Freemasonry In The Seventeenth Century: Chester, 1650-1700.

& excellent in any Trade , or Manuall occupation whatsoeuer . If then though Arts , men attaine to wealth , Riches , & renoune , that w cl 1 doth depend thereon , viz .: Armes , or Coate Armour , as badges of worship & esteeme , may not be denyed such crafte-men , such Artificers & such maisters of Arts and Sciences * * * * Now , the persons to whom these Atchievements are prop [ er ] ly & of ri ght dueare these chiefelffor all the inferiour tradesas

, y , they , ; are in Companyes , Societies , or Brother hoods , haue peculiar coates and crest assigned to them as they are corporations & endowed with power to plead , or be impleaded in the name of the said corporations , which said coates belonging to such or such a trade , any person of that trade ( though not of the Society ) may assume & make use off either as a seale Armes , or in the house , or on plate to be engraven or any other wayes as his owne [ er ] & peculiar

prop coate , without any offence to any p [ er ] son whatsoeuer And if stranger , much , more they of the fraternity may ( nay doe ) make use of such companyes coates as their pp . [ proper ] rights & dues w coates with their crests & supporters are as followeth

" Companyes and Societies Coates of Armes . " * After describing a coat , of an altar upon which is flaming fire , with clouds in chief , he says : — "Under the notion of Riseing " [ by their learning , care , industry , & c , & c ] " members in a kingdome , prouince , or civil gouernment in cittys , and corporations : May be these , clarks of the Crowne & peace , Marshalls , Lawyers

councells , Maisters , Wardens , & Stewards of Societies , comon councells , sherriffs , Maiors , & other chiefe officers in corporations . " Again , on p . 171 , when dealing with the " Badges of Particular persons " : —• " The Gowne with loose sleeues hanging backwards is the badge of a cittizen , or free Burgesse , and denison both of a citty and company : but b y weareing a Tippettf & hood of scarlet and Green pty [ party ] colouredshews

, the person to be an officer in his Brotherhood , as warden , Reefe , or steward : But a Long Tippett of Scarlett & Green Taffaty worne about such a Gowne mans neck : shews him to be a councell man , a Master or Livery man or one in the way of advancement to places of hi gher power in their citty or corporation . " " In the Last place J we shall give some few examples of the Bad or

, ges Markes of Trades & Tradesmen & that under a double notion , first as they are Linked togather in fraternities , societies , or companys , in w respect each brotherhood hath a distinct coate or cognizance , secondl y as they are disiunct [ distinct ] following their each perticular calling & Imploy , & so most Tradsmen haue their own signe or Marke , Especially Merchaunts by w ch their goods are marked . "

From amongst those given , I have selected only those more or less bearing on building . " Carpenters of London § were Incorporated 17 E . 4 . A , a cheueron ingrailed betw . 3 compasses S ., the crest a torce A & S , an hand holding a square 0 , sleeue G , turned [ up ] , A . So it is in Chester Armes .

Masons , \\ or ffree Masons . S . on a cheueron betw . 3 towers A , a paire of compasses extended S ( of olde the towers were tri ple towered ) , f " the crest on a Wreath , a Tower A , the Escochion is cotized with two columes of the corinthion Order 0 . Motto is , In the Lord is all our Trust ; the free Masons were made a company , 12 . H . IV . "