Nixt day, whilk was the 20 Aprill 1666, French accompt, I came to Mr Kinlochs, wheir I am informed that the most part of our countrymen are already goon for England, and that Thirlestan, Gorenberry, and Sandilands (whom I saw and gave on his desire my new testament) was to go the day after.  Their I was first acquaint wt Mr. Forbes[357] (Cullodin) and Archibald Hay (Bara’s brother).  I changed my quarters that same day and came to Kinlochs.

    [357] Probably Duncan Forbes, 1644-1704, M.P. for Nairn, succeeded his
        father about 1688, father of President Forbes.

Within a day or 2 I was acquaint wt our Scots Captains, Captain Caddel, C. Rutherfurd wt a tree leg—­his oune was dong from him at the Seige of Graveling—­and Captain Scot, also on C. White.

I saw the fruit they call grenades[358] at Paris.  To look to before its cut most like a citron:  being cut at the top its all ful of litle grains as like rezer[359] berries in the coulor and bigness, yea almost in the tast, as can be.  It was a pretty sight to sy how prettily the grains ware ranked wtin the skin.

    [358] Pomegranates.

    [359] Rezer, rizzer, red currant.

Mr. Kinloch on night coming from a burial of a Hugonet Medecin at Charenton saw a blind man of the Kings vingt (as they call them, tho they be 15 score) play at the Maille[360] to admiration, wheir upon Mr. Grahme took occasion to tel severall very wonderful things he know of blind men:  amongs others, of one that could play weill to the gooffe, of another that, take doune 2 watches, mix their works as much as ye like in a hat or any other thing, and gave them him, he saw put them up as iust every one wt their oune vorks as any cknock maker shal do.  Its common that they know any sort of silver by a more parfait touche then ordinar, which God is pleased to impart unto them in recompence of the want of sight.

    [360] See p. 20, note 2.

In the renouned toune of Forfar, one who had many kyn having caused milk them at his door, left the tub wheirin he had milked them by neglect at his door.  By comes a neigbhours cow, whow being damned thirsty, comes the by way to the tub and takes a wery hearty draught.  In the mean tyme comes he that ought the milk, and seing the damage that was done him, to the Toune counsel he goes and makes a very greevous complaint, demandes that he that owes the cow that had drunk his milk pay him it.  The counsel was exceedingly troubled wt this demand, never in their remembrance having had the like case throrough their fingers.  After much debat on both sydes, a sutor[361] stands up and showes that he had light upon a medium to take up the difference.  He askes whither it was a standing drink or not that the cow took when she drank out the milk.  They replying whow could she take it but standing, he replyed that it was a most sure thing in that country, knowen to them all, that none ever payed for a standing drink.  They following this decision assolzied and cleared cow wt its owner from paying ought, as having taken only a standing drink.