[2] See Summary of Constitutional History in the Appendix, p. xix, S21.

478.  The So-Called “Popish Plot”; the Exclusion Bill, and Disabling Act, 1678.

While the King was playing this double part, a scoundrel, named Titus Oates, whose hideous face was but the counterpart of a still more hideous character, pretended that he had discovered a terrible plot.  He declared that the Catholics had formed a conspiracy to burn London, massacre the inhabitants, kill the King, and restore the religion of Rome.

The news of this alleged discovery caused an excitement which soon grew into a sort of popular madness.  The memory of the great fire (S474) was still fresh in people’s minds.  In their imagination they now saw those scenes of horror repeated, with wholesale murder added.  Great numbers of innocent persons were thrown into prison, and many executed.

As time went on, the terror seemed to increase.  With its increase, Oates grew bolder in his accusations.  Chief Justice Scroggs showed himself an eager abettor of the miserable wretch who swore away men’s lives for the sake of the notoriety it gave him.  In the extravagance of his presumption Oates even dared to accuse the Queen of an attempt to poison Charles.  The craze, however, had at last begun to abate somewhat, no action was taken, and in the next reign Oates got the punishment he deserved—­or at least a part of it (S485).

An attempt was now made (1679) to pass a law called the “Exclusion Bill,” debarring Charles’s brother James, the Catholic Duke of York, from succeeding to the crown; but though voted by the Commons, it was defeated by the Lords.  Meanwhile a second measure, called the “Disabling Act,” had received the sanction of both Houses, 1678.  It declared Catholics incapable of sitting in either House of Parliament (S382); and from this date they remained shut out from all legislative power and from all civil and corporate offices until 1829, a period of over a century and a half (S573).

479.  Rise of Permanent Political Parties, 1678; the King revokes City Charters.

It was about this time that the names “Whig” and “Tory” (changed after 1832 to Liberal and Conservative) (S582) began to be given to two political parties, which soon became very powerful, and practically have ever since divided the government of the country between them.

The term “Whig” was originally given by way of reproach to the Scotch Puritans, or Covenanters, who refused to accept the Episcopacy which Charles I endeavored to impose upon them (S438).  “Tory,” on the other hand, was a nickname which appears to have first been applied to the Roman Catholic outlaws of Ireland, who were regarded by Elizabeth and by Cromwell as both robbers and rebels (S453).

The name of “Tory” was now given to those who supported the claims of the King’s brother James, the Roman Catholic Duke of York, as successor to the throne; while that of “Whig” (or “Country Party”) was borne by those who were endeavoring to exclude him (S478), and secure a Protestant successor.[1]