Pepys (1633 – 1703) was Chief  Secretary for the Admiralty under both King Charles II and King James II through patronage, hard work, and his talent for administration. He was later a Member of Parliament but he is more well-known for his diary. The 1660s represent a turning point in English history, and for the main events – the Restoration, the Dutch War, the Great Plague and the Fire of London – Pepys provides a definitive eyewitness account. As well as recording public and historical events, Pepys paints a vivid picture of his personal life, from his socialising and amorous entanglements, to the theatre of the day and his work at the Navy Board.  Told with high spirits, keen observation and humor, this enduring memoir serves as a window on the world of a significant decade in history. This edition edited by Ernest Rhys.