January-June, 1666 Summary

The noblemen begin to return to London, which causes a stir among every class of people.

The sum of Pepys' wealth reaches 5000 pounds in the New Year. He is saddened when Mrs. Knipp misses a party because of her abusive husband. He takes the opportunity of the closed theatres to tour backstage. Pepys is disappointed that the props that look so great from the audience appear cheap up close. He sees an archbishop for the first time in his life. He also attends Easter Mass at the Catholic Church but still finds the service inferior to his own church's traditions.

Pepys finally returns to the Office of the Treasury, which has not had a meeting since the onset of the plague. Many doctors of the noblemen offer excuses as to their leaving the city, claiming they were only following the bulk of their...