90 JOURNAL OF JOHN ASTON, 1639 



[May] 29. The 29th day of May, Mr Crew, Mr Willbraham 

 and my selfe went to Harcley,'*-' a small villadge westward 

 from Barwick, where the Lord Carnarvon had chosen our 

 quarter for us, but I found the place soe incommodious, that 

 I returned to Barwick where I intended to abide, having 

 got a tollerable accomodation there. I came through the 

 campe home. 



The Campe. It was pitched upon an ascending ground 

 over the river Tweede westward, three miles from Barwick, 

 betweene the villadge West Ourd a little short and Harcley,^^ 

 our quarter a little beyond it, whence some called the place 

 Harcley feilds, others West Ourd. The(y) entrenched them- 

 selves in a semi-circle, the river serving for a trench to all the 

 north part. The trench was in most places four foote broad 

 and eight foote deepe, accounting the height of the parrapet, 

 and the circumvallacion was esteemed in the whole to bee 

 about three miles, some sayed five. There were three avenues, 

 one towards Barwick, one somewhat higher to the south line, 

 and one towards Harcley. The quarter master generall was 

 one Captain Charles Flood, soone to Captaine Braithwaite Flood 

 in the Low Countreys. Hee was but a young man and, some 

 thought, much too greene for such an employment, beeing 

 onely studious in the mathematicks, and aiFecting the name 

 and laude of an engineire. Many condemned his choice of 

 ground and manner of encamping so wildly, one regiment so 

 farre distant from annother, but whether they spoke out of 

 judgement, or the discourse of others that had knowledge, I 

 cannot guesse, but sure I am, some as ignorant as my selfe, 

 would take upon them to find fault. The king, it may be, 

 intended a greater supply of men, and soe hee left rome (sic) 

 to take them into the leaguer, by command. Though the 

 place were very fitt to oppose the ennemy, yet it was ill 

 furnished to protect our owne men, affording them noe manner 

 of shelter against weather, the countrey round about being 

 champaigne ; but it was a sommer leaguer and therefore 



4« Now Horncliffe. 



■'" The encampment was at a place called the Birks, between West 

 Ord and Horncliffe, locally pronounced Harcley. 



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