Note 387 — THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AT EDINBURGH, 1649.
Reading edition
The party appellation of “Whigamores,” or, briefly, “Whigs,” had its origin at this period; and the insurrection referred to was called the “Whigamores’ Raid” or incursion, that term being the common one for the predatory expeditions of the Borderers. This nickname being still preserved in the vocabulary of party, although there is truly none now existing that can be in any degree assimilated to the original sect, it seems proper to explain how the distinction originated. Mr Laing, in his history, (vol. i., p. 381, 2d ed. 1804,) informs us that “the expedition was termed the Whigamores’ inroad, from a word employed by these western peasants in driving horses; and the name transferred, in the succeeding reign, to the opponents of the court, in still preserved and cherished by the Whigs as the genuine descendants of the covenanting Scots.” And, in a foot-note, he adds—“According to others, from whig or whey, the customary food of those peasants.”
Sir Walter Scott, in his “Tales of a Grandfather,” (Prose Works, vol. xxiv.,) says:—“This insurrection was called the Whigamores’ Raid, from the word whig-whig—that is, get on, get on, which is used by the western peasants in driving their horses—a name destined to become the distinction of a powerful party in British history.”
In Daniel Defoe’s “Memoirs of the Church of Scotland,” (printed 1717,) p. 173, speaking of the Covenanters, he says:—“This is the first time that the name of a Whigg was used in the world—I mean as applied to a man or to a party of men; and these were the original primitive Whiggs—the name for many years being given to no other people. The word is said to be taken from a mixed drink the poor men drank in their wanderings, composed of water and sour milk.”
And Bishop Burnet, who lived nearer to the time in which the nickname was invented, gives the following explanation of it in the “History of his own Times,” (p. 26, imperial ed. 1837):—“The southwest counties of Scotland have seldom corn enough to serve them round the year, and the northern parts producing more than they need, those in the west came in the summer to buy at Leith the stores that came from the north; and from a word Whiggam, used in driving their horses, all that drove were called Whiggamors; and, shorter, the Whiggs. Now, in that year, after the news came down of Duke Hamilton’s defeat, the Ministers animated their people to rise and march to Edinburgh; and they came up marching on the head of their parishes with an unheard-of fury, praying and preaching all the way as they came. The Marquis of Argyle and his party came and headed them, they being about 6,000. This was called the Whiggamors’ inroad; and, ever after that, all that opposed the court came, in contempt, to be called Whiggs; and from Scotland the word was brought into England, where it is now one of our unhappy terms of distinction.”
The following description of the Whigs, in some of their risings after the restoration of Charles II., is taken from a MS. copy of a doggrel poem, (by Cleland, it is thought,) which the editor presented some years ago to the Library of the Antiquarian Society of Edinburgh—
“It was in Januar or December, When I did see the outlaw Whigs Lye scattered up and down the riggs Some had hoggers, some straw boots, Some uncovered leggs and coots; Some had halbards, some had durks, Some had crooked swords, like Turks; Some had slings, and some had flails, Knit with eel and oxen tails; Some had speares, some had pikes, Some had spades which delvit dykes; Some had guns with roustie ratches, Some had firie peats for matches; Some had bows, but wanted arrows, Some had pistols without marrows; Some the coulter of a plough, Some syths had, men and horse to hough; And some with a Lochaber axe Resolved to give Dalziell his paiks; Some had cross-bows, some were slingers, Some had only knives and whingers; But most of all, (believe who lists,) Had nought to fight with but their fists: They had no colours to display; They wanted order and array; Their officers and motion-teachers Were verie few beside their preachers: Without horse, or artilzierie pieces, They thought to imitate the Sweeses, When from Novarr they sallyed out, Tremoville and brave Trivulce to rout. For martial musique everie day They used oft to sing and pray, Which chears them more, when danger comes, Than others’ trumpets and their drums. With such provision as they had, They were so stout, or else so madd, As to petition once again; And, if the issue proved vain, They were resolved, with one accord, To fight the battells of the Lord.”