ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 301 



ter of Charles Spencer Earl of Sunderland, by whom he had three 

 fons, and two daughters. He afterwards married IJabella the 

 daughter of William Lord Byron, by whom he had one fon, and 

 four daughters. He died, sdSept. 1758, at his houfe in York, in 

 the 64th year of his age. He was fucceeded by his fon, by his 

 laft Lady, the right honourable 



Frederic Earl of Carlijle. 



His Lordfhip's borough of Morpeth never fent members to par- 

 liament till, i Q^Maiy, 1553. It is governed by two bailiffs, and 

 feven burgeffes, who are all elected annually out of the princi- 

 pal inhabitants paying fcot and lot, who elect the members of 

 parliament. Thefe are about two hundred. The bailiffs are the 

 returning officers. The town-arms are, argent, barry of fix azure 

 and gules, over all a caftle tripple towered within a bordure, 

 azure, femee de martlets (y). 



It hath an excellent weekly market on Wednefdays, and two an- 

 nual fairs, viz. on Holy Thurfday, and St. -Mary Magdalen s day. 



The market-place is in the center of the town. It has a neat 

 market-crofs, on which is the following infcription. 



The Hon. Philip Howard and 



Sir Henry Belojyfe, Knt. the 



only benefactors of this crofs, Anno Dom. 1 699. 



On the weft fide of the market-place is the town-hall. It is a 

 handfome ftructure, of white freeftone, and hewn work, with a 

 piazza, and a tower at each end, erected in the year 1714, at the 



(y) Browne Willis, 



expence 



