Monmouth landed just to the west of the Cobb at Lyme regis with 82 supporters on June 11^th, 1685, to the rallying cry of "Monmouth, Monmouth, God save the Protestant religion!". The West Country was strongly Protestant and the rebels were certain that they would easily raise support for their cause against a strongly Catholic king.

The band rode northwards attracting religious fanatics, the poor and discontents and fighting a number of skirmishes along the way. Twelve days after his landing at Lyme regis, Monmouth arrived at the strongly Protestant town of Shepton Mallet with three thousand infantry and large well-armed band of cavalry.

The Duke and his supporters landing on Monmouth Beach, just to the west of the Cobb at Lyme Regis Reproduced by kind permission of the Royal Standard Public House, Lyme Regis, Dorset

Amongst the 82 supporters who landed at Lyme Regis were Daniel Defoe and Fletcher of Saltoun.

The Duke the night of June 23 in Longbridge House and marched his army towards Bristol the following day, determined to take the largest and most important city in the country after London. Harried en-route by a strong force of Life Guards led by Lord Feversham, Monmouth abandoned his quest for Bristol and attempted to take Bath instead. Bath was too strongly defended and Monmouth marched his bedraggled army, much reduced by casualties and desertion, back to Shepton Mallet.

This time the town was scared of reprisals and Monmouth and his brocken band recieved a cold welcome. The rebels took what they wanted and Monmouth again stayed overnight at Longbridge House before moving on to Wells.

On July 5th, the King's army under John Churchill (later created Duke of Marlborough) massacred the remnants of Monmouth's rebels at the battle of Sedgemoor, near Bridgewater. Monmouth himself escaped, making his way back to Shepton Mallet and brief refuge with his friend Edward Strode, whome he presented with his brace of pistols. The following day he attempted to escape to France but was caught in Dorset the following day, and beheaded on Tower Hill a week later.

Monmouth was found hiding in a hedge at Horton dressed as a farm labourer. It is said that he might have succeeded in esaping had he not carried the insignia of the Order of the Garter in his pocket.

The Duke of Monmouth suffered greatly during his execution on July 15^th before a large crowd due to the notorious incompetence of the public executioner John Ketch. The Duke had asked for a clean end to his life - in the event Ketch took five blows to hack off the rebel's head.