In good King Charles’s golden days, When loyalty had no harm in’t, A zealous High-Church man I was, And so I gained preferment. To teach my flock I never missed: Kings were by God appointed; And they are damned who dare resist, Or touch the Lord’s anointed. _Chorus._--And this is law, I will maintain Until my dying day, sir, That whatsoever king shall reign, I’ll be the Vicar of Bray, sir. When Royal James obtained the throne, And Popery 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 I had been a Jesuit; But for the Revolution. And this is law, &c. When William, our deliverer, came To heal the nation’s grievance, Then I turned 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. And this is law, &c. When glorious Anne became our queen, The Church of England’s glory, Another face of things was seen, And I became a Tory. Occasional Conformist case! I damned such moderation; And thought the Church in danger was By such prevarication. And this is law, &c. 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 Faith’s great Defender; And almost every day abjured The Pope and the Pretender. For this is law, &c. The illustrious House of Hanover, And Protestant Succession, By these I lustily will swear While they can keep possession; For in my faith and loyalty I never once will falter, But George my king shall ever be, Except the times do alter. For this is law, &c.