Hic incipiunt constituciones artis gemetriae secundum Eucyldem.

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

1. Whose wol bothe wel rede and loke,

1 Whoever will both well read and look

2. He may fynde wryte yn olde boke

2 He may find written in old book

3. Of grete lordys and eke ladyysse,

3 Of great lords and also ladies,

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

4 That had many children together, y-wisse; (certainly)

5. And hade no rentys to fynde hem wyth,

5 And had no income to keep them with,

6. Nowther yn towne, ny felde, ny fryth:

6 Neither in town nor field nor frith; (enclosed wood)

7. A cownsel togeder they cowthe hem take;

7 A council together they could them take,

8. To ordeyne for these chyldryn sake,

8 To ordain for these children's sake,

9. How they my[g]th best lede here lyfe

9 How they might best lead their life

10. Withoute gret desese, care and stryfe;

10 Without great dis-ease, care, and strife;

11. And most for the multytude that was comynge

11 And most for the multitude that was coming

12. Of here chyldryn after here [g]yndynge.

12 Of their children after their ending

13. (They) sende thenne after grete clerkys,

13 They send them after great clerks,

14. To techyn hem thenne gode werkys;

14 To teach them then good works;

15. And pray we hem, for our Lordys sake,

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

16. To oure chyldryn sum werke to make,

16 To our children some work to make,

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

17 That they might get their living thereby,

18. Bothe wel and onestlyche, ful sycurly.

18 Both well and honestly full securely.

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

19 In that time, through good geometry,

20. Thys onest craft of good masonry

20 This honest craft of good masonry

21. Wes ordeynt and made yn thys manere,

21 Was ordained and made in this manner,

22. Y-cownterfetyd of thys clerkys y-fere;

22 Counterfeited of these clerks together;

23. At these lordys prayers they cownterfetyd gemetry,

23 At these lord's prayers they counterfeited geometry,

24. And [g]af hyt the name of masonry,

24 And gave it the name of masonry,

25. For the moste oneste craft of alle.

25 For the most honest craft of all.

26. These lordys chyldryn therto dede falle,

26 These lords' children thereto did fall,

27. To lurne of hym the craft of gemetry,

27 To learn of him the craft of geometry,

28. The wheche he made ful curysly;

28 The which he made full curiously;

29. Thro[g]gh fadrys prayers and modrys also,

29 Through fathers' prayers and mothers' also,

30. Thys onest craft he putte hem to.

30 This honest craft he put them to.

31. He that lerned best, and were of onesté,

31 He learned best, and was of honesty,

32. And passud hys felows yn curysté;

32 And passed his fellows in curiosity,

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

33 If in that craft he did him pass,

34. He schulde have more worschepe then the lasse.

34 He should have more worship than the lasse, (less)

35. Thys grete clerkys name was clept Euclyde,

35 This great clerk's name was Euclid,

36. Hys name hyt spradde ful wondur wyde.

36 His name it spread full wonder wide.

37. Get thys grete clerke more ordeynt he

37 Yet this great clerk ordained he

38. To hym that was herre yn thys degré,

38 To him that was higher in this degree,

39. That he schulde teche the synplyst of (wytte)

39 That he should teach the simplest of wit

40. Yn that onest craft to be parfytte;

40 In that honest craft to be parfytte; (perfect)

41. And so uchon schulle techyn othur,

41 And so each one shall teach the other,

42. And love togeder as syster and brothur.

42 And love together as sister and brother.

43. Forthermore [g]et that ordeynt he,

43 Furthermore yet that ordained he,

44. Mayster y-called so schulde he be;

44 Master called so should he be;

45. So that he were most y-worschepede,

45 So that he were most worshipped,

46. Thenne sculde he be so y-clepede:

46 Then should he be so called;

47. But mason schulde never won other calle,

47 But masons should never one another call,

48. Withynne the craft amongus hem alle,

48 Within the craft amongst them all,

49. Ny soget, ny servand, my dere brother,

49 Neither subject nor servant, my dear brother,

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

50 Though he be not so perfect as is another;

51. Uchon sculle calle other felows by cuthe,

51 Each shall call other fellows by cuthe, (friendship)

52. For cause they come of ladyes burthe.

