164 



THE BATH ROAD 



in the panelling of the flra\Ying-room, said to have 

 been made by a shot fired at the King that night 

 when standing at the window ; and a l^rass plate 

 records the circumstance in a Latin inscription. 



The parapets of Shaw House were lined with 

 Royalist musketeers on this occasion, and entrench- 

 ments thrown up in the gardens ; but after a stub- 



TIIK LAST OF THE SMOCK-FKOCKS AXD BEAVERS. 



bornly contested fight the Royalists were too weakened 

 to retain the position. Their ordnance and the 

 wounded were left at Douuington Castle, a mile away, 

 and they fell back upon Oxford. Neither side had 

 been sorry when night fell and put an end to a hard- 

 fought, but inconclusive, day ; and for their part the 

 Parliamentary leaders were glad to see the King's 



