264 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
No. CCLIX.
COLONEL MONRO,
A WELL KNOWN BLUE-GOWN BEGGAR.
THE name of “COLONELM ONRO,”a s applied to a half-crazed old man who
used to frequent the streets of Edinburgh, is familiar to many of the older
inhabitants, but almost nothing is known of his history. He obtained the
soubriquet of “ Colonel ” from having fought under the banners of Prince Charles
Edward ; and to the last he continued to profess his devotion to the house of
Stuart. In token of his sympathy for the fallen race, he always wore a white
cockade in his bonnet or hat. His Jacobitical predilections, however, did not
prevent him from participating in the bounty of the reigning dynasty ; hence
the lines of the artist-
(‘ Behold courageous Colonel Monro,
A Highland hero, turned a Blue-Gown beau.”
Of the Blue-Gowns, or Bedesmen, whose dress and appearance are represented
in the Print, Sir Walter Scott has given the following account in his notes
to the Antiquary :-
“ These Bedesmen are an order of paupers, to whom the Kings of Scotland were in the
custom of distributing a certain alms, in conformity with the ordinances of the Catholic Church,
and who were expected in return to pray for the royal welfare and that of the State. This order
is still kept up. Their number is equal to the number of years which his Majesty has lived ;
and one Blue-Gown is put on the roll for every returning royal birthday. On the same auapicious
era, each Bedesnian receives a new cloak, or gown, of coarse cloth, the colour light-blue,
with a pewter badge, which confers on them the general privilege of seeking alms through all
Scotland, all laws against sorning, masterful begging, and every other species of mendicity
being suspended in favour of this privileged class. With his cloak each receives a leathern purse,
containing as many shillings Scots (videlicet, pennies 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 Rev.
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 birthday, which as far as they are concerned, ends in &
lusty breakfast of bread and ale ;I 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.’ ”
The “ lusty breakfast ” latterly conaiated of a single halfpenny hup, and a very small modicum
of beer.