The Diary of Samuel Pepys. May Dew.

Tuesday 11 May 1669.

"My wife again up by four o’clock, to go to gather May-dew";

The early morning dew collected in the month of May was believed to be very beneficial for the Ladie's complextion. It was collected in any way possible, often with a cloth and then rung into a container. The container was kept in the home, and the contents spread over the skin with the finger tips. This was then allowed to air dry on the skin.

Also a method for collecting drinking water for survival.

Wearing Two Waistcoats.

The Diary of Samuel Pepys

Sunday 9 May 1669.
"This day I first left off both my waistcoats by day, and my waistcoat by night, it being very hot weather, so hot as to make me break out, here and there, in my hands, which vexes me to see, but is good for me".

" and my waistcoat by night". Does he mean at night as in bed?

Pepys Diary.

Saturday 8 May 1669

"Up, and to the Office, and there comes Lead to me, and at last my vizards are done, and glasses got to put in and out, as I will; and I think I have brought it to the utmost, both for easiness of using and benefit, that I can; and so I paid him 15s. for what he hath done now last, in the finishing them, and they, I hope, will do me a great deal of ease".
Pepys at this time was having a great deal of trouble with his eyes, and bright light gave him discomfort.

This is an original Visard or Vizard mask, once covered with silk on the inside and velvet on the outside. To thype of mask, Pepys had tubes fitted into the eye sockets so as to cut out anu outside light and only allow him to see the page he was reading or writing.

These masks were common wear for women in the 16th and 17th centuries and similar masks were I believe used by men and women in public, in the 18th century in Italy.

More about the vizard masks here: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/402520