At the Restoration, the court party preserved the name, which survived until the rise of the term Tory. It was soon reappropriated as a title of honour by the king's party, who in return applied Roundhead to their opponents. Ĭharles, in the Answer to the Petition 13 June 1642, speaks of Cavaliers as a 'word by what mistake soever it seemes much in disfavour'. 631 That your Majesty.would please to dismiss your extraordinary Guards, and the Cavaliers and others of that Quality, who seem to have little Interest or Affection to the publick Good, their Language and Behaviour speaking nothing but Division and War. 504 Several sorts of malignant Men, who were about the King some whereof, under the name of Cavaliers, without having respect to the Laws of the Land, or any fear either of God or Man, were ready to commit all manner of Outrage and Violence. It first appears as a term of reproach and contempt, applied to the followers of King Charles I in June 1642:ġ642 (June 10) Propositions of Parlt.

'Cavalier' is chiefly associated with the Royalist supporters of King Charles I in his struggle with Parliament in the English Civil War.

An engraving depicting Charles I and his adherents.