VICAR OF BRAY.
Old Song Composed in the time of George I.
The song illustrates the many changes of religion in the later Stuart period.
In good King Charles's golden days
When loyalty no harm meant,
A zealous High-Churchman was I,
And so I got preferment.
To teach my flock, I never missed,
Kings were by God appointed,
And damned are those that dare resist
Or touch the Lord's anointed.
And this is law that I'll maintain
Until my dying day, sir,
That whatsoever King shall reign
I'll still be Vicar of Bray, sir.
When royal James possessed the Crown
And Popery came in fashion
The penal laws I hooted down
And signed the Declaration.
The Church of Rome I found would fit
Full well my constitution,
And I had been a Jesuit
But for the Revolution.
And this is law, etc.
When William was our King declared
To ease the nation's grievance,
With this new wind about I steered
And swore to him allegiance.
Old principles I did revoke,
Set conscience at a distance;
Passive obedience was a joke,
A jest was non-resistance.
And this is law, etc.
When royal Anne became our Queen,
—The Church of England's glory,—
Another face of this was seen
And I became a Tory.
Old principles I did revoke,
Set conscience at a distance;
Passive obedience was a joke,
A jest was non-resistance.
And this is law, etc.
When George in Pudding-time came o'er,
And moderate men looked big, sir,
My principles I changed once more,
And thus became a Whig, sir.
And so preferment I secured
From our new faith's defender,
And almost every day abjured
The Pope and the Pretender.
And this is law, etc.
The illustrious House of Hanover
And Protestant Succession,
To them I do allegiance swear—
Whilst they can keep possession.
For in my faith and loyalty
I never more shall falter,
And George my lawful King shall be—
Until the times do alter.
And this is law, etc.