Works of Frederick Engels 1882

Frederick Engels 1882

The Vicar of Bray

Abstract

Source: Marx Engels On Literature and Art, Progress Publishers, 1976;
Transcribed: by Andy Blunden.

In good King Charles’s golden days
When loyalty no harm meant,
A zealous high-church man I was,
And so I got preferment:

To teach my flock I never miss'd,
Kings are by God appointed,
And damn'd are those that do resist.
Or touch The Lord’s Anointed.
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 obtain'd 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 had become a Jesuit,
But for the Revolution
And this is law, &c.

When William was our King declar'd,
To case the nation’s grievance;
With this new wind about I steer'd,
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 Ann 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, &c.

When George in pudding-time came o'er,
And moderate men look'd big, sir,
I turn'd a cat-in-pan once more,
And so became a whig, sir;
And thus preferment I procur'd
From our new faith’s-defender;
And almost ev'ry day abjur'd
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 I will maintain,
Until my dying day, air,
That whatsoever king shall reign,
I'll be the vicar of Bray, sir!

The song given above is probably the only political folk song remaining popular in England for more than a hundred and sixty years. It owes this in great measure also to its wonderful tune, which is still sung widely today.