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 missed:
Kings were by God appointed,
And lost are those who dare resist
Or touch the Lord's anointed.
  And this is the law that I'll maintain
  Until my dying day, sir.
  That whatsoever king shall reign,
  Still I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir.

When royal James possessed the crown,
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 the law that I'll maintain, etc.

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 a joke,
A jest was non-resistance.
  And this is the law that I'll maintain, etc.

When royal 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 blamed their moderation,
And thought the church in danger was
By such prevarication.
  And this is the law that I'll maintain, etc.

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 new faith's defender;
And almost every day abjured
The Pope and the Pretender.
  And this is the law that I'll maintain, etc.

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 the law that I'll maintain, etc.