STB-94-06
The Blue Blanket
by: Bro. Ian P. Watson, P.M.
Bro. Watson is a member of the Lodge of
Journeymen Masons No. 8
Lodge Elgin and Bruce No. 1077
Southern California Lodge of Research
He also authored the 4-93 STB
'Lodge of Journeyman Masons #8'
The 'Blue Blanket' is a Scottish Craft
banner of great antiquity about which
several books and articles have been
written. Most, if not all, of those histories
(including my own lodge history) contain
many inaccuracies due to the fact that
the main reference used has been
Alexander Pennecuik's history of "The
Blue Blanket". Unfortunately, several
Masonic encyclopedias have also used
this as a source for reference.
The'story of the 'Blue Blanket' has
become almost a myth in Edinburgh. The
true story of the 'Blue Blanket' is so
interesting it is not necessary to embellish it
with fiction.
The 'Blue Blanket' is not mentioned by
any historian prior to 1482 but Pennecuik
states that it is "highly probable" that the
origin of the 'Blue Blanket' dates back to
the first Crusade (1096-1099).
The story goes that a number of Scottish
craftsmen rallied to the Christian cause and
as a sign of recognition they carried with
them a banner which they hoped to plant on
the walls of Jerusalem. This banner was
supposed to carry the inscription "In thy
good pleasure build thou the walls of
Jerusalem" from Psalm 51.
The banner, at this time, was reputedly
called 'The Banner of the Holy Ghost' and
those who served under it 'The Knights of
the Holy Ghost'.
In his book Pennecuik quotes some vague
French references. He also writes about
Pope Urban 11 and King William I of
Scotland as contemporaries which they
could not possibly have been--the former
died in 1099 while the latter was born in
1143. It is possible that he has mistaken
King William 11 of England for King
William I of Scotland. In addition he states
that on their return from the Crusade
"they...dedicated this Banner...to St. Eloi
in St. Giles' Church in Edinburgh". The
chapel of St. Eloi (patron saint of the
Hammermen of Edinburgh), situated in St.
Giles' Church, was not built until several
centuries later--about the beginning of the
15th century.
The most likely date of the origin of the
'Blue Blanket' was in 1482. King James 111
of Scotland appointed several commoner
friends to positions of title and trust.
Among those friends was one Robert
Cochrane on whom he conferred the titles
of 'The Earl of Mar' and 'Secretary of
State'. Cochrane was already the King's
Master Mason and was, possibly, the architect of the Great Hall in Stirling Castle.
These elevations in rank incensed the
nobility since they were of the opinion that
no man of such low birth should ever be
given a title--no matter how much he
deserved it. In July 1482 King James 111
assembled his army on the Burgh Muir--at
that time a large expanse of countryside
outside of Edinburgh but now an area within the city boundary. When the army
reached Lauder--a small town south of
Edinburgh--the nobles (led by Archibald
Douglas, Earl of Angus) rebelled and
seized Cochrane and several others. They
hanged Cochrane and the others at Lauder
Bridge and, thereafter, imprisoned the King
in Edinburgh Castle. The King was held
under the supervision of two of his
uncles--the Earl of Athol and the Earl of
Buchan.
The country was in great turmoil and was
in conflict with the English who were look-
ing for recompense over the payment of the
dowry of the King of England's (Edward
IV) daughter, Lady Cecily. The English had
marched an army of 10,000 men, led by the
Duke of Gloucester (later King Richard 111)
and were camped on the Burgh Muir.
The Queen sought help from Provost
William Bertraham. The Provost and the
community took to repay the dowry which
amounted to the sum of 6,000 marks (the
merk was an ancient form of money in
Scotland). This act stopped the threat of
attack by the English.
Bertraham then rallied the craftsmen who
approached the steward of the castle and
the King was set free. King James 111
rewarded the city with many honours. The
list of privileges and honours was called the
'Golden Charter'.
The craftsmen were given a banner by the
King which the Queen, personally,
inscribed with a Saltire (St. Andrew's
Cross), a thistle, an imperial crown and a
hammer as well as the following words:
"Fear God and honour ye King with a long
Iyffe and prosperous reign and we shall
ever pray to be faithful for ye defence of his
sacred Majesty's royal person till death".
