In Charles the Second’s Golden Days

When Loyalty no Harm meant,

A furious High Churchman I was,

And so I got Preferment;

Unto my Flock I daily preach'd

Kings were by God appointed,

And damn'd was he, that durst resist,

Or touch the Lord's Anointed. 

Chor. That this is Law, I will maintain

Unto my dying Day, Sir,

That whatsoever King shall reign,

I will be Vicar of Bray, Sir.

When Royal James possess’d the Crown,

And Pop'ry grew in Fashion,

The penal Laws I hooted down,

And read the Declaration;

The Church of Rome I found would fit,

Full well my Constitution,

And had become a Jesuit,

But for the Revolution.

That is Law, I will maintain, &c.

When William our Deliverer came, 

To heal the Nations Grievance,

I turn'd the Cat in Pan again,

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.

That this is Law, I will maintain, &c.

When Gracious Ann became our Queen,

The Church of Edglands[sic] Glory,

Another Face of Things were seen,

And I became a Tory;

Occasional Conformest Face 

I damn'd, and such Evasion,

And swore the Church wou'd ruin'd be

From such Prevarication.

That this is Law, I will maintain, &c.

When George in Pudding-time came o'er,

And moderate Men look'd big, Sir.

My Principles I chang'd once more, 

And so became a Whig, Sir;

And thus Preferment I procur'd

From our great Faith's Defender,

And every now and then abjur'd 

The Pope and the Pretender. 

That this is Law, I will maintain, &c.

Th'Illustrious House of Hanover,

And Protestant Succession,

To these I lustily will swear

While they can keep Possession,

And in my Faith and Loyalty

I never once will falter,

And George my lawful King shall be,

Unless the Times shall alter. 

That this is Law, I will maintain

Unto my dying Day, Sir.

That whatsoever King shall reign,

I will be Vicar of Bray, Sir.