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he) for I always kept my principles, which is this, to live and die Vicar of Bray." Lastly, here is the song:-- THE VICAR OF BRAY. In good King Charles's golden days, When loyalty had no harm in't, A zealous high-churchman I was, And so I got preferment. To teach my flock I never miss'd: Kings are by God appointed; And those are damn'd that do resist, And touch the Lord's anointed: And this is law, I will maintain Until my dying day, sir, That whatsoever king shall reign, I will be Vicar of Bray, sir. When royal James obtain'd the throne, And Popery came in fashion, The penal laws I booted 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 declared, To ease the nation's grievance, With his 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, And pish for non-resistance. And this is law, &.c. When gracious Anne ascends the throne. 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 then became a Whig, sir: And so preferment I procured By our new faith's defender, And always every day abjured The Pope and the pretender. And this is law, &c. The illustrious house of Hanover, And Protestant succession, To these I do allegiance swear While they can keep possession: For by my faith and loyalty I never more will falter, And George my lawful king shall be Until the time shall alter. And this is law, &c. * * * * * ANOTHER OLD SONG. ORIGIN OF THE SONG "FOUR AND TWENTY FIDDLERS ALL ON A ROW." The fiddle was not allowed to be a concert instrument till the reign of Charles the Second, who, in imitation of Louis the Fourteenth, established a band of
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