52 Because they come of ladies' birth.

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

53 On this manner, through good wit of geometry,

54. Bygan furst the craft of masonry:

54 Began first the craft of masonry;

55. The clerk Euclyde on thys wyse hyt fonde,

55 The clerk Euclid on this wise it found,

56. Thys craft of gemetry yn Egypte londe.

56 This craft of geometry in Egypt land.

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

57 In Egypt he taught it full wide,

58. Yn dyvers londe on every syde;

58 In divers lands on every side;

59. Mony erys afterwarde, y understonde,

59 Many years afterwards, I understand,

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

60 Ere that the craft came into this land.

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

61 This craft came into England, as I you say,

62. Yn tyme of good kynge Adelstonus day;

62 In time of good King Athelstane's day;

63. He made tho bothe halle and eke bowre,

63 He made then both hall and even bower,

64. And hye templus of gret honowre,

64 And high temples of great honour,

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

65 To disport him in both day and night,

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

66 And to worship his God with all his might.

67. Thys goode lorde loved thys craft ful wel,

67 This good lord loved this craft full well,

68. And purposud to strenthyn hyt every del,

68 And purposed to strengthen it every del, (part)

69. For dyvers defawtys that yn the craft he fonde;

69 For divers faults that in the craft he found;

70. He sende about ynto the londe

70 He sent about into the land

71. After alle the masonus of the crafte,

71 After all the masons of the craft,

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

72 To come to him full even straghfte, (straight)

73. For to amende these defautys alle

73 For to amend these defaults all

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

74 By good counsel, if it might fall.

75. A semblé thenne he cowthe let make

75 An assembly then he could let make

76. Of dyvers lordis, yn here state,

76 Of divers lords in their state,

77. Dukys, erlys, and barnes also,

77 Dukes, earls, and barons also,

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

78 Knights, squires and many mo, (more)

79. And the grete burges of that syté,

79 And the great burgesses of that city,

80. They were ther alle yn here degré;

80 They were there all in their degree;

81. These were ther uchon algate,

81 There were there each one algate, (always)

82. To ordeyne for these masonus astate.

82 To ordain for these masons' estate,

83. Ther they sow[g]ton by here wytte,

83 There they sought by their wit,

84. How they my[g]thyn governe hytte:

84 How they might govern it;

85. Fyftene artyculus they ther sow[g]ton

85 Fifteen articles they there sought,

86. And fyftene poyntys they wro[g]ton.

86 And fifteen points there they wrought,

 Hic incipit articulus primus.

  Here begins the first article.

87. The furste artycul of thys gemetry:--

87 The first article of this geometry;-

88. The mayster mason moste be ful securly

88 The master mason must be full securely

89. Bothe stedefast, trusty, and trwe,

89 Both steadfast, trusty and true,

90. Hyt schal hum never thenne arewe:

90 It shall him never then rue;

91. And pay thy felows after the coste,

91 And pay thy fellows after the cost,

92. As vytaylys goth thenne, wel thou woste;

92 As victuals goeth then, well thou woste; (knowest)

93. And pay them trwly, apon thy fay,

93 And pay them truly, upon thy fay, (faith)

94. What that they deserven may;

94 What they deserven may; (may deserve)

95. And to her hure take no more,

95 And to their hire take no more,

96. But what they mowe serve fore;

96 But what that they may serve for;

97. And spare, nowther for love ny drede,

97 And spare neither for love nor drede, (dread)

98. Of nowther partys to take no mede;

98 Of neither parties to take no mede; (bribe)

99. Of lord ny felow, whether he be,

99 Of lord nor fellow, whoever he be,

100. Of hem thou take no maner of fe;

100 Of them thou take no manner of fee;

101. And as a jugge stonde upry[g]th,

101 And as a judge stand upright,

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

102 And then thou dost to both good right;

103. And trwly do thys whersever thou gost,

103 And truly do this wheresoever thou gost, (goest)

104. Thy worschep, thy profyt, hyt shcal be most.

104 Thy worship, thy profit, it shall be most.

 Articulus secundus.

