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

40
JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER
cold and fresh from heating when they bring it to their
chamber.
To recknon over all the crys of Poictiers (since they are
divers according to the diverse seasons of the year) would be
difficult. Yet theirs one I cannot forgeet, a poor fellow that
goes thorow the toune wt a barrell of wine on his back; in his
on hand a glass full halfe wt win ; in his other a pint stoop ;
over his arm hinges a servit; and thus marched he crieng his
delicate wine for 5 souse the pot thats our pint; or 4 souse
or cheaper it may be. He lets any man taste it that desires,
giving them their loof full.
I did sy one fellow right angry on a tyme : their came
about 7 or 8 about one, every one to taste; giving every one
of them some, to neir a chopin1 not one of them bought from
him; wheiron he sayd he sould sie better marchands before
he gave to so many the nixt tyme.
Wood also is a passable commodity heir as in all France,
wheir they burn no thing but wood, which seimes indeed to
be wholsomer for dressing of meat then coall. Every fryday
and Saturday the peasants brings in multitude of chariots
charged wt wood, some of them drawen wt oxen, mo. wt
mules, without whilk I think France could not subsist they are
so steadable to them. For a chariot weill ladened theyle get
6 or 7 livres, which I remember Mr. Daille payed.
They have another use for wood in that country also which
we know not: they make sabots of them, which the peasants
serve themselfes wt instead of shoes; in some account they
are better then shoes. They wil not draw nor take in water as
shoes whiles do, they being made of one intier lump of wood
and that whiles meikle enough. Their disadvantage is this
none can run wt them, they being loose and not fastened to
our feet, yet some weill used wt them can also run in them.
They buy them for wery litle money.
These also that cannot aspire to ordinar hats (for since we
left Berwick we saw no bonnets as also no plaids) they have
straw hats, one of which theyle buy for 6 souse, and get 3 or 4
moneths wearing out of it.
1 Half a pint old French, and also old Scots, measure, was equal to about three
times the present imperial measure.