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

68
JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER
may be read Gods heavy judgement following that cursed
nation. Yet Holland, that sink of all religions, permits
them their synagogues and the publick excercise of their
religion. They rigorously observe their sabath, our Saturdy,
so that they make ready no meat on that day. If the wind
sould blow of their hat they almost judge it a sin and a breach
of the sabath to follow it and take it up. Their was a Jew
wt us in the 1662 year of God that professed at least to
turne Christian, and communicated in the Abby Church.
We may deservedly say, omnia sunt venalia Gallis, for what
art their not but its to be sold publickly. Not so much
as rested aples ready drest, chastans,1 pairs, rested geese cut
unto its percels, but they are crieng publicklie, and really I
looked upon it as a wery good custome, for he that ether
cannot or wil not buy a whole goose he’ el buy it may be a leg.
The prices of their meats waries according to the tymes
of the year. The ordinars of some we have already mentioned ;
for a capon they wil get whiles 20 sous, whiles but 14 or 12.
Theirs a fellow also that goes wt a barrel of vinegar on his
back, crieng it thorow the toune; another in that same posture
fresch oil, others moustard, others wt a maille2 to cleave wood,
also poor women wt their asses loadened wt 2 barrels of water
crying, 11 y a Veau fresche. At Paris its fellows that carryes
2 buckets tied to a ordinar punchion gir,3 wtin which they
march crieng de Veau, which seimed a litle strange to us at
first, we not crying it so at home. Also theirs to be heard
women wt a great web of linnen on their shoulder, a el * wand
in their hand, crieng their fine toile. Theirs also poor
fellows that goes up and doune wt their hurle barrows in
which they carrie their sharping stone to sharp axes or gullies
to any bodie that employes him.
Their came a Charlatan or Mountebanck to Poictiers the
Septembre we was their, whose foolies we went whiles to sie.
The most partof the French Charletanes and Drogists when they
come to a toune to gain that he get them themselfes 5 a better
name, and that they may let the peaple sie that they are not
1 Chestnuts. 2 Mell, mallet, beetle. 3 Hoop.
5 The meaning is, with the object of getting for themselves.
An el.