(The Worcestershire Ballad.)
The opprobrious terms of Whigs and Tories were freely exchanged. Here is a Whig’s view of the “king’s men:”—
“As Rascals changing rags for scarlet coats,
Cudgell’d before, set up to cut Whig throats.”
The wit lay rather with the Cavaliers, though it must be confessed their opponents had the best of the argument when reasoning on facts.
The definition of the nickname Tory, as it originally arose, is given in “A New Ballad” (Narcissus Luttrell’s Collection):—
“The word Tory’s of Irish Extraction,
’Tis a Legacy that they have left here,
They came here in their brogues,
And have acted like Rogues,
In endeavouring to learn us to Swear.”
By way of answer, the Tories exulted in their loyalty:—
“Let Tories guard the King,
Let Whigs on halters swing.”
The Court party denounced—
“Visions, Seditions,
And railing Petitions.”