  Second article.

105. The secunde artycul of good masonry,

105 The second article of good masonry,

106. As [g]e mowe hyt here hyr specyaly,

106 As you must it here hear specially,

107. That every mayster, that ys a mason,

107 That every master, that is a mason,

108. Most ben at the generale congregacyon,

108 Must be at the general congregation,

109. So that he hyt resonably y-tolde

109 So that he it reasonably be told

110. Where that the semblé schal be holde;

110 Where that the assembly shall be holde; (held)

111. And to that semblé he most nede gon,

111 And to that assembly he must needs gon, (go)

112. But he have a resenabul skwsacyon,

112 Unless he have a reasonable skwasacyon, (excuse)

113. Or but he be unbuxom to that craft,

113 Or unless he be disobedient to that craft

114. Or with falssehed ys over-raft,

114 Or with falsehood is over-raft, (overtaken)

115. Or ellus sekenes hath hym so stronge,

115 Or else sickness hath him so strong,

116. That he may not com hem amonge;

116 That he may not come them among;

117. That ys a skwsacyon, good and abulle,

117 That is an excuse good and able,

118. To that semblé withoute fabulle.

118 To that assembly without fable.

 Articulus tercius.

  Third article.

119. The thrydde artycul for sothe hyt ysse,

119 The third article forsooth it is,

120. That the mayster take to no prentysse,

120 That the master takes to no 'prentice,

121. but he have good seuerans to dwelle

121 Unless he have good assurance to dwell

122. Seven [g]er with hym, as y [g]ow telle,

122 Seven years with him, as I you tell,

123. Hys craft to lurne, that ys profytable;

123 His craft to learn, that is profitable;

124. Withynne lasse he may not be able

124 Within less he may not be able

125. To lordys profyt, ny to his owne,

125 To lords' profit, nor to his own

126. As [g]e mowe knowe by good resowne.

126 As you may know by good reason.

 Articulus quartus.

  Fourth article.

127. The fowrhe artycul thys moste be

127 The fourth article this must be,

128. That the mayster hym wel be-se,

128 That the master him well besee,

129. That he no bondemon prentys make,

129 That he no bondman 'prentice make,

130. Ny for no covetyse do hym take;

130 Nor for no covetousness do him take;

131. For the lord that he ys bonde to,

131 For the lord that he is bound to,

132. May fache the prentes whersever he go.

132 May fetch the 'prentice wheresoever he go.

133. Gef yn the logge he were y-take,

133 If in the lodge he were ty-take, (taken)

134. Muche desese hyt mygth ther make,

134 Much dis-ease it might there make,

135. And suche case hyt mygth befalle,

135 And such case it might befal,

136. That hyt mygth greve summe or alle.

136 That it might grieve some or all.

137. For alle the masonus tht ben there

137 For all the masons that be there

138. Wol stonde togedur hol y-fere

138 Will stand together all y-fere. (together)

139. Gef suche won yn that craft schulde swelle,

139 If such one in that craft should dwell,

140. Of dyvers desesys ge mygth telle:

140 Of divers dis-eases you might tell;

141. For more gese thenne, and of honeste,

141 For more ease then, and of honesty,

142. Take a prentes of herre degre.

142 Take a 'prentice of higher degree.

143. By olde tyme wryten y fynde

143 By old time written I find

144. That the prenes schulde be of gentyl kynde;

144 That the 'prentice should be of gentle kind;

145. And so symtyme grete lordys blod

145 And so sometime, great lords' blood

146. Toke thys gemetry, that ys ful good.

146 Took this geometry that is full good.

 Articulus quintus.

  Fifth article.

