REPORT OF MEETINGS FOR 1905 281 



of whose descendants, Sir Ralph Fitz-Eobert, assumed the 

 surname of Greystock, It was his son, William de Greystock, 

 once governor of Berwick-upon-Tweed, who built the Castle, 

 of which portions are still preserved. In 1483 the male line 

 again became extinct, and the lands passed by marriage 

 into the possession of the Dacres of Gilsland, the last of 

 whom died in 1659, bequeathing to his third daughter, 

 Elizabeth, who married Lord William Howard of Naworth, 

 his barony and Castle. As Warden of the Western Marches, 

 he proved a formidable foe to the Scottish moss-troopers, 

 who in derision nicknamed him " Bald Willie," though 

 perhaps he is better known by the title ascribed to him by 

 Sir Walter Scott, " Belted Will." Deeply interested in the 

 welfare of Morpeth, he presented the town with a civic mace 

 (an emblem of power, which was exhibited later in the day 

 by its present custodian). His great-grandson was created 

 Earl of Carlisle in 1661, and from him the Castle descended 

 to its present owner. Prints of the stronghold, made in 

 18th and early portion of 19 th centuries, reveal it as again 

 neglected ; but under the 7th Earl the gate was restored, 

 and for years it has been the residence of the bailiff or 

 steward on the Morpeth estates. 



Though occupying no very conspicuous place in the annals 



of Northumberland, Morpeth Castle was the 

 Siege by scene of a siege by the Marquis of Montrose 

 Montrose. in 1644, which must not be passed over. 



General Leslie, in his march to Newcastle in 

 support of the Parliamentary party, left at Morpeth, under 

 the command of Lt. -Colonel Somerville, "a garrison too 

 strong, and consisting of too good soldiers for so pitiful a 

 place ; for it was a ruinous hole, not tenable by nature, and 

 far less by art." Montrose, who was with the King's forces 

 near Newcastle, asked leave to return North and lay siege 

 to Morpeth, where his rebellious countrymen challenged all 

 invaders ; but finding it would be impossible without cannon 

 to reduce the Castle, he procured these from Newcastle, and 

 after a siege of twenty days reduced the garrison to subjection. 

 It is specially mentioned that he was forc-ed to move his 

 ordnance, and directed his fire against the front of the 

 Castle from behind the great barn, part of whose walls still 



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