On the day on which the skirmish took place at Cirencester, Richard Savage, Lord Colchester, son and heir of the Earl Rivers, and father, by a lawless amour, of that unhappy poet whose misdeeds and misfortunes form one of the darkest portions of literary history, came with between sixty and seventy horse to Exeter.

With him arrived the bold and turbulent Thomas Wharton.

A few hours later came Edward Russell, son of the Earl of Bedford, and brother of the virtuous nobleman whose blood had been shed on the scaffold.

Another arrival still more important was speedily announced.

Colchester, Wharton, and Russell belonged to that party which had been constantly opposed to the court.