[6] At the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Finmore was initially granted a fellowship in Manchester Collegiate Church but was not admitted to the post due to irregularities in the nominating process.
Finmore, who was strongly sympathetic to the Royalist cause, showed his admiration for Colonel Henry Gage, who led a column of 800 foot and horse to relieve Basing House in 1644.
When Gage, as governor of Oxford, fell to his death while leading the attack to destroy Culham Bridge in 1645, Finmore penned a 46-line poem in his honor, the last stanza rendered here in modern spelling: So great his virtues were that when he failed, No man was more beloved, none more bewailed, But let not bloody foes lift up their head Because our army's flower's withered.
In the Register of the Visitors of Oxford for that year, he is entered as a non-subscriber, that is, one who did not accept the Parliamentarian confession of faith, answering, "I am not yet satisfied how I may with a safe conscience submit to this visitation.
"[11] So strong was Finmore's loyalty to the House of Stuart that it was noted on his funeral monument in these lines composed by his widow, Mary:[12] Vir alioqui cum suavitate et probitate morum tum varia eruditione atq constanti in regem fide undiquaque spectabilis.