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THE OLD CHARGES: THE REGIUS MANUSCRIPT ca. 1390

One of the oldest Masonic documents to be discovered, it was written between 1350 and 1450 and has been dated by authorities at about 1390. It is in the form of an epic poem and was probably the work of a priest or monk who had access to older Masonic documents. Transcribed by James Halliwell around 1840, it was mentioned in an inventory of John Theyer's library in 1670. The latter was sold to Robert Scott, with a new inventory dated 1678. The Manuscript then became the property of the Royal Library until 1757 (hence its name Regius), at which time it was donated to the British Museum by King George II. The original is in the – language of Chaucer a translation follows this introductory section.

The Regius poem sets out the basic tenets of Masonry. It contains fifteen articles and fifteen points, that are instructions to Masons on proper behaviour, conduct and manners in various places, including the workplace, the church, and with employees. Much of the fifteen articles and points deal with proper workplace conduct. The following is a summary of the main points:

Summary of the Fifteen Articles

1. The master mason must be worthy of the confidence of the lords ; he must pay the fellows a fair wage with the lord's money 2. Every master mason must attend a general assembly, unless he can give a good excuse 3. The master mason shall not take on an apprentice for less than seven years and must lodge him during his apprenticeship 4. The master mason must not take any serfs as apprentice 5. The master mason shall take on neither bastards nor cripples (today's civil rights groups would have a field day with this one) 6. The apprentice shall be paid less than the fellows, but his salary shall increase as he progresses 7. The master mason shall employ neither thieves nor murderers - a sensible precaution 8. The master mason may discharge an incompetent worker and replace him with another 9. The master mason must make sure that the foundation of the building is well-laid 10. The master mason must never take over, or meddle with, the work of another master mason, or be fined a penalty of ten pounds (that was a lot of money back then) 11. A mason shall not work at night, except to study 12. One shall not disparage the work of one's fellows 13. The master mason must give his apprentice a complete education 14. The master mason shall not take on an apprentice unless he has enough work for him 15. The master mason must not leave his fellows astray, because he must care about their souls

Summary of the Fifteen Points

1. A man of the craft must love God and the holy church as well as his fellows 2. Masons must be paid for holidays 3. The apprentice must keep secret all that his master tells him and all that he hears or sees in chamber 4. The apprentice shall not be false to his craft, nor to his master or fellows, since the same law as theirs applies to him 5. Masons must receive their salary from their master humbly. The master must discharge a mason before noon if he has no more work for him 6. Quarrels between masons must be settled amicably, after the day's work is done or on a holiday 7. A mason shall not sleep with the wife of a master nor a fellow's wife or concubine 8. A master can allow a fellow to mediate between himself and other fellows 9. Fellows must take turns serving at table, buying the food and accounting for what they spent 10. A mason shall not support anyone who persists in wrongdoing; they shall be called before an assembly and excluded from the craft 11. A mason must teach another, whose work is imperfect, in a friendly manner 12. Masters, fellows, lords and local authorities shall agree in assembly to promulgate laws for the craft, and punish those who do not respect them 13. A mason shall swear never to steal, nor be accomplice to a thief 14. A mason must swear to be true to his master, his fellows and his king 15. He who disobeys the laws of the assembly shall be called before it to make amends. If he persists in his fault he shall be excluded from the craft and imprisoned, and his goods confiscated

After the fifteen articles and points there is another section titled "The Four Crowned Ones". This is in reference to Severius, Severian, Carpophorus and Victorian, who were martyred by Roman emperor Diocletian. Since nobody in early times knew their names, Pope Melchiades proclaimed that they would be celebrated on the same day as five other martyrs, Claudius, Castor,Symphorian, Nicostratos and Simplicius, who were ordered by emperor Diocletian to be sealed in lead cases and dropped in the sea because they refused to sculpt him an idol. The "Four Crowned Ones" relates part of their story. Sections of the manuscript:

