Poole falls 23 Feb

Maurice and his Royalist army besiged Poole in Dorset in mid Feb . After besieging the town Maurice made a daring offer to a roundhead officer in the town - money and freedom in return for opening the gates to the town. The officer reseived the offer on 22 Feb but was uncertain. He stood on the battlements torn by his conscience not knowing which way to turn. He could not decide whether to betray the town or take the money and flee the country. He decided to trust God and place his fate in the throw of a coin. He tossed it in the air, if it landed with the Kings head face upward he would know he was meant to side with the King and open the town gates and deliver the town to Maurice’s men stood outside. The coin flew high in the air, twisting and turning and fell to the floor. Maurice spied the movement and wondered what was happening. He realized a coin was falling and guessed which way up it had fallen…. He chose heads and wondered what it meant. A few hours later he received a message from the officer asking him to send troops to the town gates and they would be opened for them At dawn on the 23 feb maurice’s men marched to the gates to find them open. They charged in to catch the defenders off guard. After much fierce fighting the town was taken. The unnamed officer received his reward and then intended to slip away into the English channel heading for France. However Maurice had other plans and the officer was intercepted on his way to the sea side and not seen again. As word spread through the town of this act of ungentlemanly conduct Maurice’s men grew restless and many decided to desert and leave for home. Fighting losses were 700 for Maurice’s men and 300 deserting in disgust The 2000 troops holding Poole for parliament were either killed or routed from the town and have scattered as a fighting force.