COllonell Goring being Governour of the towne of Portsmouth, about tuesday being the second day of August, 1642 declared himselfe to be for the King alone, and not for the King and Par­liament; but for the King alone, a­gainst the Parliament, and therefore to keepe the same (as was pretended) for his Majesties coming thither, he repayred the mounts and other fortifications without the towne; and raysed a mount at the bridge called Portbridge, which is three miles from the [Page 2]towne, and the onely passage into the Island of Portsey, which lyeth betweene the towne and the said bridge, which [...]nd also is three miles in breadth the other way, which Island [...] al­so compassed about with a great ditch of water that doth [...] be and flow with the tyde, so as there is no passage out of the said Island, but over the sayd Portbridge: and upon the same mount at the bridge he placed some foure pieces of ordinance to keepe the passage and to make himselfe wholly master of the sayd Island.

But yet upon the first coming of forces [...]owne from the Parliament, which was about the [...]th day of August, he tooke away the ordinance and carried them backe againe into the towne, and in the carrying of them backe, the one of them was left halfe a mile without the towne, because the carriage there­of was broken, and then the bridge was kept onely with ten or twelve Troopers furnished with pistolls and carbines.

Now the Parliament Troopers went out part of them three miles from the bridge at a towne called Southwich, being west­ward from the sayd bridge, and the other part of them at Ha­ [...]ant, which lyeth from the sayd bridge three miles eastward, and the Parliament Troopers shewed themselves on Porchdown which lyeth on London way, from the bridge halfe a mile.

Vpon Thursday the eleuenth of August in the night, the whole company of Troopers within the towne, issued out in­to the Island of Portsey, and brought in all the cattel and sheepe that were in the whole Island, and pillaged the houses of the inhabitants. and tooke from them all provision of meat, corne, poultry, piggs, bread and corne, and left very little, nay not so much as bread for the families from whence they tooke it, for to sustaine them a day.

The number of beasts they brought into the towne was a­bout three hundred and fifty, and such a number of sheepe and lambes, and they presently killed the fattest of the cattell, and some of the best sheepe, wand the rest they keept within the towne, upon some ground below the mounts that round the [Page 3]towne, but the most of them they put out without the towne-gate into a marsh neere the towne in the Island, and there kept them with some musketiers.

Vpon Friday night the twelfth of August the Parliament Troopers came in the night and beate the Governours Troo­pers from the bridge, and so became masters of the bridge and of the whole Island, and they tooke one of the Governours Troopers prisoner, and tooke anothers horse who saved him­selfe by his leaping from his horse, and going over hedges into the corne-fieldes, who had his hat cut, and his head a little ra­sed with a sword, but not much hurt. Then they raised up two mounts, and placed fix pieces of ordinance, which they had out of the ship called the Maria, which Captain Bushell boar­ded and tooke, and carried unto Hampton, and from thence brought unto Portbridge, and placed them in the two mounts, three of them towards the towne, and three of them towards Porthdowne.

The next day being satterday the 13. of August, the Lord Wentworth with all the Troopers they could make, being about threescore, issued out of the Towne into the Island halfe a mile to take in the piece of ordinance which was left behinde, by reason of the breaking of the carriage, being one of the foure they tooke backe from the bridge, which they brought backe into the Towne without any opposition at all.

