as, it was about our trial for a good prize to-day, "The
Phoenix,"
[There are references to the "Phoenix," a Dutch ship taken as a
prize, among the State Papers (see "Calendar," 1666-67, p. 404).
Pepys appears to have got into trouble at a later date in respect to
this same ship, for among the Rawlinson MSS. (A. 170) are "Papers
relating to the charge brought against him in the House of Commons
in 1689 with reference to the ship Phoenix and the East India
Company in 1681-86."]
a worth two or L3000. I went to them, where they told me with much
trouble how they had sped, being cast and sentenced to make great
reparation for what we had embezzled, and they did it so well that I was
much troubled at it, when by and by Sir W. Batten asked me whether I
was mortified enough, and told me we had got the day, which was mighty
welcome news to me and us all. But it is pretty to see what money will
do. Yesterday, Walker was mighty cold on our behalf, till Sir W. Batten
promised him, if we sped in this business of the goods, a coach; and
if at the next trial we sped for the ship, we would give him a pair
of horses. And he hath strove for us today like a prince, though the
Swedes' Agent was there with all the vehemence he could to save the
goods, but yet we carried it against him. This put me in mighty good
heart, and then we go to Sir W. Pen, who is come back to-night from
Chatham, and did put him into the same condition, and then comforted
him. So back to my office, and wrote an affectionate and sad letter to
my father about his and my mother's illness, and so home to supper and
to bed late.
22nd. Up and by coach to Sir Ph. Warwicke about business for Tangier
about money, and then to Sir Stephen Fox to give him account of a little
service I have done him about money coming to him from our office, and
then to Lovett's and saw a few baubling things of their doing which are
very pretty, but the quality of the people, living only by shifts, do
not please me, that it makes me I do no more care for them, nor shall
have more acquaintance with them after I have got my Lady Castlemayne's
picture home. So to White Hall, where the King at Chapel, and I would
not stay, but to Westminster to Howlett's, and there, he being not well,
I sent for a quart of claret and burnt it and drank, and had a 'basado'
or three or four of Sarah, whom 'je trouve ici', and so by coach to Sir
Robt. Viner's about my accounts
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