[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