[42] One of them is ‘dron,’ p. 146.  With reference to the words ’7
        arbres,’ in the description of the Mail at Tours, p. 20, Mr. A.
        Lang has suggested to me that arbres might be a term in the Jeu
        de Mail.  Mr. H.S.C.  Everard has kindly sent me the following
        quotations from Joseph Lauthier’s book on the game (1st ed.,
        1717):  ’C’est quand deux ou plusieurs jouent a qui poussera plus
        loin, et quand l’un est plus fort que l’autre, le plus foible
        demande avantage, soit par distance d’arbres, soit par distance de
        pas.’  ’On finit la Partie en touchant un arbre ou une pierre
        marquee qui sert de but.’  If certain trees were marked as goals,
        that would be a better explanation than the one given in the note.

The thanks of the Society and my own are due to the owners of the MSS.  I am grateful to Sir T.N.  Dick Lauder and Sir William Fraser’s Trustees (Sir James Balfour Paul, Lyon King of Arms, and the late Mr. James Craik, W.S.), for intrusting me with their MSS. for a long time, which made my work much easier; and more satisfactory.  The Society is also indebted to Mr. David Douglas for the use of his transcript of MS., and for the first suggestion that the MS. should be printed.

By the kindness of Lady Anne Dick Lauder four portraits in her possession are reproduced. 1.  Lord Fountainhall, in ordinary dress, a different picture from the one in robes published by the Bannatyne Club. 2.  His first wife, Janet Ramsay, an attractive picture, which suffers in the photographic reproduction. 3.  Sir John Lauder, Fountainhall’s father. 4.  Sir Andrew Ramsay, Lord Abbotshall, his father-in-law.

I have received constant assistance and advice from Mr. T. Graves Law, Librarian of the Signet Library.  I have also to thank Sir Arthur Mitchell, who read some of the proofs, and gave me valuable suggestions, Mr. J.T.  Clark, Keeper of the Advocates’ Library, for ready help on many points, Mr. H.A.  Webster, Librarian of Edinburgh University, Mr. W.B.  Blaikie, of Messrs. T. and A. Constable, and Mr. Alex.  Mill of the Signet Library, who in transcription and otherwise has given me efficient and obliging assistance.

I am particularly grateful to Miss Cornelia Dick Lauder, for the interest which she has taken in the book, and the help which she has given me in obtaining the necessary materials for it.

D.C.

EDINBURGH, March 1900.

I

JOURNAL IN FRANCE

1665-1667

I

JOURNAL 1665-1667.

[The first leaves of the Manuscript are wanting.  Lauder left Edinburgh on 20th March 1665, travelling by Berwick and Durham, and arrived in London on 1st April.  See page 154.]

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