The Diary · Chapter
January 1668–69 explained
Pepys navigates court factions, naval administration, and personal domestic life.
What happens
Pepys navigates court factions, naval administration, and personal domestic life. He attends plays, discusses Tangier treasury matters, and observes the King's unstable councils regarding Parliament. He also receives a new instrument (Parallelogram) and prints from France, while dealing with his wife's jealousy.
Themes in this chapter
Political Intrigue and Restoration
Court factions, the King's unstable councils, and power struggles among nobles dominate the chapter.
Naval Administration and Corruption
Debates over ship repair timelines and Tangier treasury management reflect administrative challenges.
Theatre and Public Entertainment
Pepys attends plays (Macbeth, The Maiden Queen) and discusses playhouse management with Tom Killigrew.
Daily Life and Domesticity
Domestic scenes include Pepys's wife reading, jealousy over his outings, and receiving prints and gloves from France.
Characters to notice
- Samuel Pepys
Narrator and central figure; attends plays, manages office business, and interacts with court figures.
- Elizabeth Pepys
Pepys's wife; reads to him, accompanies him to plays, and shows jealousy over his movements.
- Sir William Coventry
Advisor to Pepys on Tangier treasury; discusses court factions and the King's councils.
- Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich
Pepys's patron; walks with him in the garden and discusses the Tangier paymaster position.
- Mr. Povy
Advises Pepys on Tangier treasury matters and shares gossip about court intrigues.
- Sir William Batten
Naval officer; attends the meeting at Lord Keeper's house regarding ship repairs.
- Lord Brouncker
Accompanies Pepys to the King's elaboratory; present at court discussions.
- Mr. Hewer
Pepys's clerk; helps with Tangier papers and accompanies him to Whitehall.
Key passages
“Povy tells me that Sir W. Coventry was with the King alone, an hour this day; and that my Lady Castlemayne is now in a higher command over the King than ever—not as a mistress, for she scorns him, but as a tyrant, to command him”
Povy reports that Lady Castlemaine now dominates the King as a tyrant, not a lover, and that Coventry had a private audience with him.
Highlights the power dynamics and personal influence at court.
“The King seemed mighty full that we should have money to do all that we desired, and satisfied that, without it, nothing could be done”
The King acknowledged that funding is essential for naval repairs, but no concrete decisions were made.
Reflects the ongoing financial constraints on naval readiness.
“I did give him thanks for his favour to me yesterday, at the Committee of Tangier, in my absence, Mr. Povy having given me advice of it”
Pepys thanked the Duke of York for protecting his interests at the Tangier committee meeting while he was absent.
Shows Pepys's reliance on patronage and favor at court.
