sterling) as the
sovereign is years old; the zeal of their intercession for the king's long life
receiving, it is to be supposed, a great stimulus from their own present and
increasing interest in the object of their prayers. On the same occasion one of
the Royal Chaplains preaches a sermon to the Bedesmen, who (as one of the
reverend gentlemen expressed himself) are the most impatient and inattentive
audience in the world. Something of this may arise from a feeling on the part of
the Bedesmen, that they are paid for their own devotions, not for listening to
those of others. Or, more probably, it arises from impatience, natural, though
indecorous in men bearing so venerable a character, to arrive at the conclusion
of the ceremonial of the royal birth-day, which, so far as they are concerned,
ends in a lusty breakfast of bread and ale; the whole moral and religious
exhibition terminating in the advice of Johnson's »Hermit hoar« to his
proselyte,
 
Come, my lad, and drink some beer.
 
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: -
 
                                  »Junij 1590.
 
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 viij xx viij elnis clayth; price of the elne xxiiij s.
                                                         Inde, ij c j 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 schilling
                                                         Inde, xxviij 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 Elibank, Treasurer-Depute, the Blue-Gowns also appear thus:
    -
 
                                  »Junij 1617.
 
Item, to James Murray, merchant, for fyftene scoir sex elnis and ane half elne
of blew claith to be gownis to fyftie ane aigeit men, according to the yeiris of
his Majesteis age, at