- Foundation of Masonry by Euclid in Egypt - Introduction of Masonry into England under King Athelstane - The Moral Duties, fifteen articles - The Moral Duties, fifteen points - Another ordinance of the art of geometry - The story of the Four Crowned Ones - The Tower of Babylon - The Seven Liberal Arts - An admonishment about Mass and how to behave in Church - An instruction on Good Manners

A Poem of Moral Duties Though he be not so perfect as is another; Each shall call other fellows by friendship, Here begin the constitutions of the art Because they come of ladies' birth. of Geometry according to Euclid. On this manner, through good wit of geometry, Began first the craft of masonry; Whoever will both well read and look The clerk Euclid on this wise it found, He may find written in old book This craft of geometry in Egypt land. Of great lords and also ladies, In Egypt he taught it full wide, That had many children together, certainly; In divers lands on every side; And had no income to keep them with, Many years afterwards, I understand, Neither in town nor field nor enclosed wood; Ere that the craft came into this land. A council together they could them take, To ordain for these children's sake, How they might best lead their life Introduction of Masonry into England under King Without great disease, care and strife; Athelstane And most for the multitude that was coming Of their children after great clerks, This craft came into England, as I you say, To teach them then good works; In time of good King Athelstane's day; And pray we them, for our Lord's sake. He made then both hall and even bower, To our children some work to make, And high temples of great honour, That they might get their living thereby, To disport him in both day and night, Both well and honestly full securely. And to worship his God with all his might. This good lord loved this craft full well, And purposed to strengthen it every part, Foundation of Masonry by Euclid in Egypt For divers faults that in the craft he found; He sent about into the land In that time, through good geometry, After all the masons of the craft, This honest craft of good masonry To come to him full even straight, Was ordained and made in this manner, For to amend these defaults all Counterfeited of these clerks together; By good counsel, if it might fall. At these lord's prayers they counterfeited geometry, And gave it the name of masonry, The Moral Duties, fifteen articles For the most honest craft of all. These lords' children thereto did fall, An assembly then could let make To learn of him the craft of geometry, Of divers lords in their state, The which he made full curiously; Dukes, earls, and barons also, Through fathers' prayers and mothers' also, Knights, squires and many more, This honest craft he put them to. And the great burgesses of that city, They were there all in their degree; He learned best, and was of honesty, There were there each one always, And passed his fellows in curiosity, To ordain for these masons' estate, If in that craft he did him pass, There they sought by their wit, He should have more worship than the less, How they might govern it; This great clerk's name was Euclid, Fifteen articles they there sought, His name it spread full wonder wide. And fifteen points there they wrought,

Yet this great clerk ordained he Here begins the first article. To him that was higher in this degree, That he should teach the simplest of wit The first article of this geometry;- In that honest craft to be perfect; The master mason must be full securely And so each one shall teach the other, Both steadfast, trusty and true, And love together as sister and brother. It shall him never then rue; And pay thy fellows after the cost, Futhermore yet that ordained he, As victuals goeth then, well thou knowest; Master called so should he be; And pay them truly, upon thy faith, So that he were most worshipped, What they may deserve; Then should he be so called; And to their hire take no more, But masons should never one another call, But what that they may serve for; Within the craft amongst them all, And spare neither for love nor dread, Neither subject nor servant, my dear brother, Of neither parties to take no bribe; Of lord nor fellow, whoever he be, Thus you may know every one, Of them thou take no manner of fee; The craft would have a mighty man; And as a judge stand upright, A maimed man he hath no might, And then thou dost to both good right; You must it know long ere night. And truly do this wheresoever thou goest, Thy worship, thy profit, it shall be most. Sixth article.

Second article. The sixth article you must not miss That the master do the lord no prejudice, The second article of good masonry, To take the lord for his 'prentice, As you must it here hear specially, As much as his fellows do, in all wise. That every master, that is a mason, For in that craft they be full perfect, Must be at the general congregation, So is not he, you must see it. So that he it reasonably be told Also it were against good reason, Where that the assembly shall be held; To take his hire as his fellows do.

