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 archi-
tect 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 with-
in 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, sad-
dlers, 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 sum-
mer 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 crafts-
men 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 pre-
sented 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 fit-
ting 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 pres-
ence 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 
1 868.

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.
