Governor Richards, my Post being always in the Castle, had sent to desire me to give notice whenever I saw any Parties of the Enemy moving.  Pursuant to this Order, discovering one Morning a considerable body of Horse towards Elsha, I went down into the Town, and told the Governor what I had seen; and without any delay he gave his Orders, that a Captain with threescore Men should attend me to an old House about a Mile distance.  As soon as we had got into it, I set about barricading all the open Places, and Avenues, and put my Men in a Posture ready to receive an Enemy, as soon as he should appear; upon which the Captain, as a feint, ordered a few of his men to shew themselves on a rising Ground just before the House.  But we had like to have caught a Tartar:  For tho’ the Enemy took the Train I had laid, and on sight of our small Body on the Hill, sent a Party from their greater Body to intercept them, before they could reach the Town; yet the Sequel prov’d, we had mistaken their Number and it soon appeared to be much greater than we at first imagin’d.  However our Out-scouts, as I may call ’em, got safe into the House; and on the Appearance of the Party, we let fly a full Volly, which laid dead on the Spot three Men and one Horse.  Hereupon the whole Body made up to the House, but stood a-loof upon the Hill without reach of our Shot.  We soon saw our Danger from the number of the Enemy:  And well for us it was, that the watchful Governor had taken notice of it, as well as we in the House.  For observing us surrounded with the Enemy, and by a Power so much superior, he marched himself with a good part of the Garrison to our Relief.  The Enemy stood a little time as if they would receive ’em; but upon second thoughts they retir’d; and to our no little Joy left us at Liberty to come out of the House and join the Garrison.

Scarce a Day pass’d but we had some visits of the like kind attended sometimes with Rencounters of this Nature; in so much that there was hardly any stirring out in Safety for small Parties, tho’ never so little away.  There was within a little Mile of the Town, an old Vineyard, environed with a loose stone Wall:  An Officer and I made an Agreement to ride thither for an Airing.  We did so, and after a little riding, it came into my Head to put a Fright upon the Officer.  And very lucky for us both was that unlucky Thought of mine; pretending to see a Party of the Enemy make up to us, I gave him the Alarm, set Spurs to my Horse, and rid as fast as Legs could carry me.  The Officer no way bated of his Speed; and we had scarce got out of the Vineyard but my Jest prov’d Earnest, twelve of the Enemy’s Horse pursuing us to the very Gates of the Town.  Nor could I ever after prevail upon my Fellow-Traveller to believe that he ow’d his Escape to Merriment more than Speed.