JUNE 1, 1664. Southwell (Sir W. Pen's friend) tells me the very
sad newes of my Lord Teviott's and nineteen more commission
officers being killed at Tangier by the Moores, by an ambush of
the enemy upon them, while they were surveying their lines:
which is very sad and he says, afflicts the King much. To the
Kings house and saw "The Silent Woman;" but methought not so well
done or so good a play as I formerly thought it to be. Before
the play was done, it fell such a storm of hayle, that we in the
middle of the pit were fain to rise; and all the house in a
disorder.
2nd. It seems my Lord Teviott's design was to go a mile and half
out of the town 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 two hundred men, as they say;
there being left now in the garrison but four captains. This
happened the 3rd 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.
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