The Taking Of
The Castle of PORTSMOUTH
With the Circumstances Thereof:
Expressed in a letter Dated September 6 from
A Clarke in the Leaguer
London Printed for H.Blunden, September 9 1642
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From our Leaguer neare Portsmouth, this present
sixth day of September, 1642
Sir,
My humble duty remembred unto you, I have sent you formerly what news we have here, and now God hath made us happy all in generall, and my selfe in particular, to be the Messenger of good tidings, wherein God hath been pleased to declare his own power and might, which is in the taking of Sousley Castle, within a short mile of Portsmouth, cituate on the Sea shore, which kept the Ships from coming to aide us, the strength of which is admirable, and I believe all men that have been in it, will say it is the strongest Castle in England for the bignesse; it is walled about with a wall of three or four yards thick, about thirty foot high, a Graft round about, of some three or four yards deep, and five yards in breadth, it hath 14 pieces of Ordnance planted around, all but two Pieces shot 12 pound bullets, besides other small pieces, it hath dainty Chambers in it, fit to entertaine a Prince, it was new repaired lately, the Captaines name is Challenner, he is supposed to be a Papist, one of Colonell Gorings companions, he was with him the same day, about eleven a clock he was in Portsmouth, and plotted with him, it was to plant Ordnance upon our entrance into the Heath, Colonell Goring planted thirty piece of Ordnance upon us, the Castle planted all their Ordnance upon us, and the Towne had planted some upon the Bridge entring into the Castle, that had not God, who stoppeth the mouthes of Lions, stayed their shot, we had all been cut off, had there been a thousand: On Saturday night last with foure hundred men, our Captaine and Captaine Lauhan, and Captaine Merrick, our Colonells brother, about ten a clock at night they marched forth, Goring had intelligence, and Challenner, and that day held a consultation, but Goring not daring to trust this report, and in regard of his weaknesse, would not lend the Castle any men, yet prepared for his own defence, and planted his Ordnance just all the way in our travell to the Castle: about twelve a clock we proceed forward, but unprepared of any provision for such a designe, our men couragiously, with as undaunted spirits as ever men went, and with a resolution to die before the Gates, rather then to retreate, they sung Psalms, and were well prepared to die, when we came within halfe a mile, about one a clock, some of our men gave the Towne an Alarme, and so away to the Castle, on two a clock our men came within two Bowes shot, and there lay an hour, about three a clock they marched, and took away on their left hand, and the enemy expected them on the right, so we were not descryed all this while, and when wee were come on the South side of the Castle, wee were spyed by them, but we were got on the Sea-shore before they could make shot upon us, that we marched secure, and came between the Sea, and the Castle, and leaped into the Graft, where some of our men hurt themselves, that side were no Ordnance, for they had removed them on the other side, towards the Heath; Colonell Goring by the shot of a Piece from the Castle, had noticed that we were there, he shot upon us violently at least thirty Pieces of Ordnance, and our Captaine was upon the Bridge, and there came a Piece close to him; and one thing is remarkable, when we came to the Bridge, there was a great piece of Timber, and some ten men fell down behinde it, for they saw the bullet comming, and it hit just on the Log, and mist the men, wee lost not a man; our men, you would admire what undaunted spirits they have, they would needs scale the Walls, and the Captaine without shot cryed for Quarter, and so the Castle was delivered to us, and we left a Garrison, and departed so to our Quarters, and gave the Towne a Salutation with our Ordnance presently, you may see the Towne perfectly, and see if any stir out, the Towne is mightily discouraged at this, and two Horsemen last night came out and submitted to us, and layed downe their Arms, and all Gorings souldiers have, all but some Hellhounds laide down their Armes to him, and he intreateth them to hold out a day or two longer, and hee sent for a Parley yesterday, his conditions are not liked of, and this day our companies march towards the Towne, what will be done I know not, I hope next Letter to Date it from Portsmouth, there is no more news: This with my Prayers to God to blesse you, and to return all your loving favours into your owne bosome, I rest.
Your obedient Kinsman
I.S.
FINIS