[The office generally known as Secretary of the Admiralty dates back
many years, but the officer who filled it was sometimes Secretary to
the Lord High Admiral, and sometimes to the Commission for that
office. "His Majesties Letters Patent for ye erecting the office of
Secretary of ye Admiralty of England, and creating Samuel Pepys,
Esq., first Secretary therein," is dated June 10th, 1684.]

He was thus brought into more intimate connection with Charles II., who
took the deepest interest in shipbuilding and all naval affairs. The Duke
of Buckingham said of the King:--

"The great, almost the only pleasure of his mind to which he seemed
addicted was shipping and sea affairs, which seemed to be so much
his talent for knowledge as well as inclination, that a war of that
kind was rather an entertainment than any disturbance to his
thoughts."

When Pepys ceased to be Clerk of the Acts he was able to obtain the
appointment for his clerk, Thomas Hayter, and his brother, John Pepys, who
held it jointly. The latter does not appear to have done much credit to
Samuel. He was appointed Clerk to the Trinity House in 1670 on his
brother's recommendation, and when he died in 1677 he was in debt L300 to
his employers, and this sum Samuel had to pay. In 1676 Pepys was Master
of the Trinity House, and in the following year Master of the
Clothworkers' Company, when he presented a richly-chased silver cup, which
is still used at the banquets of the company. On Tuesday, 10th September,
1677, the Feast of the Hon. Artillery Company was held at Merchant
Taylors' Hall, when the Duke of York, the Duke of Somerset, the Lord
Chancellor, and other distinguished persons were present. On this