thomas tew Manuscript 1680
the book of masons
Transcript of the first section of “The Thomas W. Tew”
Manuscript
Good Brethren and fellows. My purpose is to show you how and in
what sort of manner this Worthy Craft of Masonry was first founded and
afterwards how it was and so maintained & upholden by worthy Kings and Princes
and many of the worshipfull men. And also them that so true were with
Ponderasion. Unto you the charges that belongeth to Every Free Mason to keep.
For it is a Science that is worthy to be kept for a working craft and Virtuous
Science, For it is one of the Seven Liberal Sciences and then be the name of
them.
First is Grammer that teacheth a man to speak and write truly.
The Second
is Rhetorick that teacheth a man to speak in Subtel terms.
The third is Dilectick That teacheth a man to discern to know truth and Falshood asunder.
The
Fourth- Arithmetick that teacheth to Reckon and count all manner of numbers.
The
fifth is Geometra and it teacheth us Mete and Measure the Earth and other things
of the which is Masonry;
The sixth Science is Musick that teacheth the Craft of
Song and
voice of tongue Organ and harp.
The Seventh is called Astronomy and teacheth to
know the Course of the Sunn and of the Starrs.
These be the Seven Liberal
Sciences the which be all found by one Science which is called Geomtry. This may
you prove that all the Sciences in the World were grounded upon this
science-Geometry for it teacheth Mete Measure Ponderasion & Weight of all manner
of kind of measure, And there is no man that Worketh any kind of Craft but
Worketh by Measure, Nor any man that buyeth & Selleth but useth the Measure or
Weight & that belongeth to Geometry and these Craft do find all other of the Six
Sciences & especially
the Plowman and Tillers of all kind of Graine Corn Seeds Vines Planters and
Sellers of Fruit, nor cannot Plow Till sow or sett without Geometry. For Grammer
nor Astronomy nor any of all these Sciences Cannot find a man one measure or
Mete xxx without Geomtry.
Wherefore that Science may well be called the Most
Worthiest science of all Sciences which can find be the Mete and Measure to the
Rest. If you ask how this Worthy Science was begun, I shall tell you, Before the
flood of Noah there was a man that was Called Cain the Sower. Cain killed his
Brother Abel With an Arrow as the Scriptures so sayeth In the fourth chapter of
Genesis: Thus Cain begatt
Enoch and unto Enoch was Born Jarid.
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