Afterwards there were severall attempts made by the Par­liament Troopers to get the cattel without the gate, and divers assaults were made, and some combats, and many blowes, but no great hurt done, the towne-Troopers soone retreated and saved themselves, and made use of their ordinance to beat of the Parliament-Troopers, but there was no great hurt done, though some cannon-bullets came very neere and under their horses bellyes but no hurt done. Then the Parliament-Troo­pers approached and came very neere to a mill fast by the towne-mount, whereon their ordinance were placed, and they intended the firing of the mills to prevent their grinding [Page 3]of corne, the said mill being a water-mill, that onely goeth at the ebbing of the sea: their assayling the mill and seeking to gaine the cattell occasioned many short skirmishes, and much playing of the ordinance, though none hurt by all their shot: one of the Parliament-Troopers upon a retreat left his hat be­hinde him that fell off his head; and at another time one of their men left a good sword behind him which had been last­ned to the hand-wrest of the Trooper, but the ribband brake, the sword was estimated at five poundes by the Trooper that brought into the towne: another time the Troopers had sallyed out of the towne, and were chased by the Parliament-Troopers and forced to retreate as hard as their horses could carry them, and there was a Scotch-man a brave souldi­er followed the chase unto the very towne within the gate, (the towne-Troopers pretended that they conceived him to be one of their owne company) and coming within the gate, there were six of them all upon him, and he defended himselfe bravely, and fought most valiantly, but they gave him three gashes in the head, and for all that hee was retreating and like to get away from them all, had not one very suddainly shut the gate against him, by occasion whereof he was taken, and they tooke care for him, and procured the best Chirurgion they could to cure him, and let him want nothing for his con­veniency; and for his valour, the Governour gave him three pieces at his departure. About two dayes after a Trumpetter was sent from the Parliament side to demand a parley for the exchange of Prisoners: but the souldiers that were on their duty on the mount by the gate, being so ignorant that they knew not the sound of a parley from an alarum, let flye a piece of ordinance at him, but it hurt him not, but when hee came somewhat neere unto the gate he made knowne the mes­sage, viz. for the exchange of a prisoner to have the Scotch­man aforesaid delivered to him in exchange of one they had taken before mentioned, at the taking of the Bridge; so the Trumpetter brought in the prisoner behinde him, and hee [Page 5]tooke away with him behinde him the sayd Scotch-man, who being blindefolded, was carried out to him to a place called Newgate, and there set up behinde the sayd Trumpetter. At another time the last Skirmish, the Governour and the Lord Wentworth sallyed out in the night with all their Troopers, in two companies unto the enemies workes, and were by the di­rection of one of the Aldermen of the towne called Master Winter, whom they call Lievtenant of Sausby Castle, who un­dertooke to guide them, and hee brought them unto the very court of Guard, thinking thereby to do them much mischiefe, where they yet found opposition enough, and upon comba­ting they came off with the losse of three men, whereof one of them named Glover, the Governours owne man was slaine, and the sayd Winter their guide was taken prisoner, and the third was Master Weston h [...]s man, which Master Weston is bro­ther unto the Earle of Portland, they also lost a horse of the Lord Wentworths, that the sayd Winter rode on worth thirty poundes: the Governour at that time tooke six prisoners, whereof five of them were Musketiers, such as had been senti­nels, and the other was a Trooper, a stout fellow, who was hurt onely by a thrust into the arme, the five Musketiers the Governour gayned to become labourers to carry baskets of earth at the workes, but the other stood it out bravely and scorned to comply; the sayd Winter was kept prisoner at the Court of Guard. And the Farme-house thereby, where Sir William Waller lodged, which is hardly a mile and a halfe without the towne, and from his house in the towne was per­mitted a boy of his, being his owne son, to come to him with cleane linnen, who brought word from his father unto the Governour that the King was very neere the towne, and at the furthest but at Br [...]dslands, which is but halfe a mile from Rom­sey, and that a Troope of horses from the Parliament-side was gone forth to conduct him unto Southwich unto the Lady Nor­tons house, and this came to be spread about the towne of pur­pose to perswade garrison souldiers that the King would cer­tainely [Page 6]come, and that suddenly, and then the King would doe great matters for them that should stand close to the busi­nesse, yea, they should bee very well rewarded, because the greatest part of the garrison souldiers were gone away by night, sometimes foure, sometimes six, and more or lesse for a great many nights together. And the most of the best Gun­ners were gone from them, and all gone to the Parliament-side; and such as were left of the garrison were even heart­lesse, and did little but upon meere compulsion; the Kings coming had been so long expected that they were hoplesse.

And neere about that time came two men into the towne, as from the King, the one of them was the Lord Wentworths man, and the other was his guide: The Lord Wentworths man put of his good clothes, and got old clothes as if hee had beene some country shepheard in torne habit, and had en­tertainement on the Parliament-side and they both came into the towne, and by them was the newes brought that his Ma­jesty was about Oxford, on his his way coming towards Ports­mouth, and would be there within foure dayes with an Army, consisting of twelve thousand foote, six thousand five hundred horse, and three thousand Dragoneers, and would easily make his way through the Parliament forces.

About the eighteenth of August, the Governour and the watch plainely heard from Gosport (which is a village halfe a mile over the water from the towne) much digging with pick-axes, and driving of carts, whereby they sensibly percei­ved that they were framing some works to make a fort, where­at they were much troubled: whereupon they presently from all their works that lay that way-ward let fly their ordinance that night, at the least they sent them threescore bullets, but they hurt but one man by his owne folly, for hee stood upon the worke with a candle and lanthorne in his hand, whereby they tooke a true aime, and shot him, his name was Peter Ba­ker a very good ship-carpenter, neither for all that did they de­sist, but went on day and night though they shot at them [Page 7]with some respit, yet day and night they shot still: Yet [...] all that they perfected two platforms, the one behinde a b [...]ne for ten peeces of Ordinance, and another for two peeces of Ordinance behinde a Pile of faggots, though they shot fourteen dayes and fourteene nights, to disturb and beat them off from them.

