When a Royalist forced, led by Sir Michael Woodhouse, arrived outside of Hopton Castle in Shropshire the small Parliamentarian garrison knew they would have a tough fight ahead of them. Fortunately, following a visit by Major Phillips, the garrison had been strengthening their defences.
On the 26th February 1644, the Royalists burned down a brick house on the perimeter and assaulted the walls. The assault failed and the Royalists retreated. When the Royalists demanded surrender More refused to even acknowledge the message as it had been delivered “without drum or trumpet.”
For the next two weeks the garrison defiantly held out as the Royalists bombarded the walls with artillery and attempted to mine under the walls. The Royalists ended up setting fire to the wooden gate door and at last broke through the defences. With no hope left the beleaguered garrison surrendered
Pro-Parliamentarian accounts of the siege, likely hoping to stoke fears of Royalist brutality, described how the garrison soldiers hand their hands cut off before being stoned or drowned to death. Another account mentions how the steward was offered to have his throat cut in a chair provided for him
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