, in
order to a little ayre and to lie there to-night, and so to gather May-dew
to-morrow morning,

[If we are to credit the following paragraph, extracted from the
"Morning Post" of May 2nd, 1791, the virtues of May dew were then
still held in some estimation; for it records that "on the day
preceding, according to annual and superstitious custom, a number of
persons went into the fields, and bathed their faces with the dew on
the grass, under the idea that it would render them beautiful"
(Hone's "Every Day Book," vol. ii., p. 611). Aubrey speaks of May
dew as "a great dissolvent" ("Miscellanies," p. 183).--B.]

which Mrs. Turner hath taught her as the only thing in the world to wash
her face with; and I am contented with it. Presently comes Creed, and he
and I by water to Fox-hall, and there walked in Spring Garden. A great
deal of company, and the weather and garden pleasant: that it is very
pleasant and cheap going thither, for a man may go to spend what he will,
or nothing, all is one. But to hear the nightingale and other birds, and
here fiddles, and there a harp, and here a Jew's trump, and here laughing,
and there fine people walking, is mighty divertising. Among others, there
were two pretty women alone, that walked a great while, which being
discovered by some idle gentlemen, they would needs take them up; but to
see the poor ladies how they were put to it to run from them, and they
after them, and sometimes the ladies put themselves along with other
company, then the other drew back; at last, the last did get off out of
the house, and took boat and away. I was troubled to see them abused so;
and could have found in my heart, as little desire of fighting as I have,
to have protected the ladies. So by water, set Creed down at White Hall,
and I to the Old Swan, and so home. My father gone to bed, and wife
abroad at Woolwich, I to Sir W. Pen, where he and his Lady and Pegg and
pretty Mrs. Lowther her sister-in-law at supper, where I sat and talked,
and Sir W. Pen, half drunk, did talk like a fool and vex his wife, that I
was half pleased and half vexed to see so much folly and rudeness from
him, and so late home to bed.

29th. Up, and by coach to St. James's, where by and by up to the Duke of
York, where, among other things, our parson Mills having the offer of
another benefice by Sir Robert Brookes, who was his pupil, he by my Lord
Barkeley [of Stratton] is mad