Speculative Connections Between
Medieval Knights and Operative Masons

by Jack Brooksbank, M. P. S.

Speculation on the origins of freema-
sonry represents an interesting chal-
lenge to some researchers of ancient 
and medieval history. The persistence of 
research and evaluation continues to in-
troduce various hypotheses related to 
the origins of the speculative craft. One 
such theme is the potential influence on 
speculative masonry by the " Knights 
Templar", an order of knighthood 
founded in 1118 A.D. and subsequently 
suppressed in 1312 A.D:
 
One such connection between Knights 
and Masons that deserves more re-
search emphasis is the related period 
and activities of Medieval Knights and 
Operative Masons involved in the 
building of castles or forts in the Holy 
Land following the early successes of the 
Crusaders .
 
The Holy Crusades were initiated in 
1095 A.D. by Pope Urban III at Clare-
mont in central France. This appeal 
was made by the Pope to men of all the 
states of Europe of that period, requir-
ing them to defend the Christian pur-
pose of freeing the Holy Land from the 
Islamic culture. The Crusade move-
ment was prompted by the Turks who 
began to invade the eastern Christian 
(Byzantine) lands of Constantinople, 
whose emperor had requested as-
sistance from Pope Urban. The re-
sponse of Pope Urban was to take 
advantage of the opportunity to pro-
mote the recovery of the Holy Lands 
and thereby also re-assert the authority 
and leadership of the Roman Church in 
Europe.
 
The response to the appeal to support 
the Crusades resulted in many 
European states raising armies to send 
to the Holy Land, armies led by Kings 
and Princes and composed of Knights 
and their retainers. The Crusades were 
repeated on at least four occasions at 
intervals from 1096 A.D. to 1270 A.D.
 
The ongoing Crusade initiatives 
brought together many knights from 
various parts of Europe who progres-
sively formed themselves into orders of 
Knighthood, the two preeminent orders 
being the "Knights Hospitaler" and 
the "KnightsTemplar."
 
The "Knights Hospitaler" usually 
wore a black surcoat marked with a 
white cross over their armor. These 
Hospitalers started as a group of chari-
table Knights who cared for the and 
weary Christains pilgrims in the Hospi-
tal of St. John in Jerusalem. The 
"Knights Templar" usually wore a 
white surcoat marked with a red cross, 
over their armor. The Templars 
adopted the title "Poor Knights of the 
Temple of Solomon" and started as a 
group of guides and protectors for 
Christian pilgrims traveling in the Holy 
Land.
 
In the hundred years following the re-
covery of Jerusalem in 1099 A.D., 
many Crusader castles or forts were 
built in the Middle East requiring many 
operative masons. We can speculate 
that the operative masons required for 
this crusader castle building program 
would have been recruited from the 
same parts of Europe that had provided 
crusader knights, thereby providing op-
portunities for initial co-operation be-
tween knights and masons based upon 
their same country roots and language. 
We can also speculate that operative 
masons from many different countries 
would have had to work together in a 
cooperative brotherhood, requiring that 
over many years of castle projects, they 
would have formulated common craft 
practices, training, qualification stand-
ards and methods of recognition, com-
mon craft themes which they would 
have retained and practiced on return 
to their own countries. The exposure to 
Middle Eastern architecture by
European operative masons would also 
have provided the basis for the intro-
duction of improved building tech-
niques, techniques that would have 
contributed to the European Gothic 
building program, being another pro-
gram initiated by the Roman church in 
the early Medieval period. This interac-
tion of dedicated knights and dedicated 
operative masons during the Crusade 
period would probably have resulted in 
a complimentary bond of mutual re-
spect and interests. We can thereby 
speculate that these initial bonds of re-
spect and interest could have continued 
when the knights and masons returned 
to their own countries.
 
More research is required to support 
these speculative relations of Knights 
and masons, but some linkages may 
exist, such as the proposition contained 
in this specific article.
 
