186. MORPETH & SUNDERLAND

According to the Sommerville memoirs and C.S. Terry, Morpeth castle in Northumberland surrendered to Montrose on May 29th, 1644. Terry then goes on

"....shortly after his success at Morpeth Montrose, acting with Marley in Newcastle, and with the governor of South Shields, got into his hands the fort"

.. suggesting early June perhaps. Colonel Clavering is given credit for his capture. The same source continues

"Some attempt was made about the same time to win over Sunderland."

According to Terry's ARMY OF THE COVENANT, this took place between May 22-26.

Did these two operations, Morpeth, Sunderland etc, run concurrently or has the Morpeth date, for instance, been converted to New Style?

The siege was lifted apparently because of the approach of a relief force led by Colonel Charles Fairfax. Is there any information about this force and its subsequent operations in the area? Also are there any accounts of the siege?

Lastly, in the CROMWELLIAN GAZETTEER by Dr P Gaunt, Sealeby Castle, Cumbria, was taken in Spring 1645 and changed hands twice betore the end of the year. Can anyone enlarge upon this?

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