Of the charity bestowed on these aged Bedesmen in money and clothing, there are many records in the Treasurer’s accompts. The following extract, kindly supplied by Mr. Macdonald of the Register House, may interest those whose taste is akin to that of Jonathan Oldbuck of Monkbarns. BLEW GOWNIS.
In the Account of Sir Robert Melvill of Murdocarney, Treasurer-Depute of King James VI., there are the following Payments:--
“Item, to Mr. Peter Young, Elimosinar, twentie four gownis of blew clayth, to be gevin to xxiiij auld men, according to the yeiris of his hienes age, extending to viii xx viii elnis clayth; price of the elne xxiiij s. Inde, ij cj li. xij s.
“Item, for sextene elnis bukrum to the saidis gownis, price of the elne x s. Inde, viij li.
“Item, twentie four pursis, and in ilk purse twentie four schelling Inde, xxciij li. xvj s. “Item, the price of ilk purse iiij d. Inde, viij s.
“Item, for making of the saidis gownis 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:--
“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.”