Old Charges of Freemasonry
Edict of Rothari - A.D. 643
INCIPIT EDICTVM QVEM RENOVAVIT DOMINVS ROTHARI
144. De magistros commacinos. Si magister commacinus cum collegantes suos cuiuscumque domum ad restaurandam vel fabricandam super se, placitum finito de mercedes, susceperit et contigerit aliquem per ipsam domum aut materium elapsum aut lapidem mori, non requiratur a domino, cuius domus fuerit, nisi magister commacinus cum consortibus suis ipsum homicidium aut damnum conponat; quia, postquam fabulam firmam de mercedis pro suo lucro suscepit, non inmerito damnum sustinet.
145. De rogatos aut conductos magistros. Si quis magistrum commacinum unum aut plures rogaverit aut conduxerit ad opera dictandum aut solatium diurnum prestandum inter servûs suos, domum aut casa sibi facienda, et contegerit per ipsam casam aliquem ex ipsis commacinis mori, non requiratur ab ipso, cuius casa est. Nam si cadens arbor aut lapis ex ipsa fabrigam occiderit aliquem extraneum, aut quodlebit damnum fecerit, non repotetur culpa magistris, sed ille, qui conduxit, ipse damnum susteneat.
Section 144. Of the Comacine Master - If a Comacine Master with his associates (colligantes) shall undertake to restore or build the house of any person whatsoever, after an agreement shall have been closed as to payment, and it chances that someone should be killed, by reason of the house, through the falling of either material or stone, no claim shall be lodged against the owner of the house, in case the Comacine Master or those working with him (consortibus) shall fall to settle for the death or the damage done; because who after having contracted to do work f or his own advantage, must assume, not undeservedly, the damage done.
Section 145. Of masters called or brought in. - If any person shall call or bring in Comacine Masters one or several - to design a work or to daily assist his retainers (servi) at the building of his house (domun aut casa), and it should happen that, by reason of this house (casa), one of the Comacines is killed, the owner of the house (casa) shall not be held responsible. On the other hand, if falling timber or stone should kill an outsider or cause injury to anyone, the fault shall not be imputed to the Masters, but to him who called them in, and he shall be responsible for the damage.
Translated by Ossian Lang, Grand Historian, The Grand Lodge of New York in 1925
