May 1663 explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Political Intrigue and Restoration

  Pepys discusses the King's neglect of business, the influence of Lady Castlemaine, and the factional struggles among courtiers like Lord Bristol and the Duke of Buckingham.

• Naval Administration and Corruption

  Pepys deals with the fallout of clerk Hater's religious nonconformity, reflecting the tension between personal belief and naval office discipline.

• Theatre and Public Entertainment

  Pepys visits the newly opened Theatre Royal, critiques the play 'The Humerous Lieutenant,' and notes the fashion of ladies in the pit.

• Money, Debt, and Economy

  Pepys arranges financial support for his father, tours the Mint to learn about coinage, and hears about counterfeiting schemes.

Characters to notice

• Samuel Pepys

  Narrator and protagonist; manages family finances, attends plays, deals with clerk Hater's Anabaptist leanings, and observes court politics.

• Elizabeth Pepys

  Pepys's wife; accompanies him to the theatre and the Park, and dances at home with Pembleton.

• Sir William Batten

  Naval colleague; Pepys fears Batten may learn of clerk Hater's religious meeting and cause trouble.

• Edward Montagu, Earl of Sandwich

  Pepys's patron; dines at Lord Crew's and discusses political matters with Pepys.

• Sir William Coventry

  Naval administrator; Pepys consults him about clerk Hater's situation and receives the Duke's lenient response.

• Mr. Hewer

  Clerk Hater; confesses to Pepys about being caught at a religious meeting and fears losing his position.

• Mr. Pembleton

  Dancing master; joins the Pepys household for supper and dancing, sparking Pepys's jealousy.

• Sir John Minnes

  Naval colleague; accompanies Pepys to the Mint to observe coinage production.

Key passages

• “The house is made with extraordinary good contrivance, and yet hath some faults, as the narrowness of the passages in and out of the Pit, and the distance from the stage to the boxes, which I am confident cannot hear; but for all other things it is well, only, above all, the music being below, and most of it sounding under the very stage, there is no hearing of the bases at all, nor very well of the trebles, which sure must be mended.”

  The new theatre is cleverly designed but has flaws: the pit passages are too narrow, the boxes are too far from the stage to hear well, and the music, placed under the stage, makes the bass inaudible and the treble hard to hear.

  Pepys critiques the architecture and acoustics of the newly opened Theatre Royal.

• “I was extraordinary surprised with it, and troubled for him, knowing that now it is out it is impossible for me to conceal it, or keep him in employment under me without danger to myself.”

  I was shocked and worried for Hater, because now that his religious meeting is known, I cannot hide it or keep him on without risking my own position.

  Pepys reacts to clerk Hater's confession about being caught at an Anabaptist meeting.

• “the King do mind nothing but pleasures, and hates the very sight or thoughts of business; that my Lady Castlemaine rules him, who, he says, hath all the tricks of Aretin that are to be practised to give pleasure.”

  The King cares only for pleasure and detests business; Lady Castlemaine dominates him, using every seductive trick from Aretino's writings.

  Sir Thomas Crew laments the King's hedonism and Castlemaine's influence over him.

• “one of a labourer discovered to convey away the bits of silver cut out pence by swallowing them down into his belly, and so they could not find him out, though, of course, they searched all the labourers; but, having reason to doubt him, they did, by threats and promises, get him to confess, and did find £7 of it in his house at one time.”

  A laborer stole silver clippings from coins by swallowing them, evading searches until threats and promises led him to confess, revealing £7 worth hidden at home.

  Pepys recounts a clever theft at the Mint where a laborer swallowed silver bits to avoid detection.