The Early History of the Tories: From the Accession of Charles the Second, to the Death of William the Third (1660-1702) (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Early History of the Tories: From the Accession of Charles the Second, to the Death of William the Third (1660-1702)

Since writing these words I have seen a passage in Lord Acton's Lectures on Modern History (inaugural Lecture, p. Which confirms the View which I have outlined. The Professor there cites the history Of the origin Of the use Of the word Tory, in the sense of a political party name, as a signal illustration Of men's proclivity to forget what has once been known. It will, I think, be of some interest to my readers to recall the precise words Of Defoe. I quote from the passage from Defoe's Review (vol. Vii. P. 296) as given in the Edinburgh Review, vol. L. P. 403.

Their real godfather was Titus Oates, and the occasion of his giving them the name as follows - the author of this happened to be present. There was a meeting of some honest people in the city, upon the occasion of the discovery of some attempt to stifle the evidence of the witnesses (to the pot plot) and tampering with Bedloe and Stephen Dugdale. Among the discourse, Mr. Bedloe said, he had letters from Ireland, and that there were some Tories to be brought over hither who were privately to murder Dr. Oates and the Said Bedloe. The Doctor, whose zeal was very hot, could never after this hear any man talk against the plot, or against the witnesses, but he thought he was one of those Tories, and called almost every man a Tory that opposed him in discourse till at the last the word Tory became popular, and it stuck SO close to the party in all their bloody proceedings, that they had no way to get it Off; so at last they owned it, just as they do now the name of High flyer.'

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