men of craft there they must be,

480

And other grete lordes, as [g]e mowe sen,

And other great lords, as you must see,

481

To mende the fautes that buth ther y-spoke,

To mend the faults the he there spoken,

482

[G]ef that eny of hem ben thenne y-broke.

If that any of them be then broken.

483

Ther they schullen ben alle y-swore,

There they shall be all sworn,

484

That longuth to thys craftes lore,

That belongeth to this craft's lore,

485

To kepe these statutes everychon,

To keep their statutes every one

486

That ben y-ordeynt by kynge Aldelston;

That were ordained by King Althelstane;

487

These statutes that y have hyr y-fonde

These statutes that I have here found

488

Y chulle they ben holde thro[g]h my londe,

I ordain they be held through my land,

489

For the worsche of my ry[g]olté,

For the worship of my royalty,

490

That y have by my dygnyté.

That I have by my dignity.

491

Also at every semblé that [g]e holde,

Also at every assembly that you hold,

492

That ge come to [g]owre lyge kyng bolde,

That you come to your liege king bold,

493

Bysechynge hym of hys hye grace,

Beseeching him of his grace,

494

To stonde with [g]ow yn every place,

To stand with you in every place,

495

To conferme the statutes of kynge Adelston,

To confirm the statutes of King Athelstane,

496

That he ordeydnt to thys craft by good reson,

That he ordained to this craft by good reason.

Ars quatuor coronatorum.

The art of the four crowned ones.

497

Pray we now to God almy[g]ht,

Pray we now to God almighty,

498

And to hys moder Mary bry[g]ht,

And to his mother Mary bright,

499

That we mowe keepe these artyculus here,

That we may keep these articles here,

500

And these poynts wel al y-fere,

And these points well all together,

501

As dede these holy martyres fowre,

As did these holy martyrs four,

502

That yn thys craft were of gret honoure;

That in this craft were of great honour;

503

They were as gode masonus as on erthe schul go,

They were as good masons as on earth shall go,

504

Gravers and ymage-makers they were also.

Gravers and image-makers they were also.

505

For they were werkemen of the beste,

For they were workmen of the best,

506

The emperour hade to hem gret luste;

The emperor had to them great liking;

507

He wylned of hem a ymage to make,

He willed of them an image to make

508

That mow[g]h be worscheped for his sake;

That might be worshipped for his sake;

509

Suche mawmetys he hade yn hys dawe,

Such monuments he had in his day,

510

To turne the pepul from Crystus lawe.

To turn the people from Christ's law.

511

But they were stedefast yn Crystes lay,

But they were steadfast in Christ's law,

512

And to here craft, withouten nay;

And to their craft without doubt;

513

They loved wel God and alle hys lore,

They loved well God and all his lore,

514

And weren yn hys serves ever more.

And were in his service ever more.

515

Trwe men they were yn that dawe,

True men they were in that day,

516

And lyved wel y Goddus lawe;

And lived well in God's law;

517

They tho[g]ght no mawmetys for to make,

They thought no monuments for to make,

518

For no good that they my[g]th take,

For no good that they might take,

519

To levyn on that mawmetys for here God,

To believe on that monument for their God,

520

They nolde do so thaw[g] he were wod;

They would not do so, though he was furious;

521

For they nolde not forsake here trw fay,

For they would not forsake their true faith,

522

An beyleve on hys falsse lay.

And believe on his false law,

523

The emperour let take hem sone anone,

The emperor let take them soon anon,

524

And putte hem ynto a dep presone;

And put them in a deep prison;

525

The sarre he penest hem yn that plase,

The more sorely he punished them in that place,

526

The more yoye wes to hem of Cristus grace.

The more joy was to them of Christ's grace,

527

Thenne when he sye no nother won,

Then when he saw no other one,

528

To dethe he lette hem thenne gon;

To death he let them then go;

529

Whose wol of here lyf [g]et mor knowe,

Whose will of there life yet more know

530

By the bok he may kyt schowe,

By the book he might it show

531

In the legent of scanctorum,

In legend of holy ones,

532

The name of quatour coronatorum.

