March 1667–68 explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Naval Administration and Corruption

  Pepys prepares defenses against accusations of mismanagement, ticket fraud, and favoritism in payments.

• Political Intrigue and Restoration

  Parliamentary proceedings, King's remarks at Council, and rumors of Navy Officers being turned out.

• Daily Life and Domesticity

  Pepys reads a book by the Duchess of Newcastle, plans wife's closet, and deals with family concerns about cousin Kate.

Characters to notice

• Samuel Pepys

  Works on defense for Parliament, meets with Sir W. Coventry, visits Mrs. Martin, and attends Council meeting.

• Elizabeth Pepys

  Agrees to have her closet made up and plans a country visit; works on preparations with Deb.

• Sir William Coventry

  Anxious about Parliament; helps Pepys prepare defense; argues against entering men prematurely for the fleet.

• Sir William Penn

  Accompanies Pepys to Whitehall and Hyde Park; rumored to command the summer fleet.

• Lord Brouncker

  Attends Council with Pepys and Penn to discuss manning the fleet.

• Mr. Hewer

  Discusses House business with Pepys and reports town gossip about Navy Officers being turned out.

• Roger Pepys

  Walks with Pepys and Creed; believes only dissolving Parliament can save the nation.

• Mr. Creed

  Walks with Pepys and Roger Pepys in Westminster.

Key passages

• “I find him in great anxiety, though he will not discover it, in the business of the proceedings of Parliament; and would as little as is possible have his name mentioned in our discourse to them; and particularly the business of selling places is now upon his hand to defend himself in; wherein I did help him in his defence about the flag-maker's place, which is named in the House.”

  Sir W. Coventry is very worried about Parliament's actions, though he hides it, and wants his name kept out of our discussions; he must defend himself against accusations of selling offices, and I assisted him regarding the flag-maker's post that was mentioned in the House.

  Pepys helps Coventry prepare for parliamentary scrutiny over patronage.

• “I did then speak to the justifying what we had done, even to the angering of Duncomb and Clifford, which I was vexed at: but, for all that, I did set the Office and myself right, and went away with the victory, my Lord Keeper saying that he would not advise the Council to order us to sign no more certificates.”

  I defended our actions so strongly that I angered Duncomb and Clifford, but I succeeded in vindicating the Office and myself, and the Lord Keeper supported us.

  Pepys wins a point at Council over signing certificates for prize goods.

• “This afternoon I was surprised with a letter without a name to it, very well writ, in a good stile, giving me notice of my cousin Kate Joyce's being likely to ruin herself by marriage, and by ill reports already abroad of her, and I do fear that this keeping of an inne may spoil her, being a young and pretty comely woman, and thought to be left well.”

  I received an anonymous, well-written letter warning that my cousin Kate Joyce may ruin herself through marriage and bad rumors; I worry that running an inn will corrupt her, as she is young, attractive, and thought to be well-off.

  Pepys is concerned about his cousin's reputation and prospects.