147. The fyfthe artycul ys swythe good,

147 The fifth article is very good,

148. So that the prentes be of lawful blod;

148 So that the 'prentice be of lawful blood;

149. The mayster schal not, for no vantage,

149 The master shall not, for no advantage,

150. Make no prentes that ys outrage;

150 Make no 'prentice that is outrage; (deformed)

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

151 It is to mean, as you may hear

152. That he have hys lymes hole alle y-fere;

152 That he have all his limbs whole all y-fere; (together)

153. To the craft hyt were gret schame,

153 To the craft it were great shame,

154. To make an halt mon and a lame,

154 To make a halt man and a lame,

155. For an unperfyt mon of suche blod

155 For an imperfect man of such blood

156. Schulde do the craft but lytul good.

156 Should do the craft but little good.

157. Thus [g]e mowe knowe everychon,

157 Thus you may know every one,

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

158 The craft would have a mighty man;

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

159 A maimed man he hath no might,

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

160 You must it know long ere night.

 Articulus sextus.

  Sixth article.

161. The syxte artycul [g]e mowe not mysse,

161 The sixth article you must not miss

162. That the mayster do the lord no pregedysse,

162 That the master do the lord no prejudice,

163. To take of the lord, for hyse prentyse,

163 To take the lord for his 'prentice,

164. Also muche as hys felows don, yn alle vyse.

164 As much as his fellows do, in all wise.

165. For yn that craft they ben ful perfyt,

165 For in that craft they be full perfect,

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

166 So is not he, you must see it.

167. Also hyt were a[g]eynus good reson,

167 Also it were against good reason,

168. To take hys, hure as hys felows don.

168 To take his hire as his fellows don. (do)

169. Thys same artycul, yn thys casse,

169 This same article in this case,

170. Juggythe the prentes to take lasse

170 Judgeth his prentice to take less

171. Thenne hys felows, that ben ful perfyt.

171 Than his fellows, that be full perfect.

172. Yn dyvers maters, conne qwyte hyt,

172 In divers matters, know requite it,

173. The mayster may his prentes so enforme,

173 The master may his 'prentice so inform,

174. That hys hure may crese ful [g]urne,

174 That his hire may increase full soon,

175. And, ger hys terme come to an ende,

175 And ere his term come to an end,

176. Hys hure may ful wel amende.

176 His hire may full well amend.

 Articulus septimus.

  Seventh article.

177. The seventhe artycul that ys now here,

177 The seventh article that is now here,

178. Ful wel wol telle gow, alle y-fere,

178 Full well will tell you all y-fere (together)

179. That no mayster, for favour ny drede,

179 That no master for favour nor dread,

180. Schal no thef nowther clothe ny fede.

180 Shall no thief neither clothe nor feed.

181. Theves he schal herberon never won,

181 Thieves he shall harbour never one,

182. Ny hym that hath y-quellude a mon,

182 Nor him that hath killed a man,

183. Wy thylike that hath a febul name,

183 Nor the same that hath a feeble name,

184. Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to schame.

184 Lest it would turn the craft to shame.

 Articulus octavus.

  Eighth article.

185. The eghte artycul schewt [g]ow so,

185 The eighth article sheweth you so,

186. That the mayster may hyt wel do,

186 That the master may it well do.

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

187 If that he have any man of craft,

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

188 And he be not so perfect as he ought,

189. He may hym change sone anon,

189 He may him change soon anon,

190. And take for hym a perfytur mon.

190 And take for him a more perfect man.

191. Suche a mon, thro[g]e rechelaschepe,

191 Such a man through rechalaschepe, (recklessness)

192. My[g]th do the craft schert worschepe.

192 Might do the craft scant worship.

 Articulus nonus.

  Ninth article.

193. The nynthe artycul schewet ful welle,

193 The ninth article sheweth full well,

194. That the mayster be both wyse and felle;

194 That the master be both wise and felle; (strong)

195. That no werke he undurtake,

195 That he no work undertake,

196. But he conne bothe hyt ende and make;

196 Unless he can both it end and make;

197. And that hyt be to the lordes profyt also,

197 And that it be to the lords' profit also,

198. And to hys craft, whersever he go;

198 And to his craft, wheresoever he go;

199. And that the grond be wel y-take,

199 And that the ground be well y-take, (taken)

200. That hyt nowther fle ny grake.

200 That it neither flaw nor grake. (crack)

 Articulus decimus.

  Tenth article.

