Diary, May 1667 | Page 4

F.S.A.

DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS. MAY 1667
May 1st. Up, it being a fine day, and after doing a little business in my
chamber I left my wife to go abroad with W. Hewer and his mother in a
Hackney coach incognito to the Park, while I abroad to the Excise
Office first, and there met the Cofferer and Sir Stephen Fox about our

money matters there, wherein we agreed, and so to discourse of my
Lord Treasurer, who is a little better than he was of the stone, having
rested a little this night. I there did acquaint them of my knowledge of
that disease, which I believe will be told my Lord Treasurer. Thence to
Westminster; in the way meeting many milk-maids with their garlands
upon their 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 her
smock sleeves and bodice, looking upon one: she seemed a mighty
pretty creature. To the Hall and there walked a while, it being term. I
thence home to the Rose, and then had Doll Lane venir para me . . . .
To my Lord 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 she as idle a prating and impertinent woman as ever she
was. After dinner my Lord took me alone and walked with me, giving
me an account of the meeting of the Commissioners for Accounts,
whereof he is one. How some of the gentlemen, Garraway, Littleton,
and others, did scruple at their first coming there, being called thither to
act, as Members of Parliament, which they could not do by any
authority but that of Parliament, and therefore desired the King's
direction in it, which was sent for by my Lord Bridgewater, who
brought answer, very short, that the King expected they should obey his
Commission. Then they went on, and observed a power to be given
them of administering and framing an oath, which they thought they
could not do by any power but Act of Parliament; and the whole
Commission did think fit to have the judges' opinion in it; and so,

drawing up their scruples in writing, they all attended the King, who
told them he would send to the judges to be answered, and did so; who
have, my Lord tells me, met three times about it, not knowing what
answer to give to it; and they have met this week, doing nothing but
expecting the solution of the judges in this point. My Lord tells me he
do believe this Commission will do more hurt than good; it may undo
some accounts, if these men shall think fit; but it can never clear an
account, for he must come into the Exchequer for all this. Besides, it is
a kind of inquisition that hath seldom ever been granted in England;
and he believes it will never, besides, give any satisfaction to the
People or Parliament, but be looked upon as a forced, packed business
of the King, especially if these Parliament-men that are of it shall not
concur with them: which he doubts they will not, and, therefore, wishes
much that the King would lay hold of this fit occasion, and let the
Commission fall. Then to talk of my Lord Sandwich, whom my Lord
Crew hath a great desire might get to be Lord Treasurer if the present
Lord should die, as it is believed he will, in a little time; and thinks he
can have no competitor but my Lord Arlington, who, it is given out,
desires it: but my Lord thinks it is not so, for that the being Secretary
do keep him a greater interest with the King than the other would do at
least, do believe, that if my Lord would surrender him his Wardrobe
place, it would be a temptation to Arlington to assist my Lord in getting
the Treasurer's. I did object to my Lord [Crew] that