A Famous and Joyful VICTORY OBTAINED BY Sir John merrick's Regiment, and one Troop of Horse, against the Town and Castle of Portsmouth, August 24. 1642. And read in the House of Commons on Wednesday last.  
Wherein is set down A true and exact Relation of the manner of that famous and renowned Battle, fought betwixt the Gentry of Portsmouth and Colonel Goring.  
Where being 20 pieces of Ordnance planted against the Castle upon the Town Walls by the Gentry thereof, Aug. 20. They shot against the Castle, and after a long and tedious Fight they obtained a glorious Victory, as will appear in this ensuing Treatise.  
Published for the joy and comfort of all truehearted Protestants.  

Ordered that this be printed and published.  
Hen. Elsing, Cler. parl. D. Com.   
Aug. 26. Printed for I. Williams, 1642.   

TRUE AND Happy News from Portsmouth.  
SIR,  
AS our sorrow hath increased of late days, by reason of the unfaithfulness of Colonel Goring, so our joy doth much more abound by reason of the comfortable tidings here arrived from the Town of Portsmouth, which after some small time treating upon the proceed of the adjoining County thereabouts. I will relate in a most true and exact manner of the taking of the said Town of Portsmouth again by the aid and assistance of the well affected people near the Isle of Wight, which said Town I hope will be restored into the Parliaments power and authority, so that they may place such Commanders and well affected Subjects as sh●ll venture their precious blood for the keeping and maintaining of the same against all those that shall presume or offer to make any attempt against it, and that they may be such persons as the Parliament may confide in, which we make no question but that the Parliament so soon as the said Town is resigned up to them, that they will place such worthy Members of the Protestant Religion, that they shall not betray the truth and trust that is reposed in them by these our worthy and Honourable Senators; but because I will not trespass too fare upon the Readers patience, I will proceed and relate the resolution and proceed of the adjoining Counties near Portsmouth, which was to this effect, That when the Inhabitants thereof saw that Colonel Goring had proved false contrary to the Parliaments suspicion, they immediately began to raise Forces, and daily beat up their Drums for Volunteers, and the Lieutenants of the adjoining Counties, when they had raised about the number of 3000. men, they marched towards Portsmouth, and Colonel Goring having made great Fortifications and Bulwarks near the Bridge, which is distant from the Town three miles, but our men being endued with much courage assaulted the same, and after some ten shots made against it, they beat down the Works that were made by Colonel Goring, who having otained the same, they marched about the Town about the space of 7. miles, but being not satisfied, and in great rage against the said Colonel, they unanimously resolved to assemble together at a place called Deskets Green, five miles from Portsmouth, who having consulted a great while upon many matters of high consequence, they resolved to march against the Castle at Portsmouth, but first they resolved to join with the Town, and then to plant Ordnance on the Walls: And the Inhabitants of Wiltshire propounded these following Propositions to the Gentry of the Town. 

1. That they would be pleased to join with them.  
2. That they would be pleased to the uttermost of their power to suppress all those that they they thought ill-affected within the Town, and that they would give them such command that they should departed the Town in two days. space.    
And lastly, that they would be pleased to make a general Speech in the Town for Arms and Ammunition, that so by that means they might be the abler to defend themselves against the Castle.  
which propositions were well agreeing to the minds of the Gentry of the Town, and gave them much content, and after some time spent in perusing of them, they returned this Answer, That for their love and affection, which they plainly manifested to the foregoing propositions, they gave them much thanks with a concurrence therein: And upon the 22. of this month the Inhabitants of the Town, having planted their Ordnance according as they thought fitting discharged against the Castle, and at the first shot they shot down one of the Forts, which Colonel Goring seeing, played against them with much furious courage, insomuch that there was a great and bloody battle fought betwixt them, and for the space of nine hours they discharged very thick one against the other, and it is supposed that Colonel Goring hath lost a great number of men, but none of ours being spent in this Fight, the said Colonel sounded a parley and desired that their might be a cessation for some certain time, but the Inhabitants would not agree thereto, but still continued their continued and constant resolution towards the Parliament, and vowed either to win the Castle or to lose their lives, but when that Colonel Goring saw they would not agree that there should be a cessation for some certain time and knowing no other way but to fight or die, encouraged his men as much as possibly he could, and spoke these following words unto them. Gentlemen, you now see that Fortune doth a little frown upon us, but yet if we do our endeavours and fight with courage, no question but we shall obtain the victory and escape the edge of the sword, now show yourselves like men and sight with me, for as long as this hand is able to hold a sword, and these legs to bear my body, I will never yield, neither will I cease from using the best skill I have to preserve you all, for now you must either gain Honour or Defame. His Soldiers having heard these words of their Lord and Master, resolved to fight it out to the last man, and thereupon began to play with extraordinary courage against the Town walls, but all was in vain, for the Gentlemen that stood for the Parliament stood for the Parliament courageously, and plied shot very hard against them, but both sides being very weary by reason of the long continuance of the Fight, they left for some certain time there being near upon a hundred men slain of Colonel goring, and not above twenty at the most of the Parliaments; and it is thought they do intent to make another onset against the Castle within these few days, for it is credibly reported to both Houses of Parliament, that there is now great possibility of taking the Town which God send those tidings to this City.  
The Parliament being informed of marquis hertford's intention to come and assist Goring, sent away Sir john merrick's Regiment, and one Troop of Horse, which upon Tuesday last joined with the rest of the Forces before Portsmouth as also did a Trained Band of Hampshire jointly with the other Forces, to oppose marquis Hertford and his strength, in case they should come: And it's writ, that the Sailors very suddenly intent to scale the Walls in one part, Sir john merrick's Regiment in another, and the Hampshire men in a third place, all at once, and the Horse to second the execution and success of the service.   

Ordered to be forthwith Printed and published.  
Hen. Elsing, Cler. Par. D.C.