In good King Charles's golden times when loyalty no harm meant
A furious High Church man was I and so I gained preferment
Unto my flock I daily preached "Kings are by God appointed
And damned are those who dare resist or touch the Lord's anointed"

This is the law that I'll maintain until my dying day, sir
That whatsoever king shall reign I'll still be Vicar of Bray, sir

When Royal James possessed 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

When William our deliverer came to heal the nation's grievance
I turned my face around 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

When glorious 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, and moderation,
And thought the Church in danger was from such prevarication

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 faith's great defender
And almost every day abjured the Pope, and the Pretender

The illustrious House of Hanover and Protestant succession
To these I lustily will swear whilst they can keep possession
For in my faith and loyalty I never once will falter
And George my lawful king shall be - until the times should alter