The names of the four-crowned ones.

533

Here fest wol be, withoute nay,

Their feast will be without doubt,

534

After Alle Halwen the eyght day.

After Hallow-e'en eighth day.

535

[G]e mow here as y do rede,

You may hear as I do read,

536

That mony [g]eres after, for gret drede

That many years after, for great dread

537

That Noees flod wes alle y-ronne,

That Noah's flood was all run,

538

The tower of Babyloyne was begonne,

The tower of Babylon was begun,

539

Also playne werke of lyme and ston,

As plain work of lime and stone,

540

As any mon schulde loke uppon;

As any man should look upon;

541

So long and brod hyt was begonne,

So long and broad it was begun,

542

Seven myle the he[g]ghte schadweth the sonne.

Seven miles the height shadoweth the sun.

543

King Nabogodonosor let hyt make,

King Nebuchadnezzar let it make

544

To gret strenthe for monus sake,

To great strength for man's sake,

545

Tha[g]gh suche a flod a[g]ayne schulde come,

Though such a flood again should come,

546

Over the werke hyt schulde not nome;

Over the work it should not take;

547

For they hadde so hy pride, with stronge bost,

For they had so high pride, with strong boast

548

Alle that werke therfore was y-lost;

All that work therefore was lost;

549

An angele smot hem so with dyveres speche,

An angel smote them so with divers speech,

550

That never won wyste what other schuld reche.

That never one knew what the other should tell.

551

Mony eres after, the goode clerk Euclyde

Many years after, the good clerk Euclid

552

Ta[g]ghte the craft of gemetré wonder wyde,

Taught the craft of geometry full wonder wide,

553

So he ded that tyme other also,

So he did that other time also,

554

Of dyvers craftes mony mo.

Of divers crafts many more.

555

Thro[g]gh hye grace of Crist yn heven,

Through high grace of Christ in heaven,

556

He commensed yn the syens seven;

He commenced in the sciences seven;

557

Gramatica ys the furste syens y-wysse,

Grammar is the first science I know,

558

Dialetica the secunde, so have y blysse,

Dialect the second, so I have I bliss,

559

Rethorica the thrydde, withoute nay,

Rhetoric the third without doubt,

560

Musica ys the fowrth, as y [g]ow say,

Music is the fourth, as I you say,

561

Astromia ys the v, by my snowte,

Astronomy is the fifth, by my snout,

562

Arsmetica the vi, withoute dowte

Arithmetic the sixth, without doubt,

563

Gemetria the seventhe maketh an ende,

Geometry the seventh maketh an end,

564

For he ys bothe make and hende,

For he is both meek and courteous,

565

Gramer forsothe ys the rote,

Grammar forsooth is the root,

566

Whose wyl lurne on the boke;

Whoever will learn on the book;

567

But art passeth yn hys degré,

But art passeth in his degree,

568

As the fryte doth the rote of the tre;

As the fruit doth the root of the tree;

569

Rethoryk metryth with orne speche amonge,

Rhetoric measureth with ornate speech among,

570

And musyke hyt ys a swete song;

And music it is a sweet song;

571

Astronomy nombreth, my dere brother,

Astronomy numbereth, my dear brother,

572

Arsmetyk scheweth won thyng that ys another,

Arithmetic sheweth one thing that is another,

573

Gemetré the seventh syens hyt ysse,

Geometry the seventh science it is,

574

That con deperte falshed from trewthe y-wys.

That can separate falsehood from truth, I know

575

These bene the syens seven,

These be the sciences seven,

576

Whose useth hem wel, he may han heven.

Who useth them well he may have heaven.

577

Now dere chyldren, by [g]owre wytte,

Now dear children by your wit

578

Pride and covetyse that [g]e leven, hytte,

Pride and covetousness that you leave it,

579

And taketh hede to goode dyscrecyon,

And taketh heed to good discretion,

580

And to good norter, whersever [g]e com.

And to good nurture, wheresoever you come.

581

Now y pray [g]ow take good hede,

Now I pray you take good heed,

582

For thys [g]e most kenne nede,

For this you must know needs,

583

But much more [g]e moste wyten,

But much more you must know,

584

Thenne [g]e fynden hyr y-wryten.

