The Diary · Chapter
December 1662 explained
Pepys recovers from illness and celebrates Christmas with pies, church, and a play.
What happens
Pepys recovers from illness and celebrates Christmas with pies, church, and a play. He buys a bake-pan, reads and quickly sells the satirical poem 'Hudebras', attends a performance of 'The Villaine' and 'The Second Part of Rhodes', and deals with domestic troubles involving his maid Jane and his boy. He also observes the audience of the Russian Ambassadors at Whitehall, discusses naval and financial matters with Mr. Coventry and Jack Spicer, and reflects on his declining savings.
Themes in this chapter
Daily Life and Domesticity
Pepys details Christmas preparations, household management, and conflicts with servants.
Money, Debt, and Economy
Pepys tracks his declining savings (£680 to £630), buys items, and discusses Exchequer assignments and goldsmiths' lending.
Theatre and Public Entertainment
Pepys attends plays ('The Villaine' and 'The Second Part of Rhodes') and comments on the audience and performances.
Political Intrigue and Restoration
Discussion of court politics, the King's revenue, and the bill against former Parliamentarians holding office.
Characters to notice
- Samuel Pepys
Narrator and protagonist; attends church, plays, and the Russian Ambassadors' audience; manages household and finances.
- Elizabeth Pepys
Pepys' wife; unwell on Christmas Day but later makes pies; accompanies Pepys to the theatre.
- Sir William Coventry
Naval official; sits with Pepys at the office and discusses affairs.
- Mr. Creed
Meets Pepys at the bookseller's; takes offense at Pepys' letter to Mr. Povy about Tangier boats.
- Mr. Povy
Mentioned in Pepys' letter regarding neglect of Tangier boats.
- Sir William Penn
Neighbor; Pepys visits him briefly on Christmas Day.
- Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich
Pepys' patron; his lodgings at Whitehall are mentioned; Pepys gives advice to Sarah by his order.
Key passages
“Christmas pies all day, being now pretty well again, and I abroad to several places about some businesses, among others bought a bake-pan in Newgate Market, and sent it home, it cost me 16 s.”
Pepys spent Christmas Day making pies, feeling recovered, and went out on errands including buying a baking pan for 16 shillings.
Illustrates domestic activity and expenditure.
“But, Lord! to consider how my natural desire is to pleasure, which God be praised that he has given me the power by my late oaths to curb so well as I have done, and will do again after two or three plays more.”
Pepys reflects on his strong inclination for pleasure, which he has managed to control through recent vows, though he plans to see a few more plays.
Shows Pepys' internal struggle with self-discipline.
“He pities the poor ministers that are put out, to whom, he says, the King is beholden for his coming in, and that if any such thing had been foreseen he had never come in.”
A speaker expresses sympathy for displaced ministers, noting the King owes them for his restoration and might not have returned if their fate had been known.
Reveals political tensions and regrets surrounding the Restoration.