Evil news was now fast pouring in upon him from all sides.

The western counties had at length risen.

As soon as the news of Cornbury's desertion was known, many wealthy landowners took heart and hastened to Exeter.

Among them was Sir William Portman of Bryanstone, one of the greatest men in Dorsetshire, and Sir Francis Warre of Hestercombe, whose interest was great in Somersetshire.

[529] But the most important of the new comets was Seymour, who had recently inherited a baronetcy which added little to his dignity, and who, in birth, in political influence, and in parliamentary abilities, was beyond comparison the foremost among the Tory gentlemen of England.