Publications of the Scottish History Society, Volume 36 Journals of Sir John Lauder Lord Fountainhall with His Observations on Public Affairs and Other Memoranda 1665-1676

These notes belong to Sir John Lauder, a young Scottish advocate who set out for France in 1665 to study law. His journals record the everyday details of life in Orleans and Poitiers, the costs of his stay, and the impressions a nineteen‑year‑old made of foreign courts and customs. The vivid entries give listeners a personal glimpse of a formative decade in a period of political change.

After returning home, Lauder turned his careful pen to the bustling streets of London, the ancient halls of Oxford, and the familiar landscapes of Scotland. He documented journeys, recorded court decisions from the Court of Session between 1668 and 1676, and offered candid observations on public affairs during the tumultuous years of 1669‑70. Interspersed are practical accounts of his expenses and a catalogue of the books he purchased, painting a detailed portrait of a lawyer’s world.

Edited with scholarly notes and illustrated with period portraits, the collection has been assembled to make these seventeenth‑century records accessible to modern ears. The editor’s introductions clarify the context, while the original handwriting retains its immediacy. Listeners will find a rich, ground‑level view of Scottish legal and social life, perfect for anyone curious about the everyday history behind the grand events.