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

130
JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER
greatest of them carrieng only 10 pound ball. Their best
peices ware transported during the seige of the Rochel; they
have never bein brought back yet. Theirs in the entry King
Dagobert and his Queens statues, wt 2 great sheep done d
Tantique.
The most considerable thing we saw was the Harts homes,
hung up in the corner of a chapelle, of a monstrous bignesse,
if they be natural. It was taken some many 100 years ago in
a forest of Lorraine towards Allemagne, wt a collet,1 about
whilk the flesch was so growen that it covered it, bearing that
it belonged to Caesar. It bit to be wery old when it was
taken. Also we saw some rib bons of it monstrouslie great.
Also, I saw the chamber wheir Mr. Fouquet2 was detained
prisoner when the King brought him from Nantes.
From Amboise we came to Blois 10 short leagues, wheir I
went straight to the Castle (my remarks of which are else-
wheir) to sie these verses of Faustus above the 1 gate of the
castle, which are as followeth :
Hie ubi natus erat dextro Ludovicus Olympo
Sumpsit honorata regia 3 sceptra manu,
Foelix quae tanti fulsit lux nuntia regis,
Gallia non alio principe digna fuit. 1498.
Next morning we came to St. Laurens, a pretty litle tonne,
wheir we dined. In the afternoone we passed by Clery, a litle
village 4 leagues from Orleans, wheir I subscrived my name in
the great book of all passengers (wheir I did read several Scots
names, as Liddell, Douglas, etc.). I payed a collation, which
cost me a croune.
At Orleans we quartered at the Charrue, in the fauxbourgs
towards Paris. As soon as I was arrived I went to J. Ogilvies,
wheir I fand Madame, Mademoiselle hir daughter, hir 2 sones,
Mr. le Baron, and another Allemand. They ware wery kind
to me, caused me stay and sup wt them. They began and
told me the depart of my Lord Ogilwie from their house very
1 Collar.
2 Nicolas Fouquet, 1615-1680, finance minister of Louis xiv., fell out of
favour, and was arrested at Nantes, 1661.
3 Regia for regia. At best the line does not scan.