ys Aubrey, "the
inside all of looking-glass and fountains, very pleasant to behold."
The gardens were formed about 1661, and originally called the "New
Spring Gardens," to distinguish them from the "Old Spring Gardens"
at Charing Cross, but according to the present description by Pepys
there was both an Old and a New Spring Garden at Vauxhall.
Balthazar Monconys, who visited England early in the reign of
Charles II., describes the 'Jardins Printemps' at Lambeth as having
lawns and gravel walks, dividing squares of twenty or thirty yards
enclosed with hedges of gooseberry trees, within which were planted
roses.]

where I had not been a great while. To the Old Spring Garden, and there
walked long, and the wenches gathered pinks. Here we staid, and seeing
that we could not have anything to eat, but very dear, and with long
stay, we went forth again without any notice taken of us, and so we
might have done if we had had anything. Thence to the New one, where I
never was before, which much exceeds the other; and here we also walked,
and the boy crept through the hedge and gathered abundance of roses,
and, after a long walk, passed out of doors as we did in the other
place, and here we had cakes and powdered beef--[salt beef]--and ale,
and so home again by water with much pleasure. This day, being the
King's birth-day, was very solemnly observed; and the more, for that
the Queen this day comes to Hampton Court. In the evening, bonfires were
made, but nothing to the great number that was heretofore at the burning
of the Rump. So to bed.

30th. This morning I made up my accounts, and find myself 'de claro'
worth about L530, and no more, so little have I increased it since my
last reckoning; but I confess I have laid out much money in clothes.
Upon a suddaine motion I took my wife, and Sarah and Will by water, with
some victuals with us, as low as Gravesend, intending to have gone into
the Hope to the Royal James, to have seen the ship and Mr. Shepley, but
meeting Mr. Shepley in a hoy, bringing up my Lord's things, she and I
went on board, and sailed up with them as far as half-way tree, very
glad to see Mr. Shepley. Here we saw a little Turk and a negroe, which
are intended for pages to the two young ladies. Many birds and other
pretty noveltys there was, but I was afeard of being louzy, and so
took boat again, and got to London before them, all the way, coming and
going, read