BIOGRAPHY. 45 



As to the siege, there are other reminiscences beside the 

 gateway itself. 



While the soldiers of Cromwell were occupying the hill 

 nearly opposite the gateway, one of the soldiers started off 

 with a keg on his shoulder to fetch beer from the village. 

 Thinking that he would return by the same route, one of 

 the garrison aimed a little gun which was mounted on the 

 topmost story, so as to command the path. The soldier 

 did return by the same way, and was struck down by the 

 ball, which passed through his thigh. 



The tradition of this lucky shot was handed down from 

 father to son, until it reached Waterton's father. He had 

 the curiosity to dig at the spot where the man was said to 

 have fallen, and there he found the ball, a little iron one. 

 This he gave to his son, with a request that it should 

 always remain in the family. 



In 1857, while dredging away the drift mud which had 

 accumulated round the gateway, a small iron cannon was 

 discovered. As the ball fitted it, and it was found exactly 

 below the turret from which the fatal shot had been fired, 

 there could be no doubt that it was the identical gun 



mentioned in the tradition ; so Waterton had the pleasure 

 of placing the cannon and the ball together in his house, 

 where every visitor could see them. 



Beside the gun, there were found a sword-blade, a spear, 

 daggers, axe, many coins, keys, and some silver plate. 

 For their presence in the mud Waterton accounts by 



