58 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

c h a r. themselves, by rendering them insignificant, madeI,xm. them unfit to support the king’s measures, and

1663. caused him to deem them a useless incumbrance.

And as many false and ridiculous claims of meritwere offered, his natural indolence , averse to astrict discussion or inquiry, led him to treat themall with equal indifference. The parliament tooknotice of the poor cavaliers. Sixty thousandpounds were at one time distributed among them :Mrs. Lane also and the Penderels had handsomepresents and pensions from the king. But thegreater part of the royalists still remained in povertyand distress ; aggravated by the cruel disappoint-ment in their sanguine hopes , and by seeingfavor and preferment bestowed upon their mostinveterate foes. With regard to the act of in-demnity and oblivion, they universally said , thatit was an act of indemnity to the king’s enemies,and of oblivion to his friends.