"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 cxxxl 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 cli.

"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 art