Having entred the toune we sought out Mr. Garnier the Apothecaries, for whom I had a letter from Mr. Doull at Saumurs, who on that accepted us kindly enough, only they had not such accomodation as I demanded, whence I took occasion to deliver a letter I brought wt me out of Scotland from young John Elies to Mr. Daille, wt whom I entred pensionar about 8 dayes after I had bein in Poictiers, to wit 28 July 1665.

I cannot bury in silence the moderation of Mr. Garniers wife, so wertous and sparing a house wife she was that Wine never entred in hir mouth.  Always hir drink was pure water, tho no restraint was laying upon hir to do it.

As the nature of thir peeple is to be wery frugall, so I fand that they ware right Athenians loving to tell and to hear news, which may be marked also in the most part of them that live on the Loier; for I had not bein a night in Poictiers when all that Street, and in sewerall other places of the toune, sundry knew that a Scotsman was come to the toune; that he came from Saumur, that he brought a letter for Mr. Garnier wt whom he quartred.  The first night on my arrivall after I had supped came in my Hosts brother, a marchand, who amongs others enquired if I might know Mr. Douglas.  I replied, yes; he added that he had left a child behind him, which tho Mr. Daille owned for his, yet it had wholly a Scots cry not a French.

The morning after my arrivall they chanced to have sermon in the Protestants church at Quatre Picket, wheir I fand Colinton,[101] who a little before had returned from the Rochell, wheir he had bein also on the Isle of Rhee and that of Oleron.  He after dinner took me to Mr. Alex’rs, wheir I found all our Countrymen convened, only Alex’r Hume was at that tyme out in the Campaigne some leagues.  Their I fand my right reverend good Sir Mr. Patrick Hume,[102] for whom I had two letters, one from Pighog,[103] another from John Suty at London, David Hume, for whom I had a letter from Saumur, Mr. Scot, Ardrosses sone, and Mr. Grahame, Morphees sone.  Shortly after I saw both the 2 Alex’rs, Alexander the professour, to whom I delivred a letter from young J. Elies and Alex’r Hume:  them all one night I took in to a Hostellery called le Chappeau d’Or and gav them their supper, which cost me about 17 livres 10 souse.

    [101] Probably James Foulis, son of Sir James Foulis, Lord Colinton,
        advocate 1669, a lord of Session 1674, with the title of Lord
        Reidford.

    [102] The friend thus playfully described may be Sir Patrick Hume,
        advocate, who often appears as a litigant in Fountainhall’s
        Decisions.

    [103] See page 145, note 2.