The Diary · Chapter
February 1664–65 explained
Pepys records his daily life in February 1664–65, including his financial gains from a death, his visit to Paul's Churchyard for bookbinding, and his attendance at church.
What happens
Pepys records his daily life in February 1664–65, including his financial gains from a death, his visit to Paul's Churchyard for bookbinding, and his attendance at church. He engages in naval business, inspects rope-making and Sir W. Petty's ship, and celebrates St. Valentine's Day. He is admitted to Gresham College, attends a Committee of Tangier, and deals with domestic tensions over money. The chapter also covers discussions on Dutch wages, pressing of men, and the loss of the Royal Oak.
Themes in this chapter
Naval Administration and Corruption
Pepys engages in naval business, inspects rope-making and Sir W. Petty's ship, discusses pressing of men, and hears complaints about careless governance.
Money, Debt, and Economy
Pepys gains £100 per annum from a death, settles accounts with Mr. Moore, and quarrels with Elizabeth over 7s. missing from kitchen accounts.
Daily Life and Domesticity
Pepys visits Paul's Churchyard for bookbinding, attends church, celebrates St. Valentine's Day, and has domestic tensions over money.
Characters to notice
- Samuel Pepys
Records his financial gain from a stranger's death, visits Paul's Churchyard, attends church, inspects rope-making and Sir W. Petty's ship, is admitted to Gresham College, and has a domestic quarrel over accounts.
- Elizabeth Pepys
Receives Dicke Penn as her Valentine, goes out for visits in Sir J. Minnes's coach, and has a falling out with Pepys over kitchen accounts.
- Sir William Batten
Pepys visits him and hears about Sir Thos. Harvy's intention to put Mr. Turner out of his house.
- Sir John Minnes
Pepys has high words with him about Sir W. Warren, calling him a cheating knave.
- Lord Brouncker
Pepys goes to the 'Change with him and is admitted to Gresham College by him as President.
- Mr. Povy
Proposes Pepys for membership at Gresham College; is scorned for his poor accounting at the Committee of Tangier.
- Sir William Coventry
Pepys walks with him in St. James's Park, noting his melancholy over careless governance.
- Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich
Reported to be with his fleet at Alborough Bay; Pepys orders plate for him.
Key passages
“dead; for which, God knows my heart, I could be as sorry as is possible for one to be for a stranger, by whose death he gets £100 per annum, he being a worthy, honest man; but after having considered that when I come to consider the providence of God by this means unexpectedly to give me £100 a year more in my estate, I have cause to bless God, and do it from the bottom of my heart.”
Pepys feels sorry for the death of a stranger, but acknowledges that it brings him an unexpected £100 per year, for which he thanks God.
Pepys reflects on his financial gain from a death.
“But to hear how my Lord Barkeley and others of them do cry up the discipline of the late times here, and in the former Dutch war is strange, wishing with all their hearts that the business of religion were not so severely carried on as to discourage the sober people to come among us, and wishing that the same law and severity were used against drunkenness as there was then, saying that our evil living will call the hand of God upon us again.”
Lord Berkeley and others praise the strict discipline of past times and wish for less severe religious enforcement and more action against drunkenness, fearing divine punishment.
Discussion at the committee about moral discipline and religion.
“I find she is very cunning, and when she least shows it hath her wit at work; but it is an ill one, though I think not so bad but with good usage I might well bear with it, and the truth is I do”
Pepys observes that his wife is cunning and uses her wit subtly, but believes he could tolerate it with kind treatment.
Pepys reflects on his wife's character after their quarrel.