Than you find here written.

585

[G]ef the fayle therto wytte,

If thee fail therto wit,

586

Pray to God to send the hytte;

Pray to God to send thee it;

587

For Crist hymself, he techet ous

For Christ himself, he teacheth us

588

That holy churche ys Goddes hous,

That holy church is God's house,

589

That ys y-mad for nothynge ellus

That is made for nothing else

590

but for to pray yn, as the bok tellus;

But for to pray in, as the book tells us;

591

Ther the pepul schal gedur ynne,

There the people shall gather in,

592

To pray and wepe for here synne.

To pray and weep for their sin.

593

Loke thou come not to churche late,

Look thou come not to church late,

594

For to speke harlotry by the gate;

For to speak harlotry by the gate;

595

Thenne to churche when thou dost fare,

Then to church when thou dost fare,

596

Have yn thy mynde ever mare

Have in thy mind ever more

597

To worschepe thy lord God bothe day and ny[g]th,

To worship thy lord God both day and night,

598

With all thy wyttes, and eke thy my[g]th.

With all thy wits and even thy might.

599

To the churche dore when tou dost come,

To the church door when thou dost come

600

Of that holy water ther sum thow nome,

Of that holy water there some thou take,

601

For every drope thou felust ther

For every drop thou feelest there

602

Qwenchet a venyal synne, be thou ser.

Quencheth a venial sin, be thou sure.

603

But furst thou most do down thy hode,

But first thou must do down thy hood,

604

For hyse love that dyed on the rode.

For his love that died on the rood.

605

Into the churche when thou dost gon,

Into the church when thou dost go,

606

Pulle uppe thy herte to Crist, anon;

Pull up thy heart to Christ, anon;

607

Uppon the rode thou loke uppe then,

Upon the rood thou look up then,

608

And knele down fayre on bothe thy knen;

And kneel down fair upon thy knees,

609

Then pray to hym so hyr to worche,

Then pray to him so here to work,

610

After the lawe of holy churche,

After the law of holy church,

611

For to kepe the comandementes ten,

For to keep the commandments ten,

612

That God [g]af to alle men;

That God gave to all men;

613

And pray to hym with mylde steven

And pray to him with mild voice

614

To kepe the from the synnes seven,

To keep thee from the sins seven,

615

That thou hyr mowe, yn thy lyve,

That thou here may, in this life,

616

Kepe the wel from care and stryve,

Keep thee well from care and strife;

617

Forthermore he grante the grace,

Furthermore he grant thee grace,

618

In heven blysse to hav a place.

In heaven's bliss to have a place.

619

In holy churche lef nyse wordes

In holy church leave trifling words

620

Of lewed speche, and fowle bordes,

Of lewd speech and foul jests,

621

And putte away alle vanyté,

And put away all vanity,

622

And say thy pater noster and thyn ave;

And say thy pater noster and thine ave;

623

Loke also thou make no bere,

Look also that thou make no noise,

624

But ay to be yn thy prayere;

But always to be in thy prayer;

625

[G]ef thou wolt not thyselve pray,

If thou wilt not thyself pray,

626

Latte non other mon by no way.

Hinder no other man by no way.

627

In that place nowther sytte ny stonde,

In that place neither sit nor stand,

628

But knele fayre down on the gronde,

But kneel fair down on the ground,

629

And, when the Gospel me rede schal,

And when the Gospel me read shall,

630

Fayre thou stonde up fro the wal,

Fairly thou stand up from the wall,

631

And blesse the fayre, [g]ef that thou conne,

And bless the fare if that thou can,

632

When gloria tibi is begonne;

When gloria tibi is begun;

633

And when the gospel ys y-done,

And when the gospel is done,

634

A[g]ayn thou my[g]th knele adown;

Again thou might kneel down,

635

On bothe thy knen down thou falle,

On both knees down thou fall,

636

For hyse love that bow[g]ht us alle;

For his love that bought us all;

637

And when thou herest the belle rynge

And when thou hearest the bell ring

638

To that holy sakerynge,

To that holy sacrament,

639

Knele [g]e most, bothe [g]yn[g]e and olde,

Kneel you must both young and old,

640

And bothe [g]or hondes fayr upholde,

And both your hands fair uphold,

641

And say thenne yn thys manere,

And say then in this manner,

642

Fayr and softe, withoute bere;

Fair and soft without noise;

643

Jhesu Lord, welcom thou be,

"Jesu Lord welcome thou be,

644

Yn forme of bred, as y the se.

