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

A SCHOOLBOY’S RETORT
77
in the faschion of our Scotes ones ; another we saw not, from
our leiving of Berwick, til our returne to it againe.
To be fully informed of the history of the brave General
[Mareschal]1 Birron,2 whom they had such difficulty to get
headed ; as of the possessed Convent of Religious vomen called
les didblesses de Loudun; as of the burning of the preist as
sorcerer and his arraigning his iudges before the tribunal of
the Almighty to answer him wtin a few dayes, and all that sat
upon his Azize their dying mad wtin som litle tyme; it wil
not be amisse to informe ourselfe of them from the History of
France.
The French, tho the civilest of peaple, yet be seweral
experiences we may find them the most barbarous. Vitnes
besyde him who dwellt at Porte St. Lazare, another who brunt
his mother because she would not let him ly wt hir, and was
brunt quick himselfe at the place in Poictiers some 5 years ago.
The French Law is that if a women be 7 years wtout hearing
news of hir husband that she may marrie againe.
We have marked the German language to have many words
common wt our oune, as bread, drink, land, Goet for our God ;
rauber; feeds,3 inimiticice •, march, limites ; fich; flech ; heer, sir;
our man, homo; weib for wife.
We have eated puddings heir also that we call sauses, which
they make most usualy of suine.
We cannot passe over in silence the observation the naturalists
hath of the Sow, that it hath its noble parts disposed in the
same very sort they are found in a man, which may furnish us
very great matter of humility, as also lead us to the considera¬
tion and sight of our bassesse, that in the disposall of our
noble parts we differ nothing from that beast which we recknon
amongs the filthiest. They make great use of it in France
heir. In travelling we rencontred wery great heard s.
Tuo boyes studieing the grammar in the Jesuits Colledge at
Poictiers, disputing before the regent on their Lesson, the on
1 Interlined.
2 Ch. de Gontant, Due de Biron, Marshal of France, born 1562, died 1602,
A favourite of Henry iv., but executed for treason against him.
8 ¥eeds,fehde, feuds.