Theirs a fellow also that goes wt a barrel of vinegar on his back, crieng it thorow the toune; another in that same posture fresch oil, others moustard, others wt a maille[159] to cleave wood, also poor women wt their asses loadened wt 2 barrels of water crying, Il y a l’eau fresche.  At Paris its fellows that carryes 2 buckets tied to a ordinar punchion gir,[160] wtin which they march crieng de l’eau, which seimed a litle strange to us at first, we not crying it so at home.  Also theirs to be heard women wt a great web of linnen on their shoulder, a el[161] wand in their hand, crieng their fine toile.  Theirs also poor fellows that goes up and doune wt their hurle barrows in which they carrie their sharping stone to sharp axes or gullies to any bodie that employes him.

    [159] Mell, mallet, beetle.

    [160] Hoop.

    [161] An el.

Their came a Charlatan or Mountebanck to Poictiers the Septembre we was their, whose foolies we went whiles to sie.  The most part of the French Charletanes and Drogists when they come to a toune to gain that he get them themselfes[162] a better name, and that they may let the peaple sie that they are not cheaters as the world termes them, they go to all the Phisitians, Apothecaries and Chiurgions of the toune and proferes to drink any poison that they like to mix him, since he hath a antidote against any poison whatsoever.

    [162] The meaning is, with the object of getting for themselves.

A mountebank at Montpeliers having made this overture, the potingers[163] most unnaturally and wickedly made him a poisonable potion stuffed wt sulfre, quick silver, a vicked thing they cal l’eau forte, and diverse others burning corrasive ingredients to drink.  He being confident in his antidote, he would drink it and apply his antidote in the view of all the peaple upon the stage.  He had not weill drunk it when by the strenth of the ingredients he sunk all most dead upon the scalfold or stage; he suddenly made his recourse to his antidote which he had in his hand; but all would not do, or halfe a hower it bereaved him of his life.

    [163] Apothecaries.

Their are also some of them that by litle and litle assuesses themselfes to the drinking of poison, so that at lenth by a habit they are able to take a considerable draught wt out doing themselfes harme.  Historians reportes this also to have bein practicate by Mithridates, King of Persia [Parthia].[164]

    [164] Interlined.

Upon the founding of the Jesuits Colledge at la Fleche on made thir 2 very quick lines: 

  Arcum dola dedit patribus Gallique sagittam,
  Quis funem autem quem meruere dabit.[165]

    [165] Dola is a mistake for dona.  The pentameter does
        not scan.  It might be emended, Dic mihi quis funem.