The town was very strongly and securely fortified, I quote from the diary of Sir Samuel Luke, Scout Master for the parliament after the surrender, when he had just been over it: "They had only three ways out of the town, where they had built three sconces, one at Forbury, one at Harrison's Barn, and another at the end of Pangbourn lane; the Forts were very well wrought, and strong both with trenches and pallisades; the town entrenched round so that if any man of the Parliamentary side should have delivered up a place as this town, he would have deserved a halter." "It would appear," writes Mr. Childs, "that earth works were thrown up in a rude square, extending from Grey Friars Church and the present prison on the north, to midway in Kendrick Road, and to Katesgrove Hill on the south; and from about the line of Kendrick Road on the east to Castle Hill on the west. Redoubts were thrown up at intervals, and on the top of Whitley Hill a strong fort known as 'Harrison's Barn.'" This Sir Samuel appears to have been a stout and able soldier, but, unfortunately for him, he had the misfortune to fall into the hands of Butler, who has pilloried him as the well-known Hudibras. Dr. Johnson says, writing of Butler, "The necessitudes of his condition placed him in the family of Sir S. Luke, one of Cromwell's officers, and a Presbyterian magistrate. Here he observed much of the character of the sectaries." Certainly he did, and recorded much; and though very much is gross caricature, still it is thus that Sir Samuel must be content to come down to us. "When civil dudgeon first grew high, And men fell out they knew not why: Then did Sir Knight abandon dwelling, And out he rode a colonelling. He was in logic a great critic, Profoundly skilled in analytic; He could distinguish and divide A hair 'twixt south and south-west tide: On either side he would dispute, Confute, change hands, and still confute. For his religion it was fit To match his learning and his wit. 'Twas Presbyterian true blue, For he was of the stubborn crew Such as do build their faith upon The holy text of pike and gun: And prove their doctrine or the dox By apostolic blows and knocks. Still so perverse and opposite, As if they worshipped God for spite. Quarrel with mince-pies, and disparage Their best and dearest friend plum-porridge. Fat pig and goose itself oppose, And blaspheme custard through the nose."