e from Trinity
Hall, where he had always lived; only by accident the business of the want
of a Judge being proposed to the present Archbishop of Canterbury that now
is, he did think of this man and sent for him up: and here he is, against
the 'gre' and content of the old Doctors, made judge, but is a very
excellent man both for judgment and temper, yet majesty enough, and by all
men's report, not to be corrupted. After dinner to the Court, where Sir
Ellis Layton did make a very silly motion in our behalf, but did neither
hurt nor good. After him Walker and Wiseman; and then the judge did
pronounce his sentence; for some part of the goods and ship, and the
freight of the whole, to be free, and returned and paid by us; and the
remaining, which was the greater part, to be ours. The loss of so much
troubles us, but we have got a pretty good part, thanks be to God! So we
are not displeased nor yet have cause to triumph, as we did once expect.
Having seen the end of this, I being desirous to be at home to see the
issue of any country letters about my mother, which I expect shall give me
tidings of her death, I directly home and there to the office, where I
find no letter from my father or brother, but by and by the boy tells me
that his mistress sends me word that she hath opened my letter, and that
she is loth to send me any more news. So I home, and there up to my wife
in our chamber, and there received from my brother the newes of my
mother's dying on Monday, about five or six o'clock in the afternoon, and
that the last time she spoke of her children was on Friday last, and her
last words were, "God bless my poor Sam!" The reading hereof did set me
a-weeping heartily, and so weeping to myself awhile, and my wife also to
herself, I then spoke to my wife respecting myself, and indeed, having
some thoughts how much better both for her and us it is than it might have
been had she outlived my father and me or my happy present condition in
the world, she being helpless, I was the sooner at ease in my mind, and
then found it necessary to go abroad with my wife to look after the
providing mourning to send into the country, some to-morrow, and more
against Sunday, for my family, being resolved to put myself and wife, and
Barker and Jane, W. Hewer and Tom, in mourning, and my two under-mayds, to
give them hoods and scarfs and gloves. So to my tailor's, and up and
down, and then home and to my office a little, and then to supper a