MASONRY. 
481 
of Roflin, were conflituted patrons of the fraternity by 
the Scottifli mafons themfelves; while it is well known, 
that the grant of hereditary grand mailer was originally 
made by James II. of Scotland, to their anceftor, William 
Sinclair, earl of Orkney and Caithnefs. But, when we 
confider that James VI. by not exercifing his power, vir¬ 
tually transferred to the craft the right of electing their 
office-bearers, the inconfiftency vanifiies; for Mr. Sinclair 
and his predeceffiors, as far back as the date of thefe char¬ 
ters, held their office by the appointment of the fraternity 
itfelf. Left any of Mr. Sinclair's pofterity, however, might, 
after his refignation, lay claim to the office of grand maf- 
ter, upon the pretence that this office was bequeathed to 
them by the grant of James II. to the earl of Caithnefs 
and his heirs ; he renounces not only the right to the office 
which he derived from the brethren, but any right alfo, 
which, as a defcendant of the earl of Caithnefs, he might 
claim from the grants of the Scottifli monarchs. 
Notwithftanding thofe civil commotions which difturbed 
Britain in the 17th century, free-mafonry flouriffied in 
Scotland, under the aufpices of the Sinclairs of Roflin. 
No particular event, however, which is worthy of notice, 
occurred during that time, or even during the remainder 
of the century. The annual afleinblies ot the fraternity 
were (till held at Kilwinning ; and many charters and con- 
ftitutions were granted by the lodge of that village, for the 
•erection of lodges in different parts of the kingdom. 
In the year 1736, William St. Clair of Roflin, who was 
then grand rnafter of Scotland, was under the neceffity of 
difponing his eftate ; and, as he had no children of his 
own, he was anxious that the office of grand mailer fliould 
not be vacant at his death. Having, therefore, aflembled 
the Edinburgh and neighbouring lodges, he reprefented 
to them the utility that would accrue to the order, by 
having a gentleman or nobleman of their own choice as 
grand malter of mafonry in Scotland ; and, at the fame 
time, intimated his intention to refign into the hands of 
the brethren every title to that office which he at prefent 
poflefled, or which his fuccefl'ors might claim from the 
grants of the Scottifli kings, and the kindnefs of the fra¬ 
ternity. In confequence of this reprefentation, circular 
letters were difpatched to all the lodges of Scotland, in¬ 
viting them-'to appear, either by themfelves or proxies, 
on next St. Andrew’s day, to concur and affift in the 
election of a grand mailer. When that day arrived, about 
thirty-two lodges aflembled ; and, after receiving the deed 
of refignation from William Sinclair, proceeded to the 
election of another grand mailer; when, on account of 
the zeal which William Sinclair of Roflin had always 
ffiown for the honour and profperity of the order, he was 
unaninioufiy elected to that high office, and proclaimed 
grand rnafter niafon of all Scotland. Thus was inItituted 
the Grand Lodge of Scotland, which continues to flourish 
at the prefent day. 
We have already brought down the hiftory of mafonry 
in England to the middle of the 15th century. Its fiou- 
rilhing Hate was now interrupted by the civil wars be¬ 
tween the houfes of York and Lnncaiter, which brought 
it almoft totally into negiett. About 1471, however, it 
revived under the aufpices of Robert Beauchamp, bilhop 
of Sarum, who had been appointed grand rnafter by Ed¬ 
ward IV. and honoured with the title of Chancellor of 
the Garter, for repairing the caft-le and chapel of V/ind- 
for. It again declined during the reign of Edward V. and 
•Richard III. but came once more into repute on the ac- 
ceffion of Henry VII. in 1485. It was now patronifed 
by the mailer and fellows of the order of St. John at 
Rhodes, (now Malta ;) who aflembled their grand lodge 
in 1500, and chofe Henry for their proteCtor. O11 the 
24th of June, 1502, a lodge of mafons was formed in the 
palace, at which the king prefided as grand malter; and, 
having appointed John Iflip, abbot of Weftminfler, and 
fir Reginald Bray, knight of the garter, his wardens for 
the occafion, proceeded in great Hate to the north-ealt end 
-of Weltmiffiter-abbey, where he laid the firft ftone of that 
excellent piece of gothic archite&ure, called Henry the 
Seventies Chapel. The cape-itone of this building was 
celebrated in 1507. The palace of Richmond, as well as 
many other noble ftruftures, were raifed under the direc¬ 
tion of fir Reginald Bray ; and the colleges of Brazen- 
Nofe, in Oxford, and Jefus and St. John’s in Cambridge, 
were all nnilhed in this reign. 
