The Vicar Of Bray - 1720

Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK, 2001

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 damn'd are those who do 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 be The Vicar of Bray, sir.

When royal James obtained the crown,
and Pop'ry 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 had become a Jesuit,
but for the Revolution.

And this is law,
that I'll maintain,
until my dying day, sir,
that whatsoever King shall reign,
I'll be The Vicar of Bray, sir.

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 obediance was a joke,
a jest was nonresistance.

And this is law,
that I'll maintain,
until my dying day, sir,
that whatsoever King shall reign,
I'll be The Vicar of Bray, sir.

When gracious 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 damn'd their moderation,
and thought the Church in danger was
by such prevarication.

And this is law,
that I'll maintain,
until my dying day, sir,
that whatsoever King shall reign,
I'll be The Vicar of Bray, sir.

When George in puddingtime came o'er,
and moderate men looked big, sir,
I turned a catinpan once more,
and so became a Whig, sir;
and thus preferment I procured,
from our new faith's defender,
and almost every day abjured
The Pope and the Pretender.

And this is law,
that I'll maintain,
until my dying day, sir,
that whatsoever King shall reign,
I'll be The Vicar of Bray, sir.

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 never more 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,
I'll be The Vicar of Bray, sir.

Soft karaoke
Words
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bass
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The Vicar of Bray 1720

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The Vicar of Bray 1720
Words circa 1720 Anon
Air - 17th Century - arr. John Tait
Sequenced for Piano by Dr. Pitt-Payne in London UK
on Wednesday 05 Sept 2001 at 15.13
in association with Doug Grierson
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© James Pitt-Payne, London UK, 2001
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