The Antiquary | Page 4

viij _li. _"
In the Account of John, Earl of Mar, Great Treasurer of Scotland, and
of Sir Gideon Murray of Enbank, Treasurer-Depute, the Blue-Gowns
also appear thus:--
"Junij 1617.
"Item, to James Murray, merchant, for fyftene scoir sex elnis and aine
half elne of blew claith to be gownis to fyftie ane aigeit men, according
to the yeiris of his Majesteis age, at xl _s. _ the elne Inde,vj c xiij _li. _

"Item, to workmen for careing the blewis to James Aikman, tailyeour,
his hous xiij _s. _ iiij _d. _
"Item, for sex elnis and ane half of harden to the saidis gownis, at vj _s.
_ viij _d. _ the elne Inde,xliij _s. _iiij _d. _
"Item, to the said workmen for careing of the gownis fra the said James
Aikman's hous to the palace of Halyrudehous xviij _s. _
"Item, for making the saidis fyftie ane gownis, at xij _s. _ the peice
Inde,xxx _li. _xij _s. _
"Item, for fyftie ane pursis to the said puire menlj _s. _
"Item, to Sir Peter Young,li _s. _ to be put in everie ane of the saidis
ljpursis to the said poore men j _c_xxxl jj _s. _
"Item, to the said Sir Peter, to buy breid and drink to the said puir men
vj _li. _xiij _s. _iiij _d. _
"Item, to the said Sir Peter, to be delt amang uther puire folk j _c_li.
"Item, upoun the last day of Junii to Doctor Young, Deane of
Winchester, Elimozinar Deput to his Majestic, twentie fyve pund
sterling, to be gevin to the puir be the way in his Majesteis progress
Inde,iij _c li. _"
I have only to add, that although the institution of King's Bedesmen
still subsists, they are now seldom to be seen on the streets of
Edinburgh, of which their peculiar dress made them rather a
characteristic feature.
Having thus given an account of the genus and species to which Edie
Ochiltree appertains, the author may add, that the individual he had in
his eye was Andrew Gemmells, an old mendicant of the character
described, who was many years since well known, and must still be
remembered, in the vales of Gala, Tweed, Ettrick, Yarrow, and the
adjoining country.
The author has in his youth repeatedly seen and conversed with
Andrew, but cannot recollect whether he held the rank of Blue-Gown.
He was a remarkably fine old figure, very tall, and maintaining a
soldierlike or military manner and address. His features were intelligent,
with a powerful expression of sarcasm. His motions were always so
graceful, that he might almost have been suspected of having studied
them; for he might, on any occasion, have, served as a model for an
artist, so remarkably striking were his ordinary attitudes. Andrew
Gemmells had little of the cant of his calling; his wants were food and

shelter, or a trifle of money, which he always claimed, and seemed to
receive as his due. He, sung a good song, told a good story, and could
crack a severe jest with all the acumen of Shakespeare's jesters, though
without using, like them, the cloak of insanity. It was some fear of
Andrew's satire, as much as a feeling of kindness or charity, which
secured him the general good reception which he enjoyed everywhere.
In fact, a jest of Andrew Gemmells, especially at the expense of a
person of consequence, flew round the circle which he frequented, as
surely as the bon-mot of a man of established character for wit glides
through the fashionable world, Many of his good things are held in
remembrance, but are generally too local and personal to be introduced
here.
Andrew had a character peculiar to himself among his tribe for aught I
ever heard. He was ready and willing to play at cards or dice with any
one who desired such amusement. This was more in the character of the
Irish itinerant gambler, called in that country a "carrow," than of the
Scottish beggar. But the late Reverend Doctor Robert Douglas, minister
of Galashiels, assured the author, that the last time he saw Andrew
Gemmells, he was engaged in a game at brag with a gentleman of
fortune, distinction, and birth. To preserve the due gradations of rank,
the party was made at an open window of the chateau, the laird sitting
on his chair in the inside, the beggar on a stool in the yard; and they
played on the window-sill. The stake was a considerable parcel of
silver. The author expressing some surprise, Dr. Douglas observed, that
the laird was no doubt a humourist or original; but that many decent
persons in those times would, like him, have thought there was nothing
extraordinary in passing an hour, either in card-playing or conversation,
with