Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE VICAR OF BRAY, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE VICAR OF BRAY, by                    
First Line: In good king charles's golden days
Last Line: "except the times should alter. / and this is law, etc"
Subject(s): "aleyn, Simon (16th Century);bray, England;conversion;religion;" Theology


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 lost 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,
Still I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir.

When royal James possessed the crown,
And popery came 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 I had been a Jesuit
But for the Revolution.
And this is law, etc.

When William was our king declared,
To case 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 things was seen,
And I became a Tory;
Occasional conformists base,
I blamed their moderation;
And thought the Church in danger was,
By such prevarication.
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 so became a Whig, sir;
And thus preferment I procured
From our new faith's-defender,
And almost every day adjured
The Pope and the Pretender.
And this is law, etc.

The illustrious house of Hanover,
And Protestant succession,
To these I do allegiance swear --
While they can keep possession:
For in my faith and loyalty
I nevermore will falter,
And George my lawful king shall be --
Until the times do alter.
And this is law that I'll maintain
Until my dying day, sir,
That whatsoever king shall reign,
Still I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir.




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