Vicar of Bray

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Baroque Cycle politics mixed with religion.

Stephensonia

Think of the good Reverend Wilkins.

Authored entries

The Vicar of Bray

An English folk song dating from the time of George I, which gives a rather neat summary of English religious and political changes over the period of the Baroque Cycle.

Lyrics

  In good King Charles's golden days, 
  When Loyalty no harm meant; 
  A Furious High-Church man I was,  
  And so I gain'd Preferment. 
  Unto my Flock I daily Preach'd, 
  Kings are by God appointed, 
  And Damn'd are those who dare resist, 
  Or touch the Lord's Anointed.
 *And this is law, I will maintain* 
 *Unto my Dying Day, Sir.* 
 *That whatsoever King may reign,* 
 *I will be the Vicar of Bray, Sir!*

  When Royal James possest the crown, 
  And popery grew in fashion; 
  The Penal Law I shouted 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, 
  I turn'd the Cat in Pan again, 
  And swore to him Allegiance: 
  Old Principles I did revoke, 
  Set conscience at a distance, 
  Passive Obedience is a Joke, 
  A Jest is non-resistance. 
 *And this is Law, &c.*

  When Royal Ann became our Queen, 
  Then Church of England's Glory, 
  Another face of things was seen, 
  And I became a Tory: 
  Occasional Conformists base 
  I Damn'd, and Moderation, 
  And thought the Church in danger was, 
  From such Prevarication. 
 *And this is Law, &c.*

  When George in Pudding time came o'er, 
  And Moderate Men looked big, Sir, 
  My Principles I chang'd once more, 
  And so became a Whig, Sir.  
  And thus Preferment I procur'd, 
  From our Faith's great Defender  
  And almost every day abjur'd 
  The Pope, and the Pretender. 
 *And this is Law, &c.*

  The Illustrious House of Hannover, 
  And Protestant succession, 
  To these I lustily will swear, 
  Whilst they can keep possession: 
  For in my Faith, and Loyalty, 
  I never once will faulter, 
  But George, my lawful king shall be, 
  Except the Times shou'd alter. 
 *And this is Law, &c.*

  *Penal Laws* refers to the laws punishing non-Anglicans
  *Declaration* is the Declaration of Indulgence

Explanation

The eponymous Vicar is determined to hold onto his parish no matter who is in charge. He begins as a believer in Divine Right at the time of Charles II, is on the verge of becoming a Catholic in the reign of James II until the Glorious Revolution convinces him to return to Protestantism. Under Queen Anne he takes the side of the upper classes and becomes a Tory, and finally under George I he adopts a more liberal position as a Whig.

His frequent changes of heart mirror those of Roger Comstock.