MY humble duty remembred unto you, I have sent you formerly what newes 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 & 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 comming 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 foure yards thick, about thirty foot high, a Graft round about, [Page 4] of some three or foure 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 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 Mirrick, our Colonels 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 [Page 5] spirits as ever men went, and with a reso­lution to die before the Gates, rather then to re­treate, they sung Psalmes, 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 houre, 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 wee were come on the South side of the Calde, wee were spyed 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 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, toward the Heath; Colonell 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 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 spirit they have, they would needs [Page 6] 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 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 desperate Helhounds laid downe 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 newes: Thus with my Prayers to God to blesse you, and to returne all your loving favours into your owne bosome, I rest,