201. The then the artycul ys for to knowe,

201 The tenth article is for to know,

202. Amonge the craft, to hye and lowe,

202 Among the craft, to high and low,

203. There schal no mayster supplante other,

203 There shall no master supplant another,

204. But be togeder as systur and brother,

204 But be together as sister and brother,

205. Yn thys curyus craft, alle and som,

205 In this curious craft, all and some,

206. That longuth to a maystur mason.

206 That belongeth to a master mason.

207. Ny he schal not supplante non other mon,

207 Nor shall he supplant no other man,

208. That hath y-take a werke hym uppon,

208 That hath taken a work him upon,

209. Yn peyne therof that ys so stronge,

209 In pain thereof that is so strong,

210. That peyseth no lasse thenne ten ponge,

210 That weigheth no less than ten pounds.

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

211 but if that he be guilty found,

212. That toke furst the werke on honde;

212 That took first the work on hand;

213. For no mon yn masonry

213 For no man in masonry

214. Schal no supplante othur securly,

214 Shall not supplant other securely,

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

215 But if that it be so wrought,

216. That hyt turne the werke to nogth;

216 That in turn the work to nought;

217. Thenne may a mason that werk crave,

217 Then may a mason that work crave,

218. To the lordes profyt hyt for to save;

218 To the lords' profit for it to save

219. Yn suche a case but hyt do falle,

219 In such a case if it do fall,

220. Ther schal no mason medul withalle.

220 There shall no mason meddle withal.

221. Forsothe he that begynnyth the gronde,

221 Forsooth he that beginneth the ground,

222. And he be a mason goode and sonde,

222 If he be a mason good and sound,

223. For hath hyt sycurly yn hys mynde

223 He hath it securely in his mind

224. To brynge the werke to ful good ende.

224 To bring the work to full good end.

 Articulus undecimus.

  Eleventh Article.

225. The eleventhe artycul y telle the,

225 The eleventh article I tell thee,

226. That he ys bothe fayr and fre;

226 That he is both fair and free

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

227 For he teacheth, by his might,

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

228 That no Mason should work by night

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

229 But if be in practising of wit,

230. [G]ef that y cowthe amende hytte.

230 If that I could amend it.

 Articulus duodecimus.

  Twelfth article.

231. The twelfthe artycul ys of hye honesté

231 The twelfth article is of high honesty

232. To [g]every mason, whersever he be;

232 To every mason wheresoever he be,

233. He schal not hys felows werk deprave,

233 He shall not his fellows' work deprave,

234. [G]ef that he wol hys honesté save;

234 If that he will his honesty save;

235. With honest wordes he hyt comende,

235 With honest words he it commend,

236. By the wytte that God the dede sende;

236 By the wit God did thee send;

237. Buy hyt amende by al that thou may,

237 But it amend by all that thou may,

238. Bytwynne [g]ow bothe withoute nay.

238 Between you both without nay. (doubt)

 Articulus xiijus.

  Thirteenth article.

239. The threttene artycul, so God me save,

239 The thirteenth article, so God me save,

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

240 Is if that the master a 'prentice have,

241. Enterlyche thenne that he hym teche,

241 Entirely then that he him teach,

242. And meserable poyntes that he hym reche,

242 And measurable points that he him reche, (tell)

243. That he the craft abelyche may conne,

243 That he the craft ably may conne, (know)

244. Whersever he go undur the sonne.

244 Wheresoever he go under the sun.

 Articulus xiiijus.

  Fourteenth article.

245. The fowrtene artycul, by good reson,

245 The fourteenth article by good reason,

246. Scheweth the mayster how he schal don;

246 Sheweth the master how he shall don; (do)

247. He schal no prentes to hym take,

247 He shall no 'prentice to him take,

248. Byt dyvers crys he have to make,

248 Unless diver cares he have to make,

249. That he may, withynne hys terme,

249 That he may within his term,

250. Of hym dyvers poyntes may lurne.

250 Of him divers points may learn.

 Articulus quindecimus.

  Fifteenth article.

