DIARY OF SAMUEL PEPYS.

MAY 1661

May 1st. Up early, and bated at Petersfield, in the room which the King
lay in lately at his being there. Here very merry, and played us and our
wives at bowls. Then we set forth again, and so to Portsmouth, seeming to
me to be a very pleasant and strong place; and we lay at the Red Lyon,
where Haselrigge and Scott and Walton did hold their councill, when they
were here, against Lambert and the Committee of Safety. Several officers
of the Yard came to see us to-night, and merry we were, but troubled to
have no better lodgings.

2nd. Up, and Mr. Creed and I to walk round the town upon the walls. Then
to our inn, and there all the officers of the Yard to see me with great
respect, and I walked with them to the Dock and saw all the stores, and
much pleased with the sight of the place. Back and brought them all to
dinner with me, and treated them handsomely; and so after dinner by water
to the Yard, and there we made the sale of the old provisions. Then we and
our wives all to see the Montagu, which is a fine ship, and so to the town
again by water, and then to see the room where the Duke of Buckingham was
killed by Felton.--1628. So to our lodging, and to supper and to bed.
To-night came Mr. Stevens to town to help us to pay off the Fox.

3rd. Early to walk with Mr. Creed up and down the town, and it was in his
and some others' thoughts to have got me made free of the town, but the
Mayor, it seems, unwilling, and so they could not do it. Then to the
payhouse, and there paid off the ship, and so to a short dinner, and then
took coach, leaving Mrs. Hater there to stay with her husband's friends,