nd so directly home and dined with Sir W.
Batten and my Lady, and after dinner had much discourse tending to
profit with Sir W. Batten, how to get ourselves into the prize office

[The Calendars of State Papers are full of references to
applications for Commissionerships of the Prize Office. In
December, 1664, the Navy Committee appointed themselves the
Commissioners for Prize Goods, Sir Henry Bennet being appointed
comptroller, and Lord Ashley treasurer.]

or some other fair way of obliging the King to consider us in our
extraordinary pains. Then to the office, and there all the afternoon
very busy, and so till past 12 at night, and so home to bed. This day my
wife went to the burial of a little boy of W. Joyce's.

17th. Up and to my office, and there all the morning mighty busy, and
taking upon me to tell the Comptroller how ill his matters were done,
and I think indeed if I continue thus all the business of the office
will come upon me whether I will or no. At noon to the 'Change, and then
home with Creed to dinner, and thence I to the office, where close at it
all the afternoon till 12 at night, and then home to supper and to bed.
This day I received from Mr. Foley, but for me to pay for it, if I like
it, an iron chest, having now received back some money I had laid out
for the King, and I hope to have a good sum of money by me, thereby, in
a few days, I think above L800. But when I come home at night, I could
not find the way to open it; but, which is a strange thing, my little
girle Susan could carry it alone from one table clear from the ground
and set upon another, when neither I nor anyone in my house but Jane the
cook-mayde could do it.

18th. Up and to the office, and thence to the Committee of the Fishery
at White Hall, where so poor simple doings about the business of the
Lottery, that I was ashamed to see it, that a thing so low and base
should have any thing to do with so noble an undertaking. But I had the
advantage this day to hear Mr. Williamson discourse, who come to be a
contractor with others for the Lotterys, and indeed I find he is a very
logicall man and a good speaker. But it was so pleasant to see my Lord
Craven, the chaireman, before many persons of worth and grave, use this
comparison in saying that certainly these that would contract for all
the lotteries would not suffer us to set up the Virginia lottery for
plate before them, "For," says he, "if I occupy a wenc