251. The fyftene artycul maketh an ende,

251 The fifteenth article maketh an end,

252. For to the mayster he ys a frende;

252 For to the master he is a friend;

253. To lere hym so, that for no mon,

253 To teach him so, that for no man,

254. No fals mantenans he take hym apon,

254 No false maintenance he take him upon,

255. Ny maynteine hys felows yn here synne,

255 Nor maintain his fellows in their sin,

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

256 For no good that he might win;

257. Ny no fals sware sofre hem to make,

257 Nor no false oath suffer him to make,

258. For drede of here sowles sake;

258 For dread of their souls' sake,

259. Lest hyt wolde turne the craft to schame,

259 Lest it would turn the craft to shame,

260. And hymself to mechul blame.

260 And himself to very much blame.

 Plures Constituciones.

  Plural constitutions.

261. At thys semblé were poyntes y-ordeynt mo,

261 At this assembly were points ordained mo, (more)

262. Of grete lordys and maystrys also,

262 Of great lords and masters also.

263. That whose wol conne thys craft and com to astate,

263 That who will know this craft and come to estate,

264. He most love wel God, and holy churche algate,

264 He must love well God and holy church algate, (always)

265. And hys mayster also, that he ys wythe,

265 And his master also that he is with,

266. Whersever he go, yn fylde or frythe;

266 Wheresoever he go in field or frythe, (enclosed wood)

267. And thy felows thou love also,

267 And thy fellows thou love also,

268. For that they craft wol that thou do.

268 For that thy craft will that thou do.

 Secundus punctus.

  Second Point.

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

269 The second point as I you say,

270. That the mason worche apon the werk day,

270 That the mason work upon the work day,

271. Also trwly, as he con or may,

271 As truly as he can or may,

272. To deserve hys huyre for the halyday,

272 To deserve his hire for the holy-day,

273. And trwly to labrun on hys dede,

273 And truly to labour on his deed,

274. Wel deserve to have hys mede.

274 Well deserve to have his mede. (reward)

 Tercius punctus.

  Third point.

275. The thrydde poynt most be severele,

275 The third point must be severele, (severely)

276. With the prentes knowe hyt wele,

276 With the 'prentice know it well,

277. Hys mayster conwsel he kepe and close,

277 His master's counsel he keep and close,

278. And hys felows by hys goode purpose;

278 And his fellows by his good purpose;

279. The prevetyse of the chamber telle he no man,

279 The privities of the chamber tell he no man,

280. Ny yn the logge whatsever they done;

280 Nor in the lodge whatsoever they don; (do)

281. Whatsever thou heryst, or syste hem do,

281 Whatsoever thou hearest or seest them do,

282. Telle hyt no mon, whersever thou go;

282 Tell it no man wheresoever you go;

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

283 The counsel of hall, and even of bower,

284. Kepe hyt wel to gret honowre,

284 Keep it well to great honour,

285. Lest hyt wolde torne thyself to blame,

285 Lest it would turn thyself to blame,

286. And brynge the craft ynto gret schame.

286 And bring the craft into great shame.

 Quartus punctus.

  Fourth point.

287. The fowrthe poynt techyth us alse,

287 The fourth point teacheth us alse, (also)

288. That no mon to hys craft be false;

288 That no man to his craft be false;

289. Errour he schal maynteine none

289 Error he shall maintain none

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

290 Against the craft, but let it gone; (go)

291. Ny no pregedysse he schal not do

291 Nor no prejudice he shall not do

292. To hys mayster, ny hys felows also;

292 To his master, nor his fellow also;

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

293 And though the 'prentice be under awe,

294. [G]et he wolde have the same lawe.

294 Yet he would have the same law.

 Quintus punctus.

  Fifth point.

295. The fyfthe poynte ys, withoute nay,

295 The fifth point is without nay, (doubt)

296. That whenne the mason taketh hys pay

296 That when the mason taketh his pay

297. Of the mayster, y-ordent to hym,

297 Of the master, ordained to him,

298. Ful mekely y-take so most hyt byn;

298 Full meekly taken so must it byn; (be)

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

299 Yet must the master by good reason,

300. Warne hem lawfully byfore none,

300 Warn him lawfully before noon,

301. [G]ef he nulle okepye hem no more,

301 If he will not occupy him no more,

302. As he hath y-done ther byfore;

302 As he hath done there before;

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

303 Against this order he may not strive,

304. [G]ef he thenke wel for to thryve.

