THE TAKING OF THE CASTLE OF PORTSMOUTH; WITH THE CIRCUMSTANCES THEREOF: Expressed in a Letter Dated Septemb. 6. from A CLERK in the LEAGUER.  
London Printed for H. Blunden, Septemb. 9 1642.   

FROM OUR LEAGUER near Portsmouth, this present sixth day of September, 1642. 
 Sir,  
MY humble duty remembered unto you, I have sent you formerly what news we have here, and now God hath made us happy all in general, and myself in particular, to be the Messenger of good tidings, wherein God hath been pleased to declare his own power & 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 aid 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 bigness; 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 round, all but two Pieces shot 12. pound bullets, besides other small Pieces, it hath dainty Chambers in it, fit to entertain a Prince, it was new repaired lately, the Captain's name is Challenner, he is supposed to be a Papist, one of Colonel goring 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, Colonel Goring planted thirty piece of Ordnance upon us, the Castle planted all their Ordnance upon us, and the Town had planted some upon the Bridge entering into the Castle, that had not God, who stoppeth the mouths of Lions, stayed their shot, we had all been cut off, had there been a thousand: On Saturday night last with four hundred men, our Captain, and Captain Lauhan, and Captain Mirrick, our Colonel's 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 weakness, would not lend the Castle any men, yet prepared for his own defence, and planted his Ordnance just all the way in our travel to the Castle: about twelve a clock we proceed forward, but unprepared of any provision for such a design, our men courageously, with as undaunted spirits as ever men went, and with a resolution to die before the Gates, rather than to retreat, they sung Psalms, and were well prepared to die, when we came within half a mile, about one a clock, some of our men gave the Town an Alarm, and so away to the Castle, on two a clock our men came within two Bows shot, and there lay an hour, about three a clock they marched, and took away on the left hand, and the enemy expected them on the right, so we were not descrved all this while, and when we were come on the South side of the Called, we were spied by them, but we were got on the Seashore before they could make shot upon us, that we marched secure, and came between the Sea, and the Castle, and leapt into the Graft, where some of our men hurt themselves, that side were no Ordnance, for they had removed them on the other side, toward the Heath; Colonel Goring by the shot of a Piece from the Castle, had notice we were there, he shot upon us violently at least thirty Pieces of Ordnance, and our Captain 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 behind it, for they saw the bullet coming, and it hit just on the Log and mist the men, we lost not a man; our men, you would admire what undaunted spirit they have, they would needs scale the Walls, and the Captain without shot cried for Quarter, and so the Castle was delivered to us, and we left a Garrison, and departed to our Quarters, and gave the Town a salutation with our Ordnance presently, you may see the Town perfectly, and see if any stir out, the Town is mightily discouraged at this, and two Horsemen last night came out and submitted to us, and laid down their Arms, and all goring soldiers have, all but some desperate Hellhounds laid down their Arms to him, and he intreateth them to hold out a day or two longer, and he sent for a Parley yesterday, his conditions are not liked of, and this day our companies march towards the Town, what will be done I know not, I hope next Letter to Date it from Portsmouth, there is no more news: Thus with my Prayers to God to bless you, and to return all your loving favours into your own bosom, I rest,  
Your obedient Kinsman. I. S.  
FINIS.