saggarts

Updated: May 4, 2025

Besides playing the part of an exorcist, he acted that of a politician with considerable success; he attached himself to the party of the sire of agitation "the man of paunch," and preached and hallooed for repeal with the loudest and best, as long as repeal was the cry; as soon, however, as the Whigs attained the helm of Government, and the greater part of the loaves and fishes more politely termed the patronage of Ireland was placed at the disposition of the priesthood, the tone of Murtagh, like that of the rest of his brother saggarts, was considerably softened; he even went so far as to declare that politics were not altogether consistent with sacerdotal duty; and resuming his exorcisms, which he had for some time abandoned, he went to the Isle of Holiness, and delivered a possessed woman of six demons in the shape of white mice.

George Henry Borrow - The Romany Rye