304 If he think well for to thrive.

 Sextus punctus.

  Sixth Point.

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

305 The sixth point is full given to know,

306. Bothe to hye and eke to lowe,

306 Both to high and even to low

307. For suche case hyt my[g]th befalle,

307 For such case it might befall;

308. Amonge the masonus, summe or alle,

308 Among the masons some or all,

309. Throwghe envye, or dedly hate,

309 Through envy or deadly hate

310. Ofte aryseth ful gret debate.

310 Oft ariseth full great debate.

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

311 Then ought the mason if that he may,

312. Putte hem bothe under a day;

312 Put them both under a day;

313. But loveday [g]et schul they make none;

313 But loveday yet shall they make none,

314. Tyl that the werke day be clene a-gone;

314 Till that the work-day be clean gone

315. Apon the holyday [g]e mowe wel take

315 Upon the holy-day you must well take

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

316 Leisure enough loveday to make,

317. Lest that hyt wolde the werke day

317 Lest that it would the work-day

318. Latte here werke for suche afray;

318 Hinder their work for such a fray;

319. To suche ende thenne that hem drawe,

319 To such end then that you them draw.

320. That they stonde wel yn Goddes lawe.

320 That they stand well in God's Law

 Septimus punctus.

  Seventh point.

321. The seventhe poynt he may wel mene,

321 The seventh point he may well mean

322. Of wel longe lyf that God us lene,

322 Of well long life that God us lene, (lend)

323. As hyt dyscryeth wel opunly,

323 As it descrieth well openly

324. Thou schal not by thy maysters wyf ly,

324 Thou shalt not by thy master's wife lie,

325. Ny by the felows, yn no maner wyse,

325 Nor by thy fellow's, in no manner wise

326. Lest the craft wolde the despyse;

326 Lest the craft would thee despise;

327. Ny by the felows concubyne,

327 Nor by the fellow's concubine

328. No more thou woldest he dede by thyne.

328 No more thou wouldst he did by thine.

329. The peyne thereof let hyt be ser,

329 The pain thereof, let it be sure

330. That he prentes ful seven [g]er,

330 That he be 'prentice full seven year,

331. [G]ef he forfete yn eny of hem,

331 If he forfeit in any of them

332. So y-chasted thenne most he ben;

332 So chastised then must he ben; (be)

333. Ful mekele care my[g]th ther begynne,

333 Full much care might there begin,

334. For suche a fowle dedely synne.

334 For such a foul deadly sin.

 Octavus punctus.

  Eighth point.

335. The eghte poynt, he may be sure,

335 The eighth point, he may be sure,

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

336 If thou hast taken any cure,

337. Under thy mayster thou be trwe,

337 Under thy master thou be true,

338. For that pynt thou schalt never arewe;

338 For that point thou shalt never rue;

339. A trwe medyater thou most nede be

339 A true mediator thou must needs be

340. To thy mayster, and thy felows fre;

340 To thy master, and thy fellows free;

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

341 Do truly all that thou might,

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

342 To both parties, and that is good right.

 Nonus punctus.

  Ninth point.