In form of bread as I thee see,

645

Now Jhesu, for thyn holy name,

Now Jesu for thine holy name,

646

Schulde me from synne and schame,

Shield me from sin and shame;

647

Schryff and hosel thou grant me bo,

Shrift and Eucharist thou grand me both,

648

[G]er that y schal hennus go,

Ere that I shall hence go,

649

And vey contrycyon of my synne,

And very contrition for my sin,

650

Tath y never, Lord, dye therynne;

That I never, Lord, die therein;

651

And, as thou were of a mayde y-bore,

And as thou were of maid born,

652

Sofre me never to be y-lore;

Suffer me never to be lost;

653

But when y schal hennus wende,

But when I shall hence wend,

654

Grante me the blysse withoute ende;

Grant me the bliss without end;

655

Amen! amen! so mot hyt be!

Amen! Amen! so mote it be!

656

Now, swete lady, pray for me.

Now sweet lady pray for me."

657

Thus thou my[g]ht say, or sum other thynge,

Thus thou might say, or some other thing,

658

When thou knelust at the sakerynge.

When thou kneelest at the sacrament.

659

For covetyse after good, spare thou nought

For covetousness after good, spare thou not

660

To worschepe hym that alle hath wrought;

To worship him that all hath wrought;

661

For glad may a mon that day ben,

For glad may a man that day be,

662

That onus yn the day may hym sen;

That once in the day may him see;

663

Hyt ys so muche worthe, withoute nay,

It is so much worth, without doubt,

664

The vertu therof no mon telle may;

The virtue thereof no man tell may;

665

But so meche good doth that syht,

But so much good doth that sight,

666

As seynt Austyn telluth ful ryht,

That Saint Austin telleth full right,

667

That day thou syst Goddus body,

That day thou seest God's body,

668

Thou schalt have these, ful securly:-

Thou shalt have these full securely:-

669

Mete and drynke at thy nede,

Meet and drink at thy need,

670

Non that day schal the gnede;

None that day shalt thou lack;

671

Ydul othes, an wordes bo,

Idle oaths and words both,

672

God for[g]eveth the also;

God forgiveth thee also;

673

Soden deth, that ylke day,

Sudden death that same day

674

The dar not drede by no way;

Thee dare not dread by no way;

675

Also that day, y the plyht,

Also that day, I thee plight,

676

Thou schalt not lese thy eye syht;

Thou shalt not lose thy eye sight;

677

And uche fote that thou gost then,

And each foot that thou goest then,

678

That holy syht for to sen,

That holy sight for to see,

679

They schul be told to stonde yn stede,

They shall be told to stand instead,

680

When thou hast therto gret nede;

When thou hast thereto great need;

681

That messongere, the angele Gabryelle,

That messenger the angel Gabriel,

682

Wol kepe hem to the ful welle.

Will keep them to thee full well.

683

From thys mater now y may passe,

From this matter now I may pass,

684

To telle mo medys of the masse:

To tell more benefits of the mass:

685

To churche come [g]et, [g]ef thou may,

To church come yet, if thou may,

686

And here thy masse uche day;

And hear the mass each day;

687

[G]ef thou mowe not come to churche,

If thou may not come to church,

688

Wher that ever thou doste worche,

Where that ever thou dost work,

689

When thou herest to masse knylle,

When thou hearest the mass toll,

690

Pray to God with herte stylle,

Pray to God with heart still,

691

To [g]eve the part of that servyse,

To give thy part of that service,

692

That yn churche ther don yse.

That in church there done is.

