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

176
JOURNAL OF JOHN LAUDER
Bischoprick of Durham in the Coach with us. Had large
discourses of the idlenes and vitiousnese of the citizens wifes at
London being wery cocknies. We will not forget what con¬
test we had with some of them at the taking of our places.
Having left London, came first to Hygate, 4 miles, my Lord
Lauderdales house, a village adjoining on the croup of a hill;
then to Barnet, 10 miles from London ; then to Hatfield wheir
we dined, 17 miles, wheir we saw Hatfield house with brave
parcks, all belonging to my Lord of Salisburie. A litle of this
is the greatest hy way in England leading to S4 Albanes.
Came at night to Stesinwich,1 20 miles of London.
Nixt day, being Tuesday, and 29 came to Baldoc 5 miles;
Begleswith2 10 miles; dined their at the Croun, wery bad
entertainment; afternoon to Bugden,3 10 miles further, sad
way. That night arrived their my Lord Rothes, my Lord
Arley,4 Sir J. Strachan, and others going to London. Its some
3 or 4 miles from Huntington; the country is all couered
with willows like to Holland.
Nixt day Vednesday, 30, baited at a willage called Wals-
ford,5 17 miles of wery bad way. Came at night to Stamford
5 miles furder; within a mile of the toune we saw on each
hand a brave stately house belonging to my Lord of Exeter,
in one of them lived the Due of Buckinghame. It stands on
a river: whats besouth the bridge is in Northamptonshire,
benorth in Lincolne. Its held amongs the greatest tounes of
England after London. Norwich is the 2d, it hath 50 churches
in it: Bristol is a great toune to.
Nixt day, Thursday, 31, leiving Postwitham 6 and Grantham
on our right hand, we entred unto the most pleasant valley
of Bever, the best ground for corn and pasturage thats in all
England : saw its castle at a distance, seimed to be most
artificially fortified; it stands in Leister, Nottinghame, and
Lincolneshires. Dined at Lougbirlington,7 18 miles: a long
rabble of a toune indeed. Afternoon came to Newwark upon
Trent; had fowll weather with haille. Its in Nottinghame :
1 Stevenage. * Biggleswade. 8 Now Buckden.
4 Arley, probably Airlie. 8 Watlingsford (Blaeuw), now Wansford.
6 Postwitham, so written. North Witham and South Witham are near the
route. 7 Longbennington.