Or. the acceflion of Henry VIII. cardinal Wolfey was 
appointed grand malter; who built Hampton-court, 
Whitehall, Chrift-church college, Oxford, with feveral 
other noble edifices; all of which, upon the difgrace of 
that prelate, were forfeited to the crown in 1530. Wol¬ 
fey was fucceeded as grand mailer in 1534 by Thomas 
Cromwell, earl of Effex ; who employed the fraternity in 
building St. James’s palace, Chrift’s hofpital, and Green¬ 
wich cattle. Cromwell being beheaded in 1540, John 
Touchet, lord Audley, fucceeded to the office of grand 
matter, and built Magdalen-college in Cambridge, and 
many other ftruttures. In 1547, the duke of Somerfer, 
guardian of the king, and regent of the kingdom, became 
fuperintendant of the mafons, and built Somerfet-houfe 
in the Strand ; which, on his being beheaded, was for¬ 
feited to the crown in 1552. After the death of theduka 
of Soinerfet, John Poynet, bilhop of Winchefter, prefided 
over the lodges till the death of the king, in 1553. 
From this time the mafons continued without any pa¬ 
tron till the reign of Elizabeth, when fir Thomas Sack- 
ville accepted of the office of grand mailer. Lodges, 
however, had been held during this period in different 
parts of England ; but the general or Grand Lodge uf- 
fembled in the city of York ; where, it is faid, the frater¬ 
nity were numerous and refpeiflable. Of the queen we 
have the following curious anecdote with regard to the 
mafons : Hearing that they were in poffeffion of many fe- 
crets which they refufed to difclofe, and being naturally 
jealous of all fecret afleinblies, (he lent an armed force to 
York, with orders to break up their annual grand lodge. 
This defign, however, was happily fruftrated* by the ad- 
drefs of fir Thomas Sackville. He took care to initiate 
foine of the chief officers whom file had lent on this duty ; 
thefe joined in communication with the mafons, and in 
confequence made Co favourable a report to the queen on 
their return, that her rnajelty, convinced that this frater¬ 
nity did not interfere in ttate-affairs, became quite recon¬ 
ciled to their alfemblies; and from this time mafonry made 
a conliderable progrefs ; lodges were held in different parts 
of the kingdom, particularly in London and its neigh¬ 
bourhood, where the number of the brethren increaied 
conliderahly. Several great works were carried 011 there 
under the aufpices of fir Thomas Grelham, from whom 
the fraternity received every encouragement. Something 
fimilar to the foregoing anecdote or queen Elizabeth is re¬ 
lated by Mr. Lawrie as having taken place in later times 
in Germany, where he tells us the tranquillity of the or¬ 
der was interrupted by the malice of fome ignorant wo¬ 
men. The euriofity of the female fex is proverbial. A 
few German ladies, who poA'dlcd a greater fnare of this 
commodity than is neceflary for (hining in a drawing-room 
conv&rfation, were anxious to difeover the fecrets of ma- 
fonry. Having been baffled in all their attempts, upon 
the ficklenefs of their hufbahds, and the fondnefs of their 
admirers, they converted their euriofity into revenge, and 
attempted to inflame the mind of Maria The re fa, the era- 
prefs-queen, againtt the lodges in Vienna. Their at¬ 
tempt was in fome meafuie fuccefsfu! ; t(s they perfuaded 
her to iffue an order for ftirpriting nil the mafons in the 
city, when aflembled in their lodges. This plan, how¬ 
ever, was fruftrated by the intervention of the emperor 
Jofeph I. who, being himlelf a niafon, declared his readi- 
nefs to anfwer for their conduct ; and (flowed the ladies 
and their friends, that the charges which they had 
brought dgainlt the order were fa lie and defamatory. 
Sir Thomas Grelham was fucceeded in the office of 
grand-matter by Charles Howard, effil or Effingham, who 
continued to p:elide over the lodges in the fouth till the 
year 
