In good King Charles's golden days When loyalty no harm meant A zealous high churchman was I And so I got preferment To teach my flock I never missed Kings were by God appointed And lost are they that dare resist Or touch the Lord's anointed And this is law that I'll maintain Until my dying day, sir That whatsoever King may reign 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 law that I'll maintain Until my dying day, sir That whatsoever King may reign I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir 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 And passive obedience was a joke A jest was non-resistance And this is law that I'll maintain Until my dying day, sir That whatsoever King may reign I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir