The Return of the King

Lord John Culpepper was witness to a dramatic turn of events in English history. He was a member of the privy council of King Charles I, who was executed in 1649, apparently contrary to the law and the will of the Parliament. John Culpepper was entrusted with the safety of Charles II and accompanied him into exile during twelve years of Oliver Cromwell’s reforms, experiments, excesses, and bloodshed.

Then, in 1660, six weeks before John Culpepper’s death, Charles II returned from exile. The cry “Habemus rei! We have a king!” rose from the people. Sir Winston Churchill wrote in his…