And to that assembly he must needs go, This same article in this case, Unless he have a reasonable excuse, Judgeth his prentice to take less Or unless he be disobedient to that craft Than his fellows, that be full perfect. Or with falsehood is overtaken, In divers matters, know requite it, Or else sickness hath him so strong, The master may his 'prentice so inform, That he may not come them among; That his hire may increase full soon, That is an excuse good and able, And ere his term come to an end, To that assembly without fable. His hire may full well amend.

Third article. Seventh article.

The third article forsooth it is, The seventh article that is now here, That the master takes to no 'prentice, Full well will tell you all together, Unless he have good assurance to dwell That no master for favour nor dread, Seven years with him, as I you tell, Shall no thief neither clothe nor feed. His craft to learn, that is profitable; Thieves he shall harbour never one, Within less he may no be able Nor him that hath killed a man, To lords' profit, nor to his own Nor the same that hath a feeble name, As you may know by good reason. Lest it would turn the craft to shame.

Fourth article. Eighth article.

The fourth article this must be, The eighth article sheweth you so, That the master him well besee, That the master may it well do. That he no bondman 'prentice make, If that he have any man of craft, Nor for no covetousness do him take; And he be not so perfect as he ought, For the lord that he is bound to, He may him change soon anon, May fetch the 'prentice wheresoever he go. And take for him a more perfect man. If in the lodge he were taken, Such a man through recklessness, Much disease it might there make, Might do the craft scant worship. And such case it might befall, That it might grieve some or all. Ninth article.

For all the masons that be there The ninth article sheweth full well, Will stand together all together. That the master be both wise and strong; If such one in that craft should dwell, That he no work undertake, Of divers disease you might tell; Unless he can both it end and make; For more ease then, and of honesty, And that it be to the lords' profit also, Take a 'prentice of higher degree. And to his craft, wheresoever he go; And that the ground be well taken, By old time written I find That it neither flaw nor crack. That the 'prentice should be of gentle kind; And so sometime, great lords' blood Tenth article. Took this geometry that is full good. The tenth article is for to know, Fifth article. Among the craft, to high and low, There shall no master supplant another, The fifth article is very good, But be together as sister and brother, So that the 'prentice be of lawful blood; In this curious craft, all and some, The master shall not, for no advantage, That belongeth to a master mason. Make no 'prentice that is deformed; Nor shall he supplant no other man, It is mean, as you may hear That hath taken a work him upon, That he have all his limbs whole all together; In pain thereof that is so strong, To the craft it were great shame, That weigheth no less than ten pounds, To make a halt man and a lame, but if that he be guilty found, For an imperfect man of such blood That took first the work on hand; Should do the craft but little good. For no man in masonry And thy fellows thou love also, Shall not supplant other securely, For that thy craft will that thou do. But if that it be so wrought, That in turn the work to nought; Second Point. Then may a mason that work crave, To the lords' profit for it to save The second point as I you say, In such a case if it do fall, That the mason work upon the work day, There shall no mason meddle withal. As truly as he can or may, Forsooth he that beginneth the ground, To deserve his hire for the holy-day, If he be a mason good and sound, And truly to labour on his deed, He hath it securely in his mind Well deserve to have his reward. To bring the work to full good end. Third point. Eleventh article. The third point must be severely, The eleventh article I tell thee, With the 'prentice know it well, That he is both fair and free; His master's counsel he keep and close, For he teacheth, by his might, And his fellows by his good purpose; That no mason should work by night, The privities of the chamber tell he no man, But if be in practising of wit, Nor in the lodge whatsoever they do; If that I could amend it. Whatsoever thou hearest or seest them do, Tell it no man wheresoever you go; Twelfth article. The counsel of hall, and even of bower, Keep it well to great honour, The twelfth article is of high honesty Lest it would turn thyself to blame, To every mason wheresoever he be, And bring the craft into great shame. He shall not his fellows' work deprave, If that he will his honesty save; Fourth point. With honest words he it commend, By the wit God did thee send; The fourth point teacheth us also, But it amend by all that thou may, That no man to his craft be false; Between you both without doubt. Error he shall maintain none Against the craft, but let it go; Thirteenth article. Nor no prejudice he shall no do To his master, nor his fellow also; The thirteenth article, so God me save, And though the 'prentice be under awe, Is if that the master a 'prentice have, Yet he would have the same law. Entirely then that he him tell, That he the craft ably may know, Fifth point. Wheresoever he go under the sun. The fifth point is without doubt, Fourteenth article. That when the mason taketh his pay Of the master, ordained to him, The fourteenth article by good reason, Full meekly taken so must it be; Sheweth the master how he shall do; Yet must the master by good reason, He shall no 'prentice to him take, Warn him lawfully before noon, Unless diver cares he have to make, If he will not occupy him no more, That he may within his term, As he hath done there before; Of him divers points may learn. Against this order he may no strive, If he think well for to thrive. Fifteenth article. Sixth point. The fifteenth article maketh an end, For to the master he is a friend; The sixth point is full given to know, To teach him so, that for no man, Both to high and even low, No false maintenance he take him upon, For such case it might befall; Nor maintain his fellows in their sin, Among the masons some or all, For no good that he might win; Through envy or deadly hate, Nor no false oath suffer him to make, Oft ariseth full great debate. For dread of their souls' sake, Then ought the mason if that he may, Lest it would turn the craft to shame, Put them both under a day; And himself to very much blame. But loveday yet shall they make none, Till that the work-day you must well take The Moral Duties, fifteen points - Plural constitutions. Leisure enough loveday to make, Hinder their work for such a fray; At this assembly were points ordained more, To such end then that you them draw. Of great lords and masters also. That they stand well in God's law.

