He supported the Royalists in the War of the Three Kingdoms, and took part in a number of conspiracies to restore Charles II of England during the 1649 to 1660 Commonwealth period.

Despite receiving a number of lucrative government positions, he was in dire financial difficulties when he died in February 1684, leaving four daughters, and his lands were sold.

Shortly before fleeing into exile in 1660 to escape prosecution as a regicide, his neighbour John Dixwell sold Peyton part of his Broome Park estate.

In return, one of Peyton's daughters married his nephew Basill Dixwell, which appears to have been a successful attempt to protect his property from confiscation.

[3] He was disabled from sitting in 1644 for supporting the king and was subsequently a member of The Action Party, a group of radicals dedicated to bringing down the Protectorate government.