"Sir,--That there might be no mistake, I thought best to put my
answer in writing to those questions that yourself, Sir William
Coventry, and Mr. Garroway were pleased to propose to me this
morning from the House of Commons, which is that I never designed to
be a witness against any man for what I either heard or saw, and
therefore did not take so exact notice of things inquired of as to
be able to remember them so clearly as is requisite to do in a
testimony upon honour or oath, or to so great and honourable a body
as the House of Commons, it being some years distance since I was at
Mr. Pepys his lodging. Only that particular of an altar is so
signal that I must needs have remembered it had I seen any such
thing, which I am sure I do not. This I desire you to communicate
with Sir William Coventry and Mr. Garroway to be delivered as my
answer to the House of Commons, it being the same I gave you this
morning.

"I am, Sir,
"Your most humble servant,
"SHAFTESBURY."

After reading this letter Sir William Coventry very justly remarked,
"There are a great many more Catholics than think themselves so, if
having a crucifix will make one." Mr. Christie resented the remarks
on Lord Shaftesbury's part in this persecution of Pepys made by Lord
Braybrooke, who said, "Painful indeed is it to reflect to what length
the bad passions which party violence inflames could in those days
carry a man of Shaftesbury's rank, station, and abilities." Mr. Christie
observes, "It is clear from the letter to Meres that Shaftesbury showed
no malice and much scrupulousness when a formal charge, involving
important results, was founded on his loose private conversations." This
would be a fair vindication if the above attack upon Pepys stood alone,
but we shall see later on that Shaftesbury was the moving spirit in a
still more unjustifiable attack.

Lord Sandwich died heroically in the naval action in Southwold Bay, and
on June 24th,1672, his remains were buried with some pomp in Westminster
Abbey. There were eleven earls among the mourners, and Pepys, as the
first among "the six Bannerolles," walked in the procession.

About this time Pepys was called from his old post of Clerk of the
Acts to the higher office of Secretary of the Admiralty. His first
appointment was a piece of favour