First Point. Seventh point. That who will know this craft and come to estate, He must love well God and holy church always, The seventh point he may well mean, And his master also that he is with, Of well long life that God us lend, Whersoever he go in field or enclosed wood, As it descrieth well openly, Thou shalt not by thy master's wife lie, Unless that you shall him constrain, Nor by thy fellows', in no manner wise, For to appear wheresoever you will, Lest the craft would thee despise; Where that you will, loud, or still; Nor by thy fellows' concubine, To the next assembly you him call, No more thou wouldst he did by thine. To appear before his fellows all, The pain thereof let it be sure, And unless he will before them appear, That he be 'prentice full seven year, The craft he must need forswear; If he forfeit in any of them He shall then be punished after the law So chastised then must he be; That was founded by old day. Full much care might there begin, For such a foul deadly sin. Eleventh point.

Eighth point. The eleventh point is of good discretion, As you must know by good reason; The eighth point, he may be sure, A mason, if he this craft well know, If thou hast taken any cure, That seeth his fellow hew on a stone, Under thy master thou be true, And is in point to spoil that stone, For that point thous shalt never rue; Amend it soon if that thou can, A true mediator thou must needs be And teach him then it to amend, To thy master, and thy fellows free; That the lords' work be not spoiled, Do truly all that thou might, And teach him easily it to amend, To both parties, and that is good right. With fair words, that God thee hath lent; For his sake that sit above, Ninth point. With sweet words nourish his love.

