The " Thomas Foxcroft" Masonic Manuscript.

THE " THOMAS FOXCROFT" MASONIC MANUSCRIPT .

In fulfilment of the promise made in the Freemason of the I ith of November last , which contains a brief description of the latest important addition to the Library of the Grand Lodge of England , I append hereto a literal transcript of this valuable document , together with a reduced facsimile , half the size of the ori g inal , of its beginning and ending .

As an expression of opinion , I may be permitted to state that if this manuscript is not actuall y copied from the "Antiquity " MS ., I believe they were both derived from the same orig inal , although the spelling is much more modern than that of the last named document . HENRY SADLER .

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II Fear God , For this is and keep the whole his Commandments ; Duty of man . " In the name of the great and holy God of heaven , the wisedom of the Son , and the goodness of the holy Ghost , three Persons and one God , be with us now and ever . Arr . en .

Brethren and Fellows , here beginneth the noble and worthy Science of free-Masons , or Geometry : and in what manner it was first founded and begun , and afterwards how it was confirmed by worthy Kings and Princes , and many other worshipful Men : and also to those that be here , we mind to shew you thc Charge , that belongs to every free-Mason to keep , for in good faith if you take good heed , it is well worthy to be kept for a noble

Craft a nd curious Science . Sirs , there be seven liberal Sciences , of which this noble Science of Masons is one , and the seven be these : the first is Grammar , and that teacheth a man to spell and write truly : the second is Rhetorick , and teacheth a man to speak faire , and subtile : the third is Logick , and that teacheth a man to discern the true from the false : the fourth is Arithmetick , and that teacheth a man to reckon , and accompts : the fifth is

Geometry , and teacheth a man mete and measure of earth , and of all things the which is called by M ' - Euclides , geometry ; and by Vitruvius , is called Architecture : the sixth is Musick , and teacheth a man to sing with voice , tongue , organ , harp , and trump : the seventh is Astronomy , and teacheth a man to know the course of the Sun , and the moon and the Starrs . These be

the seven liberal Sciences , of the which all be founded by one that is Geometry ; and thus a man may prove , that all the seven Sciences bs founded by Geometry : for it teacheth a man mete , measure , ponderation and weight of all things on earth : for there is no workman that worketh any Craft , but he worketh by some mete or measure : and every man that buyeth or selleth , they buy or sell by some weight or measure , and all this is

The " Thomas Foxcroft" Masonic Manuscript.

Geometry : and the Merchants , and all other Craftsmen of the seven Sciences , and the Plow-men and Tillers of the earth , and the Sowers of all manner of grains , seeds , vines and plants , and the Setters of all manners of fruits : for Grammar , Aiithmetick , nor Astronomy , nor none of all the seven Sciences , can a man find mete or measure in without Geometry : wherefore ( me thinks ) that the said Science of Geometry is most worthy ,

and all the other be founded by it . But , how this worthy Science , and Craft was first founded and begun , I shall tell you . Before Noah's flood , there was a man which was called Lamech , ( as it is written in the 4 chap , of Genesis ) , and this Lamech had two wives , the one called Adah , the other Zillah : by his first wife Adah , he begat Jabal , and his brother Jubal : and of Zillah , she bare Tubal-Cain , and his sister who was called Naamah , and

these four children found the beginning of all these Crafts , and Sciences in the world : for the eldest son Jabal , found the craft of Geometry , and he fed flocks of sheep and lambs in the field , and first wrought houses of stone and he and his brother Jubal , found the craft of Musick , song of mouth , harp , organ , and all other instruments : the third brother , Tubal-Cain , founded the Smith-craft of gold , silver , iron , copper and steel : and the

daughter Naamah found the craft of weaving : and these children knew well , that God would take vengeance for sin , either by fire or water : wherefore they wrote these Sciences they had founded , in two pillars of stone , that they might be found afterwards ; the one stone was callsd Marble , for that would not burn in the fire ; and the other was called Leathern , and that would not be drowned , with water . Our intent is , to tell you how

and in what manner these stones were found , that these Sciences were written on . the Herminerius that was Cubb his son , the which Cubb was Shem his son , the which was Noah ' s son ; this same Herminerius was afterwards called Hermes , the father of the wise men , he found one of the two pillars of Stone , and found the Sciences written thereon , and taught them to others , and at