693

Forthermore [g]et, y wol [g]ow preche

Furthermore yet, I will you preach

694

To [g]owre felows, hyt for to teche,

To your fellows, it for to teach,

695

When thou comest byfore a lorde,

When thou comest before a lord,

696

Yn halle, yn bowre, or at the borde,

In hall, in bower, or at the board,

697

Hod or cappe that thou of do,

Hood or cap that thou off do,

698

[G]er thou come hym allynge to;

Ere thou come him entirely to;

699

Twyes or thryes, without dowte,

Twice or thrice, without doubt,

700

To that lord thou moste lowte;

To that lord thou must bow;

701

With thy ry[g]th kne let hyt be do,

With thy right knee let it be done,

702

Thyn owne worschepe tou save so.

Thine own worship thou save so.

703

Holde of thy cappe, and hod also,

Hold off thy cap and hood also,

704

Tyl thou have leve hyt on to do.

Till thou have leave it on to put.

705

Al the whyle thou spekest with hym,

All the time thou speakest with him,

706

Fayre and lovelyche bere up thy chyn;

Fair and amiably hold up thy chin;

707

So, after the norter of the boke,

So after the nurture of the book,

708

Yn hys face lovely thou loke.

In his face kindly thou look.

709

Fot and hond, thou kepe ful stylle

Foot and hand thou keep full still,

710

From clawynge and trypynge, ys sckylle;

For clawing and tripping, is skill;

711

From spyttynge and snyftynge kepe the also,

From spitting and sniffling keep thee also,

712

By privy avoydans let hyt go.

By private expulsion let it go,

713

And [g]ef that thou be wyse and felle,

And if that thou be wise and discrete,

714

Thou hast gret nede to governe the welle.

Thou has great need to govern thee well.

715

Ynto the halle when thou dost wende,

Into the hall when thou dost wend,

716

Amonges the genteles, good and hende,

Amongst the gentles, good and courteous,

717

Presume not to hye for nothynge,

Presume not too high for nothing,

718

For thyn hye blod, ny thy connynge,

For thine high blood, nor thy cunning,

719

Nowther to sytte, ny to lene,

Neither to sit nor to lean,

720

That ys norther good and clene.

That is nurture good and clean.

721

Let not thy cowntenans therfore abate,

Let not thy countenance therefor abate,

722

Forsothe, good norter wol save thy state.

Forsooth good nurture will save thy state.

723

Fader and moder, whatsever they be,

Father and mother, whatsoever they be,

724

Wel ys the chyld that wel may the,

Well is the child that well may thee,

725

Yn halle, yn chamber, wher thou dost gon;

In hall, in chamber, where thou dost go;

726

Gode maneres maken a mon.

Good manners make a man.

727

To the nexte degré loke wysly,

To the next degree look wisely,

728

To do hem reverans by and by;

To do them reverence by and by;

729

Do hem [g]et no reverans al o-rowe,

Do them yet no reverence all in turn,

730

But [g]ef that thou do hem know.

Unless that thou do them know.

731

To the mete when thou art y-sette,

To the meat when thou art set,

732

Fayre and onestelyche thou ete hytte;

Fair and honestly thou eat it;

733

Fyrst loke that thyn honden be clene,

First look that thine hands be clean,

734

And that thy knyf be scharpe and kene;

And that thy knife be sharp and keen,

735

And kette thy bred al at thy mete,

And cut thy bread all at thy meat,

736

Ry[g]th as hyt may be ther y-ete.

Right as it may be there eaten,

737

[G]ef thou sytte by a worththyur mon.

If thou sit by a worthier man,

738

Then thy selven thou art won,

Then thy self thou art one,

739

Sofre hym fyrst to toyche the mete,

Suffer him first to touch the meat,

740

[G]er thyself to hyt reche.

Ere thyself to it reach.

