Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/370

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352

THE VICAR OF BRAY.

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, &c.

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, &c.

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 damned their moderation,
Although 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,
I turned a cat-in-pan 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, &c.

Th' 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, &c.