343. The nynthe poynt we schul hym calle,

343 The ninth point we shall him call,

344. That he be stwarde of oure halle,

344 That he be steward of our hall,

345. Gef that ge ben yn chambur y-fere,

345 If that you be in chamber y-fere, (together)

346. Uchon serve other, with mylde chere;

346 Each one serve other with mild cheer;

347. Jentul felows, ge moste hyt knowe,

347 Gentle fellows, you must it know,

348. For to be stwardus alle o rowe,

348 For to be stewards all o-rowe, (in turn)

349. Weke after weke withoute dowte,

349 Week after week without doubt,

350. Stwardus to ben so alle abowte,

350 Stewards to be so all in turn about,

351. Lovelyche to serven uchon othur,

351 Amiably to serve each one other,

352. As thawgh they were syster and brother;

352 As though they were sister and brother;

353. Ther schal never won on other costage

353 There shall never one another costage (cost)

354. Fre hymself to no vantage,

354 Free himself to no advantage,

355. But every mon schal be lyche fre

355 But every man shall be equally free

356. Yn that costage, so moste hyt be;

356 In that cost, so must it be;

357. Loke that thou pay wele every mon algate,

357 Look that thou pay well every man algate, (always)

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

358 That thou hast bought any victuals ate, (eaten)

359. That no cravynge be y-mad to the,

359 That no craving be made to thee,

360. Ny to thy felows, yn no degré,

360 Nor to thy fellows in no degree,

361. To mon or to wommon, whether he be,

361 To man or to woman, whoever he be,

362. Pay hem wel and trwly, for that wol we;

362 Pay them well and truly, for that will we;

363. Therof on thy felow trwe record thou take,

363 Thereof on thy fellow true record thou take,

364. For that good pay as thou dost make,

364 For that good pay as thou dost make,

365. Lest hyt wolde thy felowe schame,

365 Lest it would thy fellow shame,

366. Any brynge thyself ynto gret blame.

366 And bring thyself into great blame.

367. [G]et good acowntes he most make

367 Yet good accounts he must make

368. Of suche godes as he hath y-take,

368 Of such goods as he hath y-take (taken)

369. Of thy felows goodes that thou hast spende,

369 Of thy fellows' goods that thou hast spende, (spent)

370. Wher, and how, and to what ende;

370 Where and how and to what end;

371. Suche acowntes thou most come to,

371 Such accounts thou must come to,

372. Whenne thy felows wollen that thou do.

372 When thy fellows wish that thou do.

 Decimus punctus.

  Tenth point.

373. The tenthe poynt presentyeth wel god lyf,

373 The tenth point presenteth well good life,

374. To lyven withoute care and stryf;

374 To live without care and strife;

375. For and the mason lyve amysse,

375 For if the mason live amiss,

376. And yn hys werk be false, y-wysse,

376 And in his work be false y-wisse, (I know)

377. And thorw[g] suche a false skewysasyon

377 And through such a false skewsasyon (excuse)

378. May sclawndren hys felows oute reson,

378 May slander his fellows without reason,

379. Throw[g] false sclawnder of suche fame

379 Through false slander of such fame.

380. May make the craft kachone blame.

380 May make the craft acquire blame.

381. [G]ef he do the craft suche vylany,

381 If he do the craft such villainy,

382. Do hym no favour thenne securly.

382 Do him no favour then securely,

383. Ny maynteine not hym yn wyked lyf,

383 Nor maintain not him in wicked life,

384. Lest hyt wolde turne to care and stryf;

384 Lest it would turn to care and strife;

385. But get hym [g]e schul not delayme,

385 But yet him you shall not delayme, (delay)

386. But that [g]e schullen hym constrayne,

386 Unless that you shall him constrain,

387. For to apere whersevor [g]e wylle,

387 For to appear wheresoever you will,

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

388 Where that you will, loud, or still;

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

389 To the next assembly you shall him call,

390. To apere byfore hys felows alle,

390 To appear before his fellows all,

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

391 And unless he will before them appear,

392. The crafte he moste nede forswere;

392 The craft he must need forswear;

393. He schal thenne be chasted after the lawe

393 He shall then be punished after the law

394. That was y-fownded by olde dawe.

394 That was founded by old dawe. (day)

 Punctus undecimus.

< point. Eleventh>

395. The eleventhe poynt ys of good dyscrecyoun,

395 The eleventh point is of good discretion,

396. As [g]e mowe knowe by good resoun;

396 As you must know by good reason;

397. A mason, and he thys craft wel con,

397 A mason, if he this craft well con, (know,

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

398 That seeth his fellow hew on a stone,

399. And ys yn poynt to spylle that ston,

399 And is in point to spoil that stone,

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

400 Amend it soon if that thou can,

401. And teche hym thenne hyt to amende,

401 And teach him then it to amend,

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

402 That the lords' work be not y-schende, (spoiled)

403. And teche hym esely hyt to amende,

403 And teach him easily it to amend,

404. With fayre wordes, that God the hath lende;

404 With fair words, that God thee hath lende; (lent)

405. For hys sak