741

To the fayrest mossel thou my[g]ht not strike,

To the fairest morsel thou might not strike,

742

Thaght that thou do hyt wel lyke;

Though that thou do it well like;

743

Kepe thyn hondes, fayr and wel,

Keep thine hands fair and well,

744

From fowle smogynge of thy towel;

From foul smudging of thy towel;

745

Theron thou schalt not thy nese snyte,

Thereon thou shalt not thy nose blow,

746

Ny at the mete thy tothe thou pyke;

Nor at the meat thy tooth thou pick;

747

To depe yn the coppe thou my[g]ght not synke,

Too deep in cup thou might not sink,

748

Thagh thou have good wyl to drynke,

Though thou have good will to drink,

749

Lest thyn enyn wolde wattryn therby_

Lest thine eyes would water thereby-

750

Then were hyt no curtesy

Then were it no courtesy.

751

Loke yn thy mowth ther be no mete,

Look in thy mouth there be no meat,

752

When thou begynnyst to drynke or speke.

When thou begins to drink or speak.

753

When thou syst any mon drynkynge,

When thou seest any man drinking,

754

That taketh hed to thy carpynge,

That taketh heed to thy speech,

755

Sone anonn thou sese thy tale,

Soon anaon thou cease thy tale,

756

Whether he drynke wyn other ale.

Whether he drink wine or ale,

757

Loke also thou scorne no mon,

Look also thou scorn no man,

758

Yn what degré thou syst hym gon;

In what degree thou seest him gone;

759

Ny thou schalt no mon deprave,

Nor thou shalt no man deprave,

760

[G]ef thou wolt thy worschepe save;

If thou wilt thy worship save;

761

For suche worde my[g]ht ther outberste,

For such word might there outburst.

762

That myg[h]t make the sytte yn evel reste,

That might make thee sit in evil rest.

763

Close thy honde yn thy fyste,

Close thy hand in thy fist,

764

And kepe the wel from had-y-wyste.

And keep thee well from "had I known."

765

Yn chamber amonge the ladyes bryght,

In chamber amongst the ladies bright,

766

Holde thy tonge and spende thy syght;

Hold thy tongue and spend thy sight;

767

Law[g]e thou not with no gret cry,

Laugh thou not with no great cry,

768

Ny make no ragynge with rybody.

Nor make no lewd sport and ribaldry.

769

Play thou not buyt with thy peres,

Play thou not but with thy peers,

770

Ny tel thou not al that thou heres;

Nor tell thou not all that thou hears;

771

Dyskever thou not thyn owne dede,

Discover thou not thine own deed,

772

For no merthe, ny for no mede;

For no mirth, nor for no reward;

773

With fayr speche thou myght have thy wylle,

With fair speech thou might have thy will,

774

With hyt thou myght thy selven spylle.

With it thou might thy self spoil.

775

When thou metyst a worthy mon,

When thou meetest a worthy man,

776

Cappe and hod thou holle not on;

Cap and hood thou hold not on;

777

Yn churche, yn chepyns, or yn the gate,

In church, in market, or in the gate,

778

Do hym revera(n)s after hys state.

Do him reverance after his state.

779

[G]ef thou gost with a worthyor mon

If thou goest with a worthier man

780

Then thyselven thou art won,

Then thyself thou art one,

781

Let thy forther schulder sewe hys backe,

Let thy foremost shoulder follow his back,

782

For that ys norter withoute lacke;

For that is nurture without lack;

783

When he doth speke, holte the stylle,

When he doth speak, hold thee still,

784

When he hath don, sey for thy wylle;

When he hath done, say for thy will,

785

Yn thy speche that thou be felle,

In thy speech that thou be discreet,

786

And what thou sayst avyse the welle;

And what thou sayest consider thee well;

787

But byref thou not hym hys tale,

But deprive thou not him his tale,

788

Nowther at the wyn, ny at the ale.

Neither at the wine nor at the ale.

789

Cryst then of hys hye grace,

Christ then of his high grace,

790

[G]eve [g]ow bothe wytte and space,

Save you both wit and space,

791

Wel thys boke to conne and rede,

Well this book to know and read,

792

Heven to have for [g]owre mede.

Heaven to have for your reward.

793

Amen! amen! so mot hyt be!

Amen! Amen! so mote it be!

794

Say we so all per charyté.

So say we all for charity.

Page collated from:

http://www.freemasons-freemasonry.com/regius.html,

http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/regius.html, and

http://mpoets.org/Regius2.htm


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