Rewards and Favours

Abstract

After so many months, even years in many cases, of poverty, deprivation, separation from one’s family and exclusion from political and social life, the time had come when the returned exiles could expect to be rewarded for their suffering and their loyalty. But for some of the survivors of exile the Restoration had come almost too late. A small number of the returned emigrés can be viewed as the out of touch relics of an older generation, the survivors of out-dated conflicts and causes: the old Cavaliers of Charles I who had no role to play in the new court and administration of his son. Once prominent figures from the years of the Personal Rule of Charles I, like ex-Lord Keeper Finch, or of the early days of the Long Parliament, like Lord Culpepper, having survived the years of exile to witness the Restoration, could now retire gracefully and thankfully to their manor houses to die, as both Finch and Culpepper did before the end of 1660.

Appointment of John Sawyer, chief Master Cook, in consideration of ye faithful service he has done us during this time of Our being in foreign parts.

(One of a series of appointments to places in the royal household, Breda, 9 April 1660)¹