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

COOKERY AND CUSTOMS
43
hunder. Madame Daille also bought very fat geese whiles for
18 souse, whiles 12, whiles 15, whiles for 20; which generally
they blood their, reserving it very carefully and makes a kind
of pottages wt it and bread which seimes to them very delicious
but not so to me, tho’ not out of the principle that the Apostles,
Actes 15, discharged the gentils to eat blood or things strangled.
That which they call their pottage difter exceidingly from ours,
wt which they serve themselfes instead of our pottage, as also
our broth, neither of which they know. It seems to diffir
little from our soups when we make them wt loaves. Surely I
fand it sensibly to be nourishing meat; and it could not be
otherwise, since it consisted of the substance first of the bread,
which wtout doute is wholsomer then ours, since they know
not what barme is their, or at least they know not what use we
make of it, to make our bread firme, yet their bread is as firme
wtout it: next the substance of the flech, which usually they
put in of 3 sorts, of lard of mouton, of beef, of each a little
morsell; 3dly of herbes for seasoning, whiles keel, whiles
cocombaes, whiles leeks, whiles minte or others. In my
experience I fand it very loosing, for before I was weill
accoustened wt it, if I chanced to sup any tyme any quantity
of the pottage, I was sure of 2 or 3 stools afternoon wt it.
The French air after the sun setting I learned in my oune
experience to be much more dangerous then ours in Scotland,
for being much more thinner and purer, its consequently more
peircing; for even in August their, which is the hotest and
warmest moneth, if at night efter 8 a cloak I had sitten doune
in my linnens and 2 shirtes to read but halfe a hower or a bower
(which I have done in Scotland the mides of vinter and not
have gotten cold) after the day I was sure to feell I had gotten
cold; and that by its ordinary symptomes a peine'and throwing
in my belly, & 4 or 5 stools; I played this to my selfe tuize
or I observed; ever after if I had liked to give my selfe
physick I had no more ado but to let my selfe get cold.
They let their children suck long heir, usually 2 years; if
weak 2 years and a halfe. i Madame Daille daughter suckt but
6 quatres, they think much to give 40 or 50 livres to nourses
for fostering. Madame Daille gave 15 crounes in cash and
some old cloaths and sick things as they to hir that nursed