II. — THE CONSTITUTIONS OF EDWARD III.

Anderson informs us,* on the authority of an old record, that in the reign of King Edward III., (that is, between the years 1327 and 1377), the Grand Master, with his Wardens, at the head of the Grand Lodge, with the consent of the lords of the realm, who were generally Freemasons, ordained the following Constitutions :
1. That for the future, at the making or admission of a Brother, the constitutions and the charges shall be read.
2. That Master Masons, or Masters of the work, shall he
* Constitutions, 2d edit., p. 71.
48 THE WRITTEN LAW.
examined whether they be able of cunning to serve their respective lords, as well the highest as the lowest, to the honor and worship of the aforesaid art, and to the profit of their lords ; for they be their lords that employ them for their travel.
3. That when the Master and Wardens meet in a Lodge, if need be, the Sheriff of the comity, or the Mayor of the city, or Alderman of the town, in which the congregation is held, should be made fellow and sociate to the Master, in help of him against rebels, and for upbearing the rights of the realm.
4. That Entered Prentices at their making were charged not to be thieves, or thieves-maintainers ; that they should travel honestly for their pay, and love their Fellows as them- selves, and be true to the King of England, and to the realm, and to the Lodge.
5. That at such congregations it shall be enquired, whether any Master or Fellow has broke any of the articles agreed to. And if the offender, being duly cited to appear, prove rebel, and will not attend, then the Lodge shall determine against him that he shall forswear (or renounce) his Masonry, and shall no more use this craft ; the which, if he presume for to do, the Sheriff of the county shall prison him, and take all his goods into the king's hands, till his grace be granted him an issue : for this cause principally have these congre- gations been ordained, that as well the lowest as the highest should be well and truly served in this art foresaid through- out all the kingdom of England.