The presenter would like to introduce 
a small speculative research linkage, 
namely the similarity of a version of the 
oath of Scottish Knights as compared to 
a version of an ancient charge to opera-
tive Masons of approximately the same 
period, specifically the interesting com-
parison of the tenets or clauses of the 
"Oath of Knight of Scotland" as re-
corded by the Scottish poet William 
Drummond in 1620 AD. (taken from 
earlier records) as compared to the 
clauses contained in the "Charge to 
Operative Masons" reportedly written 
by King Henry VI of England in 1450 
A.D.

First, it is interesting to note that both 
of these documents have nine tenets or 
clauses .

Second, these nine clauses in each 
document can be related, in terms of a 
common theme or subject.

Third, while these similarities may be 
just an interesting coincidence, it may 
also hopefully stimulate further re-
search into other possible relationships 
between knights and operative masons 
during the medieval period.

Specifically, these comparisons are as 
follows (refer to documents):

 Oath A - Charge I 
The reference to God and the 
Church

 Oath B - Charge 3 
To be true to the King and with 
one another

 Oath C - Charge 8
 
To deplore villainy and support jus-
tice

 Oath D - Charge 5 
To support the King and be true to 
Lord and Master

 Oath E - Charge 6

For mutual protection and appro-
priate recognition

 Oath F - Charge 7 
To protect ladies of honor and the 
chastity of members' families

 Oath G - Charge 2 
To guard against traitors and trea-
sonable acts

 Oath H - Charge 4 
To defend chivalrie and to keep 
true council

 Oath I - Charge 9 
To seek knowledge and keep 
charges

Oath of Feaute
of a
Valiant Knight of Scotland
by the Scottish Poet -
William Drummond 1620A.D.

A I shall fortifie and defend the true
Holy Catholique and Christian Re-
ligion presently professed at all my
Power.

B I shall be loyal and true to my Sover-
algn Lord the King his Majesty, and 
do honour and reverence all Orders 
of Chevalrie and to the noble of fice of 
Arms.

C I shall fortifie and defend Justice to 
the uttermost of my power, but feed 
or favour.

D I shall never flie from the Kings Ma-
jesty my Lord and master, or his 
Lieutenant in time of battel or medly 
with dishonour.

E I shall defend my native Country 
from all aliens and strangers at all my 
power.

F I shall maintain and defend the 
honest Adoes and Quarrels of all La-
dies of Honour, Widows, Orphans, 
and Maids of good Fame.

G I shall do diligence. wherever I hear 
tell there is any Traytours, 
Murtherers, Rovers and Masterfull
Theeves and Outlaws, that suppress 
the Poor, to bring them to the Law at 
all my Power.

H I shall rnaintain and defend the 
Noble and gallant State of Chevalrie 
with Horses, Harnesses, and other 
Knightly Apparel to my Power.

I I shall be diligent to enquire and seek 
to have the knowledge of all Articles
and points of touching or conceming 
my duty contained in the Book of 
Chevarie. 


All and sundry the Premisses I oblige
me to keep and fufil, so help me God, 
by own hand, and by God himself.



Anclent Charge
to Operatlve Masons

C.- 1450A.D.
King Henry Vl of England

1 Particularly the first and principal 
that you shall be true men to God 
and the Holy Church. And that you
shall neither error nor heresy by your 
own understanding, or discreet or 
wise men's teaching.

2 And also that you shall be true liege 
men without treason or falsehood; 
and if you know either treason or 
treachery look ye amend it if you can,
or else warn privily the King, or his
ruler, or his deputy, or his officers.

3 And also that you shall be true one to 
another, that is to say, to every 
Master and Fellow of the science and
craft of Masonry that be allowed Ma-
sons, and to do unto them as they 
would they should do unto you.

4. And that every Mason keep true
council both of lodge and chamber, 
and all other councils that ought to be 
kept by way of Masonry.

5. And also that he shall be true to his
lord and master that he doth serve, 
and truly look to his master's profit.

6. And you shall call Masons your fel-
lows, or your brethren, and by no 
other foul name.

7 Nor shall take your fellow's wife in 
villainy, nor further desire his 
daughter or servant.

8.n And also that you pay for your meat
and drink wheresoever you to board. 
Also you shall do no villainy in the 
house, whereby the craft may be
slandered.

9 These be the charges in general, and 
that every Mason should hold by 
Masters and Fellows.
