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

FROM OXFORD TO LONDON
173
I saw Brazennose Colledge and Marian1 Colledge, also
Balliols Colledge, which is not so pittifnl and contemptible as
many would have it. Before the utter gate is a pretty pal-
lisade of tries. Within the building is tolerable; in their
dining roome be battered 2 up Theses Moral, political, and out
of all the others sciences. Nixt to it be Trinity Colledge. It
hath 2 courtes: the inner is a new building. Not far from
this are they building the stately Theater of cut stone for
their Comcedyes.
Nixt day I went to the Physick Garden not far from Marian
Colledge. The gardener (a German by nation) gave me their
printed Catalogue of all the hearbs, which may be about some
7000 in all. I have also some verses he gave me made on
thesse 2 fellows thats keips centry, as it were, just as ye come
in at the garden door; their menacing face is of timber; all
the rest with their speir is artificially cut out of bush. They
have also swans and such lik curiously cut out of the phileria.
I saw the sensitive plant; it shrinked at my touching it, tho
it was then excessively cold. Saw the tobacco : of the leives
dryed they make it as good as that they bring from Spain,
Virginia, Martinigo or elsewheir, if they had enough of it, and
the entertaining of it ware not to costly; hence the Parlia¬
ment discharges the planting of it. Saw African Marigolds,
the true Aloes trie; all the wals cloathed with wery big
clusters ; tall cypruses, Indian figs, etc. The students can enter
when they please.
On the Thursday 3 of October at night went and took my
leive of Mr. Lo. Nixt morning having payed my host 5 shil¬
lings in all (which made me admir the cheapnesse of the
place, fire only being dear since the Kings army was their,
who cutted all its woods about) about 10 a cloak bad adieu to
Oxford watered with the lovely Thames tho wery litle their;
it receives at that place the Isis whence Thamesis.
In the coach was D. Willis his cheif man, a pretty physiti-
cian himselfe, going in to his Master, whom the Quean had
caused come to London; a apothecary who also sold all kinds
of garden seeds, and for that effect had bein at Oxford,
See p. 171,
2 Pasted.