“Thence to the Park, my wife and I: and here did Sir W. Coventry first see me and my wife in a coach of our own: and so did also this night the Duke of York, who did eye my wife mightily. But I begin to doubt that my being so much seen in my own coach at this time may be observed to my prejudice: but I must venture now.” This new purchase added much to Mr. and Mrs. Pepys’ enjoyment of the May-Day show, although their tempers were none of the best on that occasion, seemingly: “At noon home to dinner, and there find my wife extraordinary fine, with her flowered tably gown that she made two years ago, now laced exceeding pretty; and indeed was fine all over; and mighty earnest to go though the day was very lowering; and she would have me put on my fine suit, which I did. And so anon we went alone through the town with our new liveries of serge, and the horses’ manes and tails tied with red ribbons, and the standards there gilt with varnish, and all clean, and green reines, that people did mightily look upon us; and the truth is, I did not see any coach more pretty though more gay, than ours, all the day. But we set out, out of humour—I because Betty, whom I expected, was not to come to go with us; and my wife that I would sit on the same seat with her, which she likes not, being so fine: and she then expected to meet Sheres, which we did in Pell Mell, and against my will, I was forced to take him into the coach, but was sullen all day almost, and little complaisant; the day also being unpleasing, though the Park full of coaches, but dusty and windy and cold, and now and then a little dribbling rain; and what made it worst there were so many hackney coaches as spoiled the sight of the Gentlemen’s; and so we had little pleasure. But here was W. Batelier and his sister in a borrowed coach by themselves, and I took them and we to the Lodge; and at the door did give them a syllabub and other things cost me 12s. and pretty merry: and so back to the coaches and there till evening.” It was at a Review a few days after that Pepys “saw more, walking out of my coach as other gentlemen did, of a soldier’s trade than ever I did in my life; the men being mighty fine, and their commanders, particularly the Duke of Monmouth, but methought the trade but very easy as to the mustering of their men, but indifferently ready to perform what was commanded, in the handling of arms.” This entry is followed up by a bit of gossip such as Pepys dearly loved to retail: “Here the news first talked of Harry Killigrew’s being wounded in nine places last night by footmen in the highway, going from the Park in a hackney coach towards Hammersmith to his house at Turnham Greene; they being supposed to be my Lady Shrewsbury’s men, she being by, in her coach with six horses, upon an old grudge.”