The Regius Poem (or the Halliwell-Phillips Manuscript) circa 1390. This Manuscript is the earliest objectively verifiable document referencing Freemasonry known.

The existence of this MS. was known for a long time before its full Masonic significance was recognized. The MS. contents were mistaken until a Mr. Halliwell-Phillips drew attention to it in a paper "On the Introduction of Freemasonry into England," read before the Society of Antiquaries in its 1838-9 session. Halliwell-Phillips thereafter published two small editions of a work entitled "The Early History of Freemasonry in England," with a translation of the poem into contemporary English.

It has been concluded from the type of parchment, language, and lettering that this document was written in approximately 1390 A.D. The poem consists of 794 lines of Old English verse and covers several subjects, most, directly applicable to Freemasonry. While this manuscript was written in the 14th century it refers to a period of Masonic history in England in the late 10th century. It relates the Legend of York and is the basis for the prominence the city of York has occupied in Masonic lore since the first millennium. Regulations for the government of the craft are included in the poem, as are fifteen articles and fifteen points dealing with ethical, moral and spiritual responsibilities of the ancient craftsmen.

The document in rhyming verse takes its name from the King’s (Regius) or Old Royal Library. The document is a quarto book on vellum, now in the British Museum, described in a catalogue of the missives or letters of the Old Royal Library, 1734, page 259, as "A Poem of Moral Duties: here entitled, Constitutiones Artis Gemetrie Secundem Euclidem (Euclid’s Second Constitutions on the Art of Geometry).

The Poem had been a part of the collection of Ashburnham House, which was destroyed in a fire on the 23^rd of October 1731. The poem and other recovered volumes were moved to the old Dormitory at Westminster until 1757. In 1757, King George II presented [the old Royal Library to the English nation. Sims’s Handbook to the Library of the BritishMuseum, 1854. p. 35 says that the Poem “fortunately sustained but slight injury." from the fire.

Halliwell-Phillips concluded that the writer of the poem was evidently a priest, from the words, "And when the gospel me rede schal," on line 629. He also drew attention to line 143, which intimates that a still older MS. regarding Masonry must have existed when the poem was written.

The Following is a typical stanza from the Regius Poem:

Point Fourteen:

Fourteenth point is full good law

To him that would be under awe;

A good true oath he must there swear

To his master and his fellows that be there;

He must be steadfast and also true

To all this ordinance, wheresoever he go,

And to his liege lord the king,

To be true to him over all thing.

And all these points here before

To them thou must need be y-swore, (sworn)

And all shall swear the same oath

Of the masons, be they lief be they loath.

To all these points here before,

That hath been ordained by full good lore.

And they shall enquire every man

Of his party, as well as he can,

If any man may be found guilty

In any of these points specially;

And who he be, let him be sought,

And to the assembly let him be brought.

References:

- A History and Handbook, The York Rite of Freemasonry, by Frederick G. Speidel
- Grand Lodge of British Columbia
- A Free Mason’s Guide and Compendium, Bernard E. Jones