The Diary · Chapter
June 1664 explained
Pepys grapples with health fears, naval administration, and personal finances.
What happens
Pepys grapples with health fears, naval administration, and personal finances. He learns of Lord Tiviott's death in Tangier, negotiates a profitable ship charter, and endures domestic strife with Elizabeth. The month ends with unresolved Dutch war tensions and family discord over his nephews' care.
Themes in this chapter
Naval Administration and Corruption
Pepys deals with ship delays, incompetent captains, and the Tangier committee's disorganized provisioning.
Money, Debt, and Economy
Pepys profits £26 from a ship charter, worries about Lord Sandwich's debt, and ends the month with £951.
Marriage, Gender, and Sexuality
Pepys and Elizabeth argue about her going out; she cries and later seeks reconciliation.
Daily Life and Domesticity
Pepys enjoys cherries and shuffleboard at Hackney, and worries about his dog being killed.
Characters to notice
- Samuel Pepys
Records his fear of the stone returning, negotiates a ship charter for Tangier, and struggles with marital disputes.
- Elizabeth Pepys
Attends a play with Pepys, argues about attending a christening, and later reconciles with him.
- Sir William Coventry
Dines with Pepys and participates in Tangier committee discussions.
- Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich
Dines with Pepys but avoids business talk; his family's debts are discussed.
- Mr. Creed
Dines with Pepys and witnesses the marital dispute between Pepys and Elizabeth.
- Mr. Sheply
Reports that Lord Sandwich's children left Pepys's mother's house due to poor food.
- Sir John Minnes
Travels with Pepys to St. James's and Whitehall; declines godfather role.
- Captain Cocke
Mentions the Dutch ambassador's arrival and discusses war prospects.
Key passages
“Up, having lain long, going to bed very late after the ending of my accounts. Being up Mr. Hollyard came to me, and to my great sorrow, after his great assuring me that I could not possibly have the stone again, he tells me that he do verily fear that I have it again, and has brought me something to dissolve it, which do make me very much troubled, and pray to God to ease me.”
Pepys wakes late after finishing his accounts. Mr. Hollyard, who had previously assured him he was free of kidney stones, now fears the stones have returned and gives him medicine, deeply troubling Pepys.
Pepys's health anxiety and reliance on medical advice.
“It seems my Lord Tiviott's design was to go a mile and half out of the town, to cut down a wood in which the enemy did use to lie in ambush. He had sent several spies; but all brought word that the way was clear, and so might be for anybody's discovery of an enemy before you are upon them. There they were all snapt, he and all his officers, and about 200 men, as they say; there being left now in the garrison but four captains.”
Lord Tiviott led a mission to cut down a wood used by Moors for ambushes, but despite spies reporting the path clear, he and about 200 men were ambushed and killed, leaving only four captains in the garrison.
Details of the Tangier disaster and its impact on Pepys.
“I did give her my sense very plain of it, which she took well and carried further than myself, to the bemoaning their condition, and remembering how finely things were ordered about six years ago, when I lived there and my Lord at sea every year.”
Pepys frankly tells Lady Sandwich about the family's debts and many children; she agrees and laments how much better their finances were six years earlier.
Pepys's candid advice to Lord Sandwich's family about their financial troubles.
