 He then went to the Continent, partly with the view of studying law there.After some travels, he lived at Poitiers from 28 July 1665 till 24 April 1666, following which he proceeded to Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, and Leyden, Holland, where he matriculated at Leiden University on 27 September 1666.Lord Fountainhall was admitted as an Advocate on 5 June 1668, and was counsel for the Earl of Argyll at his trial, 12 & 13 December 1681, and was also one of the advocates chosen by the Duchess of Monmouth to defend her interests during her husband's trial on 15 February 1686.