the making of the tower of Babilon , was Masons first made there much of : and the King of Babilon ( called Nembroth , who was a Mason himself ) loved well the rest , as is said with the M - of Stories : And when the city of Nineveh ( or the city of the East part ) should have been made , Nembroth King of Babilon sent thither Sixty Masons of his region to the King of Nineveh his Cousin , and when he sent them forth he gave them a Charge

in this manner . First , that they should be true to their King ( Lord or Master ) they served , and that they should ordain the most wise , and cunning man to be M - of the Kings ( or Lords ) work , that was amongst them : and neither for love , riches or favour to set another that had little Cunning to be Master of that work , whereby the Lord should be ill served , and the Science ill dishamed .

Secondly , that they should call the governour of the said work Master , all the time they wrought with him , and many more Charges , which were too long to cyte . And for the keeping all those Charges , he made them swear a great Oath ( which men used at that time ) and ordained for them reasonable Pay , that they might live with honesty . And also he gave them in charge , that they should Assemble together every year once , to see how they might work best to serve the King , or Lord , for their profit , and their own worship .

Thirdly , that they should correct within themselves , those that had trespassed against the Science : and thus was this noble Craft first founded there , which the worthy M - Euclides gave the name of Geometry , and how it was called throughout all the world , Masonrie . Long after , when the children of Israel were come into the land of Beerhest ( which is now called the countrey of Hjerusalem ) where King

David begun the temple , that is now called Templum Dei , and is now named with us the Temple of Hjerusalem : and the same King David loved Masons then right well , and gave them good Pay , and gave them the Charges and manners that he learned in Egypt , which were given by the worthy M - Euclides , and other more Charges , that you shall hear afterwards . And after the decease of King David , then reigned Solomon

( David's son ) and he performed out the Temple , that his father had begun : and he sent after Masons into diverse counlreys , and into diverse lands , and he gathered them together , so that he had 24000 workers of Stone and were all named Masons , and he chose out of them 3000 which were ordained to be Master—rulers , and Govemours of his work . And there was a King of another region , which men called Huram , and he loved well King

Solomon , and gave him tymber to his work : and he had a son called that was Master of Geometry , and was chief Master of all his Masons that belonged to the temple , both for Graveingand Carving , and all manner of Masonry , this is witnessed in the Bible , in libro Regum tertio et quarto . And this same Solomon confirmed both the Charges , and the Manners which his father had given , and thus was the worthy Science of

Masonry confirmed in that country of Hjerusalem , and many other kingdoms and regions . Men walked into diverse countreys , some because of Learning to learn more Cunning , and some to teach them that had but little cunning : and so it befell , that there was a man called Namus Greocius , who had been at the making of King Solomon ' s temple , and he

came into France , and there Iu taught the men of that land the Science of Masonry . And there was One of the royal lyne of France , called Charles Marshal , a man that loved well the said Craft , and took upon him the Rules and Manners , and after that ( by the grace of God ) was elected to be King of France .

And when he was in his Estate , he helped to make those Masons that were none , and gave them Charges and Manners as he had learned from other Masons , and set them on work , and gave them good pay : and confirmed to them a Charter from year to year , to hold their Assembly where they would , and cherished them right well , and thus came this noble Craft nto FYance .

England in that season , stood void as forreign charge of Masons , untill St . Alban ' s time : for in his days , the King of England ( and that was a Mason ) did wall the town about , which is now called St . Albans : and St . Alban was a worthy Knight , and Steward to the King of his House-hold , and head Governour of his realm , and also of the walls of the said town and he loved well Masons , and cherished much , and made their pay right

good : for he gave them three shillings and six pence the week , and three pence a day to the Hearers of burthens . Before that time , in all the land a _ Mason took but a penny the day , aud liis meat , till St . Alban mended it : for he got them a Charier from the King and his Council , to hold a general Council , giving it to name Assembly : thereat he was himself , and did help to make Masons , and gave them Charges , as you shall hear afterwards .

Soon after the death of St . Alban , there came diverse warrs into England out of diverse Nations , so that the good rule of Masons was disheired and put down , until the time of King Aldiston : In his time , there