School: Ballinagore (C.) (roll number 16341)

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   “An Orange man from beyond the river.”

   

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   In puzzling and perplexing doubt
   Bill wandered aimlessly about
   Until he stumbled on a place
   Where over the Archway he could trace
   In plain large letters "Purgatory,,
   Now here says Bill is a likely story
   I thought there was'nt such a place
   But here it stares me in the face

   I'll knock perhaps they'll give me lodging
   I'm tired of this Celestial dodging
   He knocked and lo an ancient Pope
   Stood at the gate and thus did say
   Mortal whence comest thou I pray
   From earth your Reverence Bill replied
   Strange, says the Pope I never heard
   Ought of your coming from any Priest
   They might have sent me word at least

   Say mortal what was your Profession
   Who was it heard your last Confession
   I am a Protestant says Bill
   But I will your behests fulfil
   If you will only let me stay
   For I have come a weary way

   He says my child wee'l take you in
   And cleance you from that deadly sin
   Perhaps ten thousand thousand years
   Of fastings punishments and tears
   Would purge out the heretical taint
   And turn you out a Patron Saint
   Say what false church did you belong
   Although of course they all are wrong

   My Lord an Orange man was I
   His Hoiness here heaved a sigh
   Then crossed himself and began to scatter
   Around the place some Holy Water
   Then sadly turning to Bill he said
   A Protestant may escape if clever
   But Orangemen are doomed for ever

   The Pope here sadly shut the gate
   And Bill was left once more to fate
   Muttering of craft and Popish leaven
   And plotting to reform Heaven
   By instituting Orange Lodges
   To circumvent the Popish Dodges

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Informant

   Mr Menton

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   87

   Address

   Ballynagore, Co. Westmeath