t intended for the Secretary
to the Admiralty, and that Pepys acted in that office for the last time
on 20th February, 1688-89, but between those dates we know nothing of
the anxieties and troubles that he must have suffered. On the 9th March
an order was issued from the Commissioners of the Admiralty for him
to deliver up his books, &c., to Phineas Bowies, who superseded him as
secretary.

Pepys had many firm friends upon whom he could rely, but he had also
enemies who lost no opportunity of worrying him. On June 10th, 1690,
Evelyn has this entry in his Diary, which throws some light upon the
events of the time:--

"Mr. Pepys read to me his Remonstrance, skewing with what malice and
injustice he was suspected with Sir Anth. Deane about the timber of
which the thirty ships were built by a late Act of Parliament, with
the exceeding danger which the fleete would shortly be in, by reason
of the tyranny and incompetency of those who now managed the
Admiralty and affairs of the Navy, of which he gave an accurate
state, and shew'd his greate ability."

On the 25th of this same month Pepys was committed to the Gatehouse at
Westminster on a charge of having sent information to the French Court
of the state of the English navy. There was no evidence of any kind
against him, and at the end of July he was allowed to return to his own
house on account of ill-health. Nothing further was done in respect to
the charge, but he was not free till some time after, and he was long
kept in anxiety, for even in 1692 he still apprehended some fresh
persecution.

Sir Peter Palavicini, Mr. James Houblon, Mr. Blackburne, and Mr. Martin
bailed him, and he sent them the following circular letter:--

"October 15, 1690.

"Being this day become once again a free man in every respect, I
mean but that of my obligation to you and the rest of my friends, to
whom I stand indebted for my being so, I think it but a reasonable
part of my duty to pay you and them my thanks for it in a body; but
know not how otherwise to compass it than by begging you, which I
hereby do, to take your share with them and me here, to-morrow, of a
piece of mutton, which is all I dare promise you, besides that of
being ever,

"Your most bounden and faithful humble servant,
"S. P."

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