 The Earl's men were hungry and weary, following their escape from Kingston upon Thames, where the Parliamentary forces had completely overwhelmed them.Of his original army of 500, the Earl escaped with about 100 cavalry and was immediately followed by a small party of Puritan and Parliamentary cavalry.After much hesitation concerning which direction they should flee to, the Earl decided on Northampton, whither the group made their way via St Albans and Dunstable.