Upon Saterday the twentie seventh of August, came a Trumpet to sound a Parley from the Parliament side: Who was led in blindfolded, and so carried out again: And a Drumme was sent with Answer from the Governour the same day, and the Parly appointed. The next day about ten of the clocke, (being the Sabbath day) came into the towne for hostages, Sir William Waller and Sir William Lewes who dined with the Governour, and the hostages that went out to the Parliament side; were the Lord Went­worth and Master Lewkner, who is the Recorder of Chichester and is the man appointed by his Majestie to take in money and plate on his Majesties behalfe) who dyned with Sir Thomas Ier [...]as and others the Committees of the Parliament, but of this Parley came no good issue, the Governour would not yeeld to any such articles as were then propounded.

The next day being monday the twenty nine of August, the Governour let fly his ordinance apace, both against Gosport and the other way at the Court of Guard of the Parliament, side and continued day and night with some intermissions) but did no great hurt more than make some holes into the toppes of houses at Gosport, but killed not a man or an horse.

All this time the ordinance being but two that were plan­ted at Gosport on the small worke behinde the faggots played not at all upon them, it may bee well conceived they could have done it▪ But upon Friday the second of September a Trumperter brought in a brace of bucks, who was brought in blind tolded, and so led out againe, which venison had been by the Committees of the Parliament promised unto the Gover­nour.

But some few hours [...] clock in the afternoone of the same day, they [...] upon the towne with two peaces of Ordinance; and at the third shot killed one of the Garison souldiers on the mount, as he was carrying of earth on the great mount at the gate: And cut off a french-mans legge next unto him above the knee: which French-man, (as it is said) came to the Gover­nour upon particular businesse of his owne, and he preferred him to imployment who is a Papist, his hurt was so great there is much doubt of his escape.

The Goverour himself, the Lord Wentworth in their own persons; all their followers, and the Garison souldiers all that might be spared from their dutie, did all work that night to make a trench on the top of the mount, to prevent the [...] might come by the like shot▪ That upon the sight of the few ring of the Ordinance they might leap down into that and save themselves. Fryday night they shot not much from Gosport, but Saterday they playd wih their Ordnance, and shot through the tower of the Church and brake one of the bells, and shot against the Tower again and that [...], and fell into the Church and shot down [...] of a house, that is nere the Church and the end of the Church, and shot through a great many houses in the town; but killed not any body. And on Saterday in the morning they shot at the Water-mill aforesaid, the Miller commended it for a good thing to rise betimes in the morning, (for [...] said) if he had not risen early, he had been killed in his bed; for a ballet took away one part of his bed. The reason they shot so much at the Church-Tower was by reason that at the top thereof is their watch-tower, whereby they do espy all the [...] to by Sea and by Land: and at the tolling of a bell, give inbtice both what Ships come by Sea, and what number of horse come by Land. Saterday night they shot but sive bullets from Gosport, but they did execute every one of them.

It was well observed that in a small time as they shot from [Page 9] Gosport, [...] but at four of the clock on Fryday after­noone, [...] at four of the clock Sabbath day in the mor­ning, they did more execution with their two pieces of Ord­nance▪ then they had from the town with all their Ordnance in fourteen or sixteen dayes and so many flights, in which that was accounted, they shot three hundred bullets and they killed but one man in all that time: whereas they had but two pre­ces of Ordnance at Gosport, and the Ordnance planted against Gosport from the four works could not be lesse, than thirty pie­ces of Ordnance.

On Saterday night the third of September; the Parliaments forces took Sousy Castle, which lyeth a mile from the towne upon the Sea, & the way thither is upon the sea sands: the Cap­taine of the Castle his name is Captain Challiner, who was in Portsmouth Saterday; and in the Evening went home to the castle, and his souldiers took horse load of provision, Bisket and meale, & other things. They report he had more drink in his head than did him good: And the towns-men would have it conceived that he had been bribed with money to yeeld up the Castle, but the latter was not true; howbeit the former may be a truth; yet was that no furtherance to taking therof: For thus it was, there were about fourscore musquetteirs & others that came in the night, unto the walls of the castle, and under their Ord­nance, and had with them a very good Engeneer, and with five and thirty scaling ladders: And the whole company in the castle are but twelve commanders, and all they were not able to deal with them upon such advantage, and therefore they called unto them and advised them to yeeld, shewing them the advantage they had over them: Who seeing they were not able to withstand them, yeelded the castle unto them: and the triumph at the taking was heard plaine about two of the clock in the morning into the Towne and so soon as they were Masters of the castle they discharged two pieces of Ordnance against the town.

