It was led by John Penruddock, a Wiltshire landowner who fought for Charles I in the First English Civil War; intended as one of a number of co-ordinated risings, the others failed to take place and it was easily suppressed.

[3] As a result, a small group of aristocrats known as the Sealed Knot were given responsible for co-ordinating future Royalist activity in England, reporting to senior exiles Edward Hyde and the Earl of Ormond.

[5] Frustrated by the lack of action, a second group known as the 'Action Party' was established, which consisted of middle-ranking country gentlemen and Royalist veterans of the First English Civil War like Sir Humphrey Bennet and John Penruddock, a Wiltshire landowner.

They began planning another revolt to take place in early 1655, claiming support from Thomas Fairfax, former commander of the New Model Army, Leveller radicals like Edward Sexby and John Wildman, and moderate Presbyterians opposed to Cromwell.

Hyde and Ormonde were sceptical of such claims and although some like Sexby did participate, the idea of widespread or significant support was largely imaginary, while Willis ensured Thurloe was informed of the details well in advance.

[8] Rochester was accompanied by Sir Joseph Wagstaffe, a professional soldier of fortune who served under the Parliamentarian leader John Hampden before switching sides in January 1643; when the First English Civil War ended in 1646, he was a major-general in the Royalist Army of the West.

Having assembled around 150 men, they captured the town and took several prisoners, including John Dove, a regime loyalist who was High Sheriff of Wiltshire; Wagstaffe wanted to execute him for refusing to proclaim Charles II but was over-ruled by Penruddock.

Despite the presence of Hertford's personal chaplain, Humphrey Henchman, they failed to turn up and Penruddock led his small force into Dorset, heading for the Royalist stronghold of Cornwall.

[1] Sexby was another who escaped to Flanders where English exiles were given shelter by the Spanish; in the April 1656 Treaty of Brussels, they agreed to provide military backing to restore Charles in return for support against France.