§ MR. MONKasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether a printed form of the following oath, or of an oath to the like effect, alleged to have been taken by Ribandmen in the county of Westmeath, has not been seized by the police in that county:—
By the virtue of the oath I have taken, I will aid and assist, with all my mind and strength, when called upon, to massacre Protestants and cut away heretics, burn British churches, and abolish Protestant Kings and Princes, and all others except the Church of Rome and this system; and by the virtue of the oath I have taken, I will think it no sin to kill and massacre a Protestant, whenever opportunity occurs; and by virtue of the said oath, if I know any of the said members of this system to be backward in executing any of the aforesaid orders, I will immediately make it known to the captain or committee-man 1870 belonging to the Riband Board; and by virtue of the oath, I will always attend at one moment's notice to execute any commands belonging to this system, and I will never see a brother hurt or abused by any not up to this system without assisting him, nor will I buy anything from a Protestant at any terms, if I can get it from a brother; and I also feel bound to believe that there is no absolution to be had from the Pope of Rome, or any other authority belonging to that Church, or that which is to come, from a breach of the test?
THE MARQUESS OF HARTINGTONThe printed paper, which is quoted almost accurately in the Question of my hon. Friend, was found in a house in Mullingar in the year 1869. There is, I believe, reason to doubt whether it is a genuine Riband document; and, if so, it is supposed to be a copy of an obsolete oath. I have no further information on that subject.