Now when the Governour saw the castle (which was for the [Page 10]defence of the towne by Sea and by Land was going, and so much pelting with two pieces of Ordnance, and also having seene through a prospective glasse▪ so good and faire a plat­form for ten pieces of Ordnance at Gosport in the morning before day-break, he called a councell of warre; and they soon agreed upon the sending out a drum to sound a parley which was done betimes, insomuch that the parley was begun about ten of the clocke the same day: three Hostages of each side being appointed, viz. Out of the towne the Lord Wentworth Master Lewkner, and Master Weston the Earle of Portlands brother, and from the Parliament side came unto the towne Sir William Waller, Sir William Lewes, and Sir Thomas Jervace: the parley was ended about five of the clock in the afternoon, but not confirmed untill seven of the clock. A trumpetter came into the town from the Committees of the Parliament, at which time it was made knowne, that they had concluded upon Articles that the towne should be delive­red up; and that Colonell Groing should have liberty to stay six of his servants some few dayes if he would; and have liber­ty to take over all his goods he had there: and the Lord Wentworth Master Lewkner, Master Weston, and all the Cavalliers, all their servants and Adherents to be gone Wed­nesday, or Thursday, and Articles to be sealed which was done Wednesday in the forenoone: and then about eleaven of the clock came into the towne Sir William Waller and Sir Thomas Jervace, accompanied with Sir Iohn M [...]ldrem and Colonell Hurrey, and a troope of horse and two companies of foot: and the possession of the towne was then surrendred unto Sir William Waller, and Sir Thomas Jervase and the Lord Wentworth and his followers departed the towne the same day, and Master Weston and his followers. And in the evening at six of the clock Colonell Goring took beat and rowed unto ship for Holland, but it is said he would go through France, and that his goods were carried to ship­bord on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Colonell Goring, had [...]pelled a good minister one Master Tac [...]e out of the towne, at the time of his declaring himself as aforesaid: who was brought in again into the town with Sir William Waller, and Sir Thomas Jervace: and is confirmed to be preacher unto the Carison.

And upon Thursday about noon came into the town two troops of horse, and there were neere unto the town in the [...] of Porsey two companies of foot more. Upon Tuesday the sixth of September was found dead atrooper, who had been missing fourteen dayes a Dutch manand a brave souldier his horse came home and the saddle blooded, the day he was slain, there was six pounds in money found in his pocket: And the flyes had blown maggots on him; which was all the men that were slaine on the Parliaments side excepting the former man at Gosport with candle and lanthorn in his hand whom they conceive was not slain by the Governours troopers, but finding the place where he was slaine it was more probable he was slain by a Sentinell of their own side upon a mistake.

For the provision of the towne that which was most want­ing was Hay and provender, which its supposed, would not have lasted above fourteen dayes, if so long.

There is a report there wanted salt, but they have killed beasts dayly and salted them therfore it cannot be said they yet wanted: but it is very likely, they might have wanted in a little time. They had meale and bisket enough for three moneths at least, and they had salt meat in powder enough for the like time; they had not much Butter or Cheese in the towne, but there was good store of malt.

It was conceived the greatest cause, that induced the Parliament side to agree unto Articles, was for that they threatned to blow up the Magazine of the towne; which li­eth in two places: At the square towre upon the Sea side are at least twelve hundred Barrells of Gunpowder, and very much Ammunition, and at the other end of the towne at the [Page 12]gate, are about two hundred barrells of gunpowder and some ammunition: And the having the power over the Magazines, if they had set them on fire, the whole towne had been utterly spoiled, and not one person in the towne could have been secured from destruction: Had it not been for, that it had been no hard matter within foure dayes to have gotten the towne from them by force, without spilling much blood.

The Cavalliers, when they saw they must needs be gone; stucke not to say, they would returne againe ere long, at the farthest before Christmas, and take the Towne backe againe: Their stomacks were so full of the businesse, they could not but vent some what: But it may well be presumed, as it will be setled, fourty thousand coming against it shall do them no great harme; so as there be shipping at Sea, as now there are six gooly ships under the command of the Earle of Warwick, who all this time did not spend a shot upon the towne, but did furnish Gosport with the two peices of Ordnance.

The Lord Wentworth his name, his very memoriall for one act of his done at the Towne of Portsmouth, three yeeres and an halfe past, when his Majestie was at Barwick, and the Scots Army not far from thence: At which time the Lord Went­worth being at Portsmouth, and a Spanish navie riding on the Sea there before Portsmouth, he spent the powder in Ports­mouth upon drinking of healths, threescore peices of Ord­nance were discharged in a night: Which will be justified, untill all the powder in the towne was spent, unto halfe a Barrell of Powder; and that by his means the like was in the Isle of Wight, all was spent upon the like way.