and availed themselves of his knowledge of naval
affairs.

In the following year there was some chance that Pepys might retire from
public affairs, and take upon himself the headship of one of the chief
Cambridge colleges. On the death of Sir Thomas Page, the Provost of
King's College, in August, 1681, Mr. S. Maryon, a Fellow of Clare
Hall, recommended Pepys to apply to the King for the appointment, being
assured that the royal mandate if obtained would secure his election. He
liked the idea, but replied that he believed Colonel Legge (afterwards
Lord Dartmouth) wanted to get the office for an old tutor. Nothing
further seems to have been done by Pepys, except that he promised if
he were chosen to give the whole profit of the first year, and at least
half of that of each succeeding year, to "be dedicated to the general
and public use of the college." In the end Dr. John Coplestone was
appointed to the post.

On May 22nd, 1681, the Rev. Dr. Milles, rector of St. Olave's, who is
so often mentioned in the Diary, gave Pepys a certificate as to his
attention to the services of the Church. It is not quite clear what was
the occasion of the certificate, but probably the Diarist wished to have
it ready in case of another attack upon him in respect to his tendency
towards the Church of Rome.

Early in 1682 Pepys accompanied the Duke of York to Scotland, and
narrowly escaped shipwreck by the way. Before letters could arrive
in London to tell of his safety, the news came of the wreck of the
"Gloucester" (the Duke's ship), and of the loss of many lives. His
friends' anxiety was relieved by the arrival of a letter which Pepys
wrote from Edinburgh to Hewer on May 8th, in which he detailed the
particulars of the adventure. The Duke invited him to go on board the
"Gloucester" frigate, but he preferred his own yacht (the "Catherine "),
in which he had more room, and in consequence of his resolution he saved
himself from the risk of drowning. On May 5th the frigate struck upon
the sand called "The Lemon and Oar," about sixteen leagues from the
mouth of the Humber. This was caused by the carelessness of the pilot,
to whom Pepys imputed "an obstinate over-weening in opposition to the
contrary opinions of Sir I. Berry, his master, mates, Col. Legg, the
Duke himself, and several others, concurring unanimously in not being
yet clear of the sands." The Duke and his party escaped, but numbers
were drowned in the sinking ship, and it is said