Charles’s first parliament was, amid the confusion of the time (the revolution subverted and royalty restored), barely constituted; it lasted from April 25, 1660, to December 29th, and, being assembled without the king’s writ, was, with customary royal ingratitude for “past favours,” considered by Charles as the _Convention_ Parliament.[11] The long _Cavalier Parliament_, some portion of which, like the king, was in the pay of Louis XIV., is stigmatized to posterity as the “Pensionary” Parliament; it met May 8, 1661, and lasted until January 24, 1679; the members were doubly corrupt, accepting money-bribes or lucrative offices from the Court, or being, according to Barillon’s clear declarations, in the pay of France and Holland, as regarded the patriotic members, who fiercely denounced the venality of the Court. In 1675 the oath against bribery was opportunely inaugurated, providing against corruption either from the Crown or from any ambassador or foreign minister. The Pensionary Parliament, which began its career by servile loyalty, and was merciless against Republicans, towards its close opposing the unreasonable extension of prerogative became factious and insubordinate, arrogating to itself the control of legal procedure, and, according to the opinions of extreme Royalists, generally proving itself a “scourge.” The popular view of this venal legislature is given in the following version:-- “A PENSIONER PARLIAMENT: ANSWER TO THE BALLAD CALLED ‘THE CHEQUER INN.’ “I. “Curse on such representatives! They sell us all, our bairns and wives, (Quoth Dick with indignation); They are but engines to raise tax, And the whole business of their acts Is to undo the nation. “II. “Just like our rotten pump at home, We pour in water when ’twon’t come, And that way get more out, So when mine host does money lack, He money gives among the pack, And then it runs full spout. “III. “By wise Volk, I have oft been told, Parliaments grow nought as they grow old, We groan’d under the Rump, But sure this is a heavier curse, That sucks and drains thus ev’ry purse, By this old Whitehall pump.” Another warning note is struck in the following ballad, aimed at the reprobated Pensionary Parliament:-- “THE PARLIAMENT HOUSE TO BE LET. “1678. “Here’s a House to be let, For Charles Stuart swore By Portsmouth’s honour He would shut up the door. “Enquire at the Lodgings Next door to the pope, At Duke Lauderdale’s head With a cravat of Rope, “And there you will hear How next he will let it, If you pay the old price You may certainly get it. “He holds it in-tail From his Father, who fast Did keep it long shut, But paid for’t at last.”