Dewsbury.
_"The Good Old Cause"_ (Vol. viii, p. 44.).--D'Israeli, in _Quarrels of
Authors_, under the head of "Martin Mar-Prelate," has the following
remarks on the origin and use of the expression, "The Good Old Cause:"
"It is remarkable that Udall repeatedly employed that expression, which
Algernon Sidney left as his last legacy to the people, when he told them
he was about to die for 'that _Old Cause_, in which I was from my youth
engaged.' Udall perpetually insisted on '_The Cause_.' This was a term
which served at least for a watch-word: it rallied the scattered members
of the republican party. The precision of the expression might have been
difficult to ascertain; and, perhaps, like every popular expedient,
varied with 'existing circumstances.' I did not, however, know it had so
remote an origin as in the reign of Elizabeth; and suspect it may still
be freshened up and varnished over for any present occasion."