Produced by David Widger

THE DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS M.A. F.R.S.

CLERK OF THE ACTS AND SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY

TRANSCRIBED FROM THE SHORTHAND MANUSCRIPT IN THE PEPYSIAN LIBRARY MAGDALENE COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE BY THE REV. MYNORS BRIGHT M.A. LATE FELLOW AND PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE

(Unabridged)

WITH LORD BRAYBROOKE'S NOTES

EDITED WITH ADDITIONS BY

HENRY B. WHEATLEY F.S.A.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. MAY 1667

May 1st. Up, it being a fine day, and after doing a little business in mychamber I left my wife to go abroad with W. Hewer and his mother in aHackney coach incognito to the Park, while I abroad to the Excise Officefirst, and there met the Cofferer and Sir Stephen Fox about our moneymatters there, wherein we agreed, and so to discourse of my LordTreasurer, who is a little better than he was of the stone, having resteda little this night. I there did acquaint them of my knowledge of thatdisease, which I believe will be told my Lord Treasurer. Thence toWestminster; in the way meeting many milk-maids with their garlands upontheir pails, dancing with a fiddler before them;

[On the 1st of May milkmaids used to borrow silver cups, tankards, &c., to hang them round their milkpails, with the addition of flowers and ribbons, which they carried upon their heads, accompanied by a bagpipe or fiddle, and went from door to door, dancing before the houses of their customers, in order to obtain a small gratuity from each of them.

              "In London thirty years ago,
               When pretty milkmaids went about,
               It was a goodly sight to see
               Their May-day pageant all drawn out.

              "Such scenes and sounds once blest my eyes
               And charm'd my ears; but all have vanish'd,
               On May-day now no garlands go,
               For milkmaids and their dance are banish'd."

Hone's Every-Day Book, vol. i., pp. 569, 570.]

and saw pretty Nelly standing at her lodgings' door in Drury-lane in hersmock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one: she seemed a mighty prettycreature. To the Hall and there walked a while, it being term. I thencehome to the Rose, and then had Doll Lane venir para me . . . . To myLord Crew's, where I found them at dinner, and among others. Mrs. Bocket,which I have not seen a long time, and two little dirty children, and sheas idle a prating and impertinent woman as ever she was. After dinner myLord took me alone and walked with me, giving me an account of the meetingof the Commissioners for Accounts, whereof he is one. How some of thegentlemen, Garraway, Littleton, and others, did scruple at their firstcoming there, being called thither to act, as Members of Parliament, whichthey could not do by any authority but that of Parliament, and thereforedesired the King's direction in it, which was sent for by my LordBridgewater, who brought answer, very short, that the King expected theyshould obey his Commission. Then they went on, and observed a power to begiven them of administering and framing an oath, which they thought theycould not do by any power but Act of Parliament; and the whole Commissiondid thin

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