The franchise was popular.

Party spirit ran high; and the contests were among the fiercest and the longest of which there is any record in our history.

Seymour had represented Exeter in the Parliament of James, and in the two first Parliaments of William.
In 1695, after a struggle of several weeks which had attracted much attention not only here but on the Continent, he had been defeated by two Whig candidates, and forced to take refuge in a small borough.
But times had changed.

He was now returned in his absence by a large majority; and with him was joined another Tory less able and, if possible, more unprincipled than himself, Sir Bartholomew Shower.

Shower had been notorious as one of the hangmen of James.