A DECLARATION Of all the passages at the taking of PORTSMOVTH; SHEWING The reasons why it was surrendred up to the Committee of both Houses of PARLIAMENT: Together with a true copy of the Articles agreed upon between the Committee and Colonell Goring.
London Printed for John Sweeting at the Angell in Popes-head Alley. Septemb. 15. 1642.
The Declaration of all such Officers as were in the Towne of Portsmouth in the County of Southampton, when the same was besieged, made the sixt day of September, in the eighteenth yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles.
THese are the Reasons why the Towne of Portsmouth was delivered up to the Committee of Parliament.
There was upon the second of August, 1642. which was the day the Governour declared that hee held and resolved hee would hold the Towne for his Majesties service: In the Towne of Portsmouth of the ordinary Garrison about 300. persons, and of the Townesmen, about one hundred, that were able to beare Armes, and of the Island which was also under the command of the Governour about 100. fighting men more.
Of Officers with their Servants there were then about 50. with their, and the Governours Horses there was above 50. Horse, Of victual there was not by estimation sufficient for this number above two dayes.
The Towne it selfe unfortified and very weake in many places; the Thursday following the Countie of Hampshiere by virtue of Order from the Parliament, began to assemble against the Towne, and from that time forward provision came in, but with great difficultie.
The Commissions of Array were daily expected by us to [Page 4]bee put in execution for reliefe of us according to promise.
The orders for the Militia were put in execution, which caused one or more companies of the Trained Bands, which had formerly declared for the King, to turne about and expresse themselves for the Parliament.
All Souldiers and Townsmen in Portsmouth, 3. or 4. excepted, did agree to the Governours Declaration, and notwithstanding within lesse then 10. daies, above halfe of them forsooke the towne. Divers Gentlemen of the County of Southampton, and parts adjacent promised to come into Towne with men and horse, whereby we had fitted up our Troopes of Horse and Foot, but most of them failed, by reason of the gathering together of the Country Forces, and the approaching of others from London.
The Saturday after being the 6. of August, all provisions and succours from the Issle of Wight were stopt, and upon Munday morning following the Kings Ships rode before the Towne.
Upon Thursday a Messenger with some difficulty came into the Towne, with Letters from his Majestie, which gave great comfort to the Souldiers and Townsmen, who were much out of heart before.
The next day after being Friday, we were alsolutely blocked up by Sea and by Land.
The Wednesday before the Maria Pinnace was ready rigged and manned with about 14. persons, of which, two were officers was taken without striking one blow, which we conceive was by the treachery of Goodwin, the Master thereof. We continually led on and encouraged the Souldiers with the expectation of the Kings comming, or Forces from his Majesty, but at length they finding themselves delayed, grew impatient, and so bold, that they declared [Page 5]they would not fight against, but rather take part with those without the Towne: So that with a very small number of Officers and Gentlemen; wee were forced not onely to keepe watch over those that were without, but those that were within the towne.
About eight or ten days after they began to raise severall batteries against the Towne at Gooseport, from one of which they begun to play upon Friday the second of September upon the Towne, which made the common Souldiers of the Garrison very unwilling to stand to their Armes or work
This playing of the Ordnance upon the Towne continued till Sunday morning following, with some intermission in the first night.
On Saturday night before, Southsea Castle was taken without one blow striken.
After Southsea Castle was taken, the Maior of the Town, one Lieutenant, one Ensigne, and other inferior Officers stealing out of Towne over the wall did so much increase the feare and villanie of the common Souldiers, that as many of them dropt away, so we concluded all of us that there was not one of them all that remayned would fight: Besides, it was concluded by us all that no one part of the Towne was so perfectly furnished that it was possible with our small number to hold it out against an assault.
Upon this all the common Soldiers and Townsmen being possessed with feare of having the Towne battered down on all sides, and being frighted more by their wives, did throw away their Armes, and absolutely refused to doe dutie: And though some of them were perswaded to return to their guards, yet they professed that if there should come assault the would not fight a stroke.
This caused the Officers of the Garrison to desire my Lord Wentworth to send Master Weston to the Governour to demand a councell of Warre, which hee presently called, wherein the Reasons aforesaid, and an estimate made of all the men wee could draw to fight, which were not above the number of threescore at most, and those, Gentlemen and their servants which were not used either to traversing of great Guns or use of Musquets. The Councell of Warre, (Nullo contradicente) grew to this resolution, of sending for a parley upon the most honorable conditions wee could get.
Articles agreed upon between the Committee for the Parliament in the County of Southampton, and Colonell Goring, for, and on his own behalfe, and other the Officers and Souldiers within the Garrison of Portsmouth, fort he rendring up of the said Towne.
FIrst, that the Committee for the Parliament shall this day, being the seventh day of September, Anno Dom. 1642. at, or about six of the Clocke in the morning put in two Companies of Foot in the Town of Portsmouth, for preventing of disorders, & preservation of the Magazine.
Secondly, that all such persons as are not of the old Garrison, excepting Colonell Goring, the Lord Wentworth, Master Weston, Master Covist, with their ordinary servants, shall forthwith issue out of Towne, and have free liberty to passe and goe wheresoever they please in this Kingdome, except unto any part of that Army raised against the Parliament, with their Horses, Swords, and Pistols, but no other Arms, and all other their goods whatsoever, and that they may be allowed twenty days for their journey, they carrying themselves according to the Laws, in a peaceable manner.
Thirdly, that Sir Thomas Jervase, Sir William Walter, who with one servant a piece, and Serjeant Major Lobbe, shall go into the Towne to take possession of the Stores, and severall provisions in the Towne, and that for their security Master Weston, Master Covist, Lieutenant Colonell Donnet be delivered as Hostages.
Fourthly, that if any of the said persons in the Town desire to go beyond the Sea, they may have liberty to passe with their proper goods in that Towne, (Armes only excepted) [Page 8]without the molestation of any one, and a Ship to convey them.
Fifthly, that all Officers and Souldiers under the Governour, that were formerly of this Garrison, and now residing in Towne, shall continue their places, or have three moneths liberty to sell, or otherwise dispose thereof to some other persons, except such as have bin put in since the last of July.
Sixthly, that no person whatsoever, now residing in Towne, and who within any time since the first of August hath resided in Towne, that hath done any act for the keeping, defence, or maintenance thereof, or used any other words in justification of the maintenance thereof, on the behalfe of the Kings Majesty, shall be questioned or molested.
Seventhly, that such Souldiers as are run from their Colours to the Towne, shall be excluded out of this Treaty.
Eighthly, that there shall be no Traine left to any Mine, or to the Magazine, whereby to blow up the Towne, or endamage the Garrison that shall be put into it, And that the Governour, Gentlemen of quality, and all the Officers of the said Towue shall discover upon their Oathes, what they know concerning any such things, and that sufficient Hostages be given for performance thereof, who are to be retained two dayes in the custody of such person as shall be put in the Towne as Governour.
Ninthly, that Carriages shall be provided for the use of such persons as shall issue out of the Towne, they paying the usuall rates for them.
Tenthly, that all prisoners on both sides be released, excepting such as are sent up to London.
Eleventhly, that the Governour shall presently after delivery up of the Town, which shall be on Thursday next, by nine of the Clock in the morning, have permission from the Committee to dispatch such a Gentleman to the King, as hee shall name.