done of the greatest consequence, and how soon the memory of this great
man is gone, or, at least, out of mind by the thoughts of who goes next,
which is not yet knowne. My Lord of Oxford, Muskerry, and several others
are discoursed of. It seems my Lord Tiviott's design was to go a mile and
half out of the towne, to cut down a wood in which the enemy did use to
lie in ambush. He had sent several spyes; but all brought word that the
way was clear, and so might be for any body's discovery of an enemy before
you are upon them. There they were all snapt, he and all his officers,
and about 200 men, as they say; there being left now in the garrison but
four captains. This happened the 3d of May last, being not before that
day twelvemonth of his entering into his government there: but at his
going out in the morning he said to some of his officers, "Gentlemen, let
us look to ourselves, for it was this day three years that so many brave
Englishmen were knocked on the head by the Moores, when Fines made his
sally out." Here till almost night, and then home with Sir J. Minnes by
coach, and so to my office a while, and home to supper and bed, being now
in constant pain in my back, but whether it be only wind or what it is the
Lord knows, but I fear the worst.

3rd. Up, still in a constant pain in my back, which much afflicts me with
fear of the consequence of it. All the morning at the office, we sat at
the office extraordinary upon the business of our stores, but, Lord! what
a pitiful account the Surveyor makes of it grieves my heart. This morning
before I came out I made a bargain with Captain Taylor for a ship for the
Commissioners for Tangier, wherein I hope to get L40 or L50. To the
'Change, and thence home and dined, and then by coach to White Hall,
sending my wife to Mrs. Hunt's. At the Committee for Tangier all the
afternoon, where a sad consideration to see things of so great weight
managed in so confused a manner as it is, so as I would not have the
buying of an acre of land bought by the Duke of York and Mr. Coventry, for