Diary of Samuel Pepys — Volume 28: April/May 1664

A day in the life of a mid‑17th‑century clerk unfolds with striking immediacy. From bustling mornings at the Admiralty to the noisy exchanges of the “Change” where merchants press grievances against the Dutch, the diary captures the pulse of London’s political and commercial arenas. Pepys weaves his own observations of the royal family—notes on the queen’s health and the Duke of York’s private audience—into a broader picture of a nation on the brink of conflict.

Beyond official business, his curiosity leads him into the world of shipbuilding, where a rare manuscript on naval construction sparks eager study. Coffee‑house debates about the nature of dreaming versus waking, lively conversations with fellow officials, and the occasional stroll through gardens reveal a man equally engaged in intellectual pursuits and social intrigue. These entries offer listeners a vivid, personal window onto the everyday rhythms, ambitions, and anxieties of Restoration England.