The ninth point we shall him call, Twelfth point. That he be steward of our hall, If that you be in chamber together, The twelfth point is of great royalty, Each one serve other with mild cheer; There as the assembly held shall be, Gentle fellows, you must it know, There shall be masters and fellows also, For to be stewards all in turn, And other great lords many more; Week after week without doubt, There shall be the sheriff of that country, Stewards to be so all in turn about, And also the mayor of that city, Amiably to serve each one other, Knights and squires there shall be, As though they were sister and brother; And also aldermen, as you shall see; There shall never one another cost Such ordinance as thy make there, Free himself to no advantage, They shall maintain it all together But every man shall be equally free Against that man, whatsoever he be, In that cost, so must it be; That belongeth to the craft both fair and free. Look that thou pay well every man always, If he any strife against them make, That thou hast bought any victuals eaten, Into their custody he shall be taken. That no craving be made to thee, Nor to thy fellows in no degree, Thirteenth point. To man or to woman, whoever he be, Pay them well and truly, for that will we; The thirteenth point is to us full lief, Therof on thy fellow true record thou take, He shall swear never to be no thief, For that good pay as thou dost make, Nor succour him in his false craft, Lest it would thy fellow shame, For no good that he hath bereft, And bring thyself into great blame. And thou must it know or sin, Neither for his good, nor for his kin. Yet good accounts he must make Of such goods as he hath taken, Fourteenth point. Of thy fellows' goods that thou hast spent, Where and how and to what end; The fourteenth point is full good law Such accounts thou must come to, To him that would be under awe; When thy fellows wish that thou do. A good true oath he must there swear To his master and his fellows that be there; Tenth point. He must be steadfast be and true also To all this ordinance, wheresoever he go, The tenth point presenteth well good life, And to his liege lord the king, To live without care and strife; To be true to him over all thing. For if the mason live amiss, And all these points here before And in his work be false I know, To them thou must need be sworn, And through such a false excuse And all shall swear the same oath May slander his fellows without reason, Of the masons, be they lief be they loath. Through false slander of such fame To all these points here before, May make the craft acquire blame. That hath been ordained by full good lore. And they shall enquire every man If he do the craft such villainy, Of his party, as well as he can, Do him no favour then securely, If any man may be found guilty Nor maintain not him in wicked life, In any of these points specially; Lest it would turn to care and strife; And who he be, let him be sought, But yet him you shall not delay, And to the assembly let him be brought. Fifteen point. But they were steadfast in Christ's law, And to their craft without doubt; The fifteenth point is full good lore, They loved well God and all his lore, For them that shall be there sworn, And were in his service ever more. Such ordinance at the assembly was laid True men they were in that day, Of great lords and masters before said; And lived well in God's law; For the same that be disobedient, I know, They thought no monuments for to make, Against the ordinance that there is, For no good that they might take, Of these articles that were moved there, To believe on that monument for their God, Of great lords and masons all together, They would not do so, though he was furious; And if they be proved openly For they would not forsake their true faith, Before that assembly, by and by, And believe on his false law, And for their guilt's no amends will make, The emperor let take them soon anon, Then must they need the craft forsake; And put them in a deep prison; And no masons craft they shall refuse, The more sorely he punished them in that place, And swear it never more to use. The more joy was to them of Christ's grace, Then when he saw no other one, But if that they will amends make, To death he let them then go; Again to the craft they shall never take; By the book he might it show And if that they will no do so, In legend of holy ones, The sheriff shall come them soon to, The names of the four-crowned ones. And put their bodies in deep prison, Their feast will be without doubt, For the trespass that they have done, After Hallow-e'en eighth day. And take their goods and their cattle Into the king's hand, every part, The Tower of Babylon. And let them dwell there full still, Till it be our liege king's will. You may hear as I do read, That many years after, for great dread Another ordinance of the art of geometry. That Noah's flood was all run, The tower of Babylon was begun, They ordained there an assembly to be hold, As plain work of lime and stone, Every year, wheresoever they would, As any man should look upon; To amend the defaults, if any were found So long and broad it was begun, Among the craft within the land; Seven miles the height shadoweth