The King decreed that the banner should be
called the 'Standard of the Crafts Within
the Burgh'. This banner was one of the first
to use the thistle as a symbol of Scotland.
The banner affectionately became known
as the 'Blue Blanket' from its background
colour which reflects the background of the
Scottish flag.
The Hammemmen of Edinburgh were the
guardians of this craft banner. The
Hammemmen Guild included the crafts of
blacksmiths, goldsmiths, lorimers, saddlers, cutlers, bucklemakers, armourers
amongst others. The Hammermen's seal
included an effigy of Saint Eloi. According
to the first charter of the Hammemmen each
applicant for membership was examined by
the Deacon and Masters of their respective
craft to determine their worthiness.
In 1496 the Hammermen received a grant
of the chapel of St. Eloi in St. Giles'
Church and hung the 'Blue Blanket' there.
They were to pay 40 shillings for the care
and upkeep of the altar and its priest.
Any member found guilty of a breach of
the laws of the charter was fined eight Scots
shillings which went toward the support of
the Corporation's altar of Saint Eloi in the
Church of Saint Giles.
One of the worst defeats ever inflicted on
a Scottish army happened during the summer of 1513. King James IV of Scotland
declared war on England and, like James
111, assembled his army on the Burgh Muir.
It is probable that the army was 50,000
strong (although estimates as high as
100,000 have been suggested) with another
10,000 men joining it as it headed south
into England.
According to tradition Provost Alexander
Lauder of Blyth led the burghers and craftsmen out of the city by the West Bow (west
town gate) to assemble, with the rest of the
King's army, on the Burgh Muir. These
craftsmen carried the 'Blue Blanket' with
them to Flodden in the north of England.
The battle of Flodden was a disaster for
the Scots. However, unlike many of the
Scottish banners at Flodden the 'Blue
Blanket' survived and was returned to
Edinburgh.
King James Vl (I of England) had cause
to criticize the craftsmen's work. The
craftsmen displayed the 'Blue Blanket' to
remind him that he had no divine right to
do so. King James Vl wrote in his
'Basilikon Doron' or 'Book of Instruction'
to his son, Prince Henry: "They think we
should be content with their work, how bad
and dear soever it may be; and if they be in
anything controuled, up goeth the Blue
Blanket".
The protestant faith had made the people
of Edinburgh more aware of their rights
and the lower classes of society became a
fommidable force.
The 'Blue Blanket' is held in the care of
the Deacon Convener of Trades. During the
mid 1 8th century the banner was displayed
every time the Deacon Convener and his
court sat in judgment in any craft dispute.
Over the centuries several 'Blue Blankets'
have been made. The original banner was
10 feet 2 inches long by 6 feet 6 inches
wide.
The Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh,
claim they have one of those 'Blue
Blankets' but I believe it is a copy of the
Lodge of Joumeymen Masons banner since
we have an identical one in our lodge
rooms.
The only 'Blue Blanket' I know of is a
17th century replica in the Trades Maiden
Hospital, Edinburgh. This is displayed in a
beautifully carved frame which was presented by three members of the Lodge of
Joumeymen Masons No. 8 who emigrated
to California in 1870.
The Lodge of Joumeymen Masons holds
the right to carry the 'Blue Blanket' since it
is the oldest operative lodge in the City of
Edinburgh. As all the Crafts were included
in the Incorporation of Hammermen, which
was responsible for the banner, it was fitting that the Blue Blanket be entrusted to
the representatives of one of the constituent
crafts.
The Lodge of Joumeymen Masons No. 8
has carried the banner on four occasions at
the laying of foundation stones:
1. The old Grand Lodge Hall on the 24th
June 1858. On this occasion the Blue
Blanket was presented, in the grounds of
Holyrood Palace, to the Lodge of
Journeymen Masons No. 8 by the
Deacon Convener of Trades in the presence of four thousand Masons.
2. The Wallace Monument, Stirling on the
24th June 1861.
3. The new Royal Infimmary, Edinburgh on
the 4th July 1867.
4. The Duke of Athol's Memorial
Logieriat, Perthshire on the 10th August
1868.
The Blue Blanket is the motif displayed
on the tie of The Lodge of Joumeymen
Masons No. 8 and holds a special place in
the hearts of the brethren from that famous
lodge.
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