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800Years IrishPolitical, Literary&MilitaryHistory - 15thApril2014
70
AnAgrarianSecretSociety, TheRibbonmen
Ahandwrittenoathof theRibbonmen. Foundby accident in the countyofTyrone.A singlepage.
The Ribbonmenwere a secret agrarian societywhosemembers consisted of rural Catholics known as Barly as 1813. In 1813 over 400Catholics Ribbonmen
attempted todestroy a tavern inGarvagh inCoDerry, the local Orange Lodgewas lying inwait withmuskets and the ensuing battle left several Ribbonmen
dead. Themost activeperiod for the societywas between1835-55. Thepagebelow reads:
I A.B. do swear in the presence ofmy Brothers and by theHolyCross of St peter andBlessed Lodge that I will maintain and support out holy religion by…
(against?)hereticsas faras inmypowerandpropertyhis. Iwillnot expect anyalso that I assistmyBrothers ineveryundertakingagainheretics socalledbyour
HolyFather. I forthwill swear that Iwill be ready in12hours’ notice toput our glorious design into execution against heretics of every sort sohelpmeGodby
theHolyCross in the 35 chapters and5verse. Then the eyes of theblind shall beopened and the ears of thedeaf unstopped.
(Verso):
1st (?)-What newsBrother?
Ans. Badnews brother, our friends are retreating inPortugal
2nd-How shall I be registered
Ans. Byour three sones ofGrania
3rd-Were you ever at school
Ans. Yes Iwas
4th-What didyou learn
Ans. TheAlphabet
5thExplain it
Ans. J.M.G
6th-Were you ever an elder brother
Ans. I and that Iwas
7th-Giveme the explanation that of J.M.G
Ans. You Imust go takemy left handofmyBrother and saywe are the indeed
€300 - 500
