Variant broadside, reprinted in An Antidote Against Melancholy: Made up in Pills (London, 1661), pp. 49-51; by Dryden, in Miscellany (1716) 4:352-4; Wright, Political Ballads, pp. 257-59; Wilkins, 1: 162-66; Ebsworth Merry Drollery Compleate, pp. 52-4.

    Wright, p. 257, notes: "The two ballads which follow ["The Cavaleers Letany", pp. 261-65] express the discontent of the now truimphant Cavaliers at the few personal advantages which they reaped from the Restoration, and at the ingratitude of King Charles to the old suporters of the fortunes of his family. The first is taken from the nineteenth volume of the folio broadsides, King's Pamphlets, British Museum. "I tell thee, Dick," &c. is the first line of Sir John Suckling's famous song on a wedding" (p. 257).

    Wilkins comments: "The Cavaliers were much disappointed at the neglect with which their claims to the royal favour were treated at the Restoration, and expressed great dissatisfaction [sic] at the preferments bestowed upon the Presbyeterians, whose return to loyalty was thus conciliated and confirmed. It was commonly said of the "Act of Oblivions and Indemnity," that the King had passed an "act of oblivion for his friends and of indemnity for his enemies." The famous divine, Dr. Isaac Barrow, who may be accpted as a fair exponent of the views of the Royalists at this juncture, conveyed, in the following sistich, his sense of the inattention he experienced:

"Te magis optavit rediturum, Carole, nemo,
Et nemo sensit te redisse minus."

"Oh! how my breast did ever burn
To see my lawful King return;
Yet whilst his happy fate I bless,
No one has felt his influence less." Wilkins 1: 162.

    See also The Cavalier's Genius: Being a Proper New Ballad. To the Tune of, 'Ods bodikins chill work no more, and forty other good Tunes (O=Wood 416(78)), which parodies Suckling's poem in itermitant dialect and satirizes court behaviour.

    Among the early complaints, see An Humble Representation of the sad Condition of may of the Kings Party, Who since His Majesties Happy Restauration have no Relief, and but Languishing Hopes. Together with Proposals how some of them may be speedily relieved, and others assured thereof, within a resonable time. Printed for A. Seile, in the Year, 1661. O=G.Pamph. 1119 (9).

    "We joyfully, indeed, partake in the Glory of His Majesties Restitution, the Peace of our Country, the security of Laws, & the Propect of future settlements is most pleasant to us: But, alas, we are still exposed to the same necessities, Nay many of us are in worse Condition, as to livelyhood, than ever, Partly by exhausting ourselves with unusual Expences, That we might appear (like our selves) concerned in his Majesties welcome, & Coronation, partly, by prosecuting honest, but fruitless, pretences, Chiefly by the fate of Poverty, which, seldome, continues, without encreasing, And (for Accomplishment of our Misery), Hope, (which, hitherto, alone, Befriended, & Supported,) hath now forsaken us." (p. 5)

   The Cavaliers Comfort is, in some respects, a reply to this ballad.