Series 1 > Journals of Sir John Lauder, Lord Fountainhall, with his observations on public affairs and other memoranda, 1665-1676

POITIERS
29
a row of blew saphirs, then another of rid diamonds; then
followes a joincture of golden chrysolites, the bigness wheirof
renders them wery wonderfull, being exceeding rare to be
found of the halfe of that bigness. Their is not any coleur
which is not to be found amoungs the Stones of that table.
They are joined so marvelously that nothing can be smoother
or sequaler. Thus breifly for the house.
Of one of the balconies we descryed the garden, which was
wery pleasant, having great resemblance wt that of Chateau
Neuf, up and doune it ware growing Holyhaucks of all colours ;
but I cannot stay no longer upon the, for I am hasting to your
church, which I find wery rich, as generally all the churches in
France are.
After I had supped I could not but come and wiew the situa¬
tion and walls wtout; but fareweil, for the morrow night setts
me in Poictiers. On the hy way as I travelled I mett bothe
aples and plumes, which I looked not one as forbidden fruit, but
franckly pulled. As soon as I came wtin sight of Poictiers I
welcomed it heartily as being to be a place of rest to me for a
tyme. Entering into the suburbes of the toune, I easily dis¬
covered the reason of our Buchannans expression, Pictonum
ad scopulos: for then and afterwards I discovered it to be
environed wt raged rocks and craigs, the toune it selfe also to
be situat on a considerable eminence; and give ye take in all
its circuit it neids not yeeld much to Paris in bigness; only
much of it is filled up wt spatious gardens for the most part
belonging to religious orders, sometymes of men sometymes of
women. It hath also wines that growes within its circumfer¬
ence, as these that grow in the place of the Scots walk may
testify.
Having entred the toune we sought out Mr. Gamier the
Apothecaries, for whom I had a letter from Mr. Doull at
Saumurs, who on that accepted us kindly enough, only they
had not such accomodation as I demanded, whence I took
occasion to deliver a letter I brought wt me out of Scotland
from young John Elies to Mr. Daille, wt whom I entred pen-
sionar about 8 dayes after I had bein in Poictiers, to wit 28
July 1665.
I cannot bury in silence the moderation of Mr. Garniers