In good King Charles' golden days, when loyalty no harm meant
A zealous high churchman was I, and so I gained preferment
To teach my flock, I never missed, kings are by God appointed
And lost are those that dare resist or touch the Lord's annointed

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

When royal James obtained the crown, and popery