the sun. Each year or third year it should be held, King Nebuchadnezzar let it make In every place weresoever they would; To great strength for man's sake, Time and place must be ordained also, Though such a flood again should come, In what place they should assemble to, Over the work it should not take; All the men of craft there they must be, For they had so high pride, with strong boast And other great lords, as you must see, All that work therefore was lost; To mend the faults the he there spoken, An angel smote them so with divers speech, If that any of them be then broken. That never one knew what the other should tell. There they shall be all sworn, That belongeth to this craft's lore, Euclid and the Seven Sciences. To keep their statutes every one That were ordained by King Althelstane; Many years after, the good clerk Euclid These statutes that I have here found Taught the craft of geometry full wonder wide, I ordain they be held through my land, So he did that other time also, For the worship of my royalty, Of divers crafts many more. That I have by my dignity. Through high grace of Christ in heaven, Also at every assembly that you hold, He commenced in the sciences seven; That you come to your liege king bold, Beseeching him of his grace, Grammar is the first science I know, To stand with you in every place, Dialect the second, so I have I bliss, To confirm the statutes of King Athelstane, Rhetoric the third without doubt, That he ordained to this craft by good reason. Music is the fourth, as I you say, Astronomy is the fifth, by my snout, The art of the four crowned ones. Arithmetic the sixth, without doubt, Geometry the seventh maketh an end, Pray we now to God almighty, For he is both meek and courteous, And to his mother Mary bright, Grammar forsooth is the root, That we may keep these articles here, Whoever will learn on the book; And these points well all together, But art passeth in his degree, As did these holy martyrs four, As the fruit doth the root of the tree; That in this craft were of great honour; Rhetoric measureth with ornate speech among, They were as good masons as on earth shall go, And music it is a sweet song; Gravers and image-makers they were also. Astronomy numbereth, my dear brother, For they were workmen of the best, Arithmetic sheweth one thing that is another, The emperor had to them great liking; Geometry the seventh science it is, He willed of them an image to make That can separate falsehood from truth, I know That might be worshipped for his sake; These be the sciences seven, Such monuments he had in his day, Who useth them well he may have heaven. To turn the people from Christ's law. An admonishment about Mass and how to behave in "Jesu Lord welcome thou be, Church In form of bread as I thee see, Now Jesu for thine holy name, Now dear children by your wit Shield me from sin and shame; Pride and covetousness that you leave it, Shrift and Eucharist thou grand me both, And taketh heed to good discretion, Ere that I shall hence go, And to good nurture, wheresoever you come. And very contrition for my sin, Now I pray you take good heed, That I never, Lord, die therein; For this you must know needs, And as thou were of maid born, But much more you must know, Suffer me never to be lost; Than you find here written. But when I shall hence wend, Grant me the bliss without end; If thee fail therto wit, Amen! Amen! so mote it be! Pray to God to send thee it; Now sweet lady pray for me." For Christ himself, he teacheth us That holy church is God's house, Thus thou might say, or some other thing, That is made for nothing else When thou kneelest at the sacrament. But for to pray in, as the book tells us; There the people shall gather in, For covetousness after good, spare thou not To pray and weep for their sin. To worship him that all hath wrought; For glad may a man that day be, Look thou come not to church late, That once in the day may him see; For to speak harlotry by the gate; It is so much worth, without doubt, Then to church when thou dost fare, The virtue thereof no man tell may; Have in thy mind ever more But so much good doth that sight, To worship thy lord God both day and night, That Saint Austin telleth full right, With all thy wits and even thy might. That day thou seest God's body, To the church door when thou dost come Thou shalt have these full securely:- Of that holy water there some thou take, Meet and drink at thy need, For every drop thou feelest there None that day shalt thou lack; Quencheth a venial sin, be thou sure. Idle oaths and words both, But first thou must do down thy hood, God forgiveth thee also; For his love that died on the rood. Sudden death that same day Into the church when thou dost go, Thee dare not dread by no way; Pull up thy heart to Christ, anon; Also that day, I thee plight, Upon the rood thou look up then, Thou shalt not lose thy eye sight; And kneel down fair upon thy knees, And each foot that thou goest then, Then pray to him so here to work, That holy sight for to see, After the law of holy church, They shall be told to stand instead, For to keep the commandments ten, When thou hast thereto great need; That God gave to all men; That messenger the angel Gabriel, And