150 FROM THE ART OF BUILDING TO THE ART OF THINKINGThe contract was concluded orally, but before this the valet swore on
the saints that he would perform the trade "faithfully and well."
Depending on the profession, this swearing might involve the relics or
images of the patron saints of the trade or the Holy Gospels.^6
A. Lantoine is therefore mistaken when he claims that the oath could
not have been made on the Bible in the lodges of operative Catholic
masons. We find this oath on the Bible in corporative English masonry,
which was also Catholic. The "Bible upon the altar" is therefore not an
example of "Huguenot contraband" smuggled to freemasonry.^7
To obtain the grade of master it was first necessary that an appren-
tice show proof that he had fulfilled his apprenticeship. The idea of the
masterwork did not yet exist in the thirteenth century, but candidates
for mastery were required to show guarantees of another order, such as
taking an exam in the presence of wardens of the trade. Candidates
were also required to acquit the taxes or fees imposed by royal or
manorial authority when the trade was not one that was free and
exempt of such obligations. The recipient would then swear an oath on
the "saints" to conform to established usages and customs and provide
good and loyal work.
It should be noted that women were accepted into the rank of mas-
ters in two very specific cases. There were certain trades that were
exclusively composed of women (silk seamstresses, silk fabric makers,
and so forth). In some other professions, women were accepted to the
rank of master just as as men were (they could be fringe makers, linen
makers, or poultry breeders). Further, the widows of masters were
authorized to continue the trade of their deceased husbands. It was gen-
erally assumed that they had acquired sufficient professional experience
to do so.^8
The reception of a new master was occasion for a ceremony, though
only the statute of the talemeliers [bakers] provides any details of this
ceremony. Candidates for master gathered at the door of the trade war-
den's house. While standing outside, they answered questions asked of
them concerning professional customs, and after witnesses gave their
approval, they broke a pot of nuts and oublies* on the wall as a sign of
* [These are thin, wafflelike pastries that have been rolled on a cylinder. —Trans.]