When the townswomen and children attempted to beg for food at the town gates, they were turned away with nothing by the besieging soldiers. In a last appeal to the humanity of the besiegers, the Royalist commanders sent 500 starving women to the Parliamentarian lines, hoping that they might acquire food by inspiring sympathy. Colonel Rainsborough undermined this plan by ordering the women stripped naked, to the great amusement of his army.
When townspeople and children tried to beg for food at the gates during a siege, they were denied by the besieging soldiers.  The Royalist commanders sent 500 starving women to the Parliamentarian lines in an attempt to gain sympathy from the besieged. Colonel Rainsborough ruined this plan by ordering the women stripped naked, which amused his troops.