pray to him with mild voice Will keep them to thee full well. To keep thee from the sins seven, That thou here may, in this life, From this matter now I may pass, Keep thee well from care and strife; To tell more benefits of the mass: Furthermore he grant thee grace, To church come yet, if thou may, In heaven's bliss to have a place. And hear the mass each day; If thou may not come to church, In holy church leave trifling words Where that ever thou dost work, Of lewd speech and foul jests, When thou hearest the mass toll, And put away all vanity, Pray to God with heart still, And say thy pater noster and thine ave; To give thy part of that service, Look also that thou make no noise, That in church there done is. But always to be in thy prayer; If thou wilt not thyself pray, An instruction on Good Manners Hinder no other man by no way. Furthermore yet, I will you preach In that place neither sit nor stand, To your fellows, it for to teach, But kneel fair down on the ground, When thou comest before a lord, And when the Gospel me read shall, In hall, in bower, or at the board, Fairly thou stand up from the wall, Hood or cap that thou off do, And bless the fare if that thou can, Ere thou come him entirely to; When gloria tibi is begun; Twice or thrice, without doubt, And when the gospel is done, To that lord thou must bow; Again thou might kneel down, With thy right knee let it be done, On both knees down thou fall, Thine own worship thou save so. For his love that bought us all; Hold off thy cap and hood also, And when thou hearest the bell ring Till thou have leave it on to put. To that holy sacrament, Kneel you must both young and old, All the time thou speakest with him, And both your hands fair uphold, Fair and amiably hold up thy chin; And say then in this manner, So after the nurture of the book, Fair and soft without noise; In his face kindly thou look. Foot and hand thou keep full still, Look in thy mouth there be no meat, For clawing and tripping, is skill; When thou begins to drink or speak. From spitting and sniffling keep thee also, When thou seest any man drinking, By private expulsion let it go, That taketh heed to thy speech, And if that thou be wise and discrete, Soon anon thou cease thy tale, Thou has great need to govern thee well. Whether he drink wine or ale, Look also thou scorn no man, Into the hall when thou dost wend, In what degree thou seest him gone; Amongst the gentles, good and courteous, Nor thou shalt no man deprave, Presume not too high for nothing, If thou wilt thy worship save; For thine high blood, nor thy cunning, For such word might there outburst. Neither to sit nor to lean, That is nurture good and clean. That might make thee sit in evil rest. Close thy hand in thy fist, Let not thy countenance therefor abate, And keep thee well from "had I known." Forsooth good nurture will save thy state. Father and mother, whatsoever they be, Hold thy tongue and spend thy sight; Well is the child that well may thee, Laugh thou not with no great cry, In hall, in chamber, where thou dost go; Nor make no lewd sport and ribaldry. Good manners make a man. Play thou not but with thy peers, To the next degree look wisely, Nor tell thou not all that thou hears; To do them reverence by and by; Discover thou not thine own deed, Do them yet no reverence all in turn, For no mirth, nor for no reward; Unless that thou do them know. With fair speech thou might have thy will, With it thou might thy self spoil. To the meat when thou art set, Fair and honestly thou eat it; When thou meetest a worthy man, First look that thine hands be clean, Cap and hood thou hold not on; And that thy knife be sharp and keen, In church, in market, or in the gate, And cut thy bread all at thy meat, Do him reverance after his state. Right as it may be there eaten, If thou goest with a worthier man If thou sit by a worthier man, Then thyself thou art one, Then thy self thou art one, Let thy foremost shoulder follow his back, Suffer him first to touch the meat, For that is nurture without lack; Ere thyself to it reach. When he doth speak, hold thee still, When he hath done, say for thy will, To the fairest morsel thou might not strike, In thy speech that thou be discreet, Though that thou do it well like; And what thou sayest consider thee well; Keep thine hands fair and well, But deprive thou not him his tale, From foul smudging of thy towel; Neither at the wine nor at the ale. Thereon thou shalt not thy nose blow, Christ then of his high grace, Nor at the meat thy tooth thou pick; Save you both wit and space, Too deep in cup thou might not sink, Well this book to know and read, Though thou have good will to drink, Heaven to have for your reward. Lest thine eyes would water thereby- Amen! Amen! so mote it be! Then were it no courtesy. So say we all for charity.

References and sources:

The modern English translation was made by Roderick Baxter, Past Master of Quatuor Coronoti Lodge, No. 2076, and was ’ reproduced in Mackey s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry. http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1422156 - http://www.fm-europe.org/pages/en/regius.htm http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/regius.html -