1667. Samuel has a nightmare about his sick mother, and out of respect cancels his stone party, held every year to celebrate surviving an operation to remove a bladder stone. At work he finds the Navy office in a dismal state, with oarsmen and carpenters dying of hunger for lack of pay. He visits Jervas, the barber, to try on a new wig but doesn't buy it when he finds it's full of nits. Adapted by Hattie Naylor.

Theme music: Gather Ye Rosebuds While Ye May, words by Robert Herrick and music by William Lawes, sung by Bethany Hughes. Lute, baroque guitar and theorbo played by David Miller. Violin and viol by Annika Gray, and recorders by Alice Baxter.

Historical consultant: Liza Picard
Sound by Nigel Lewis

A BBC/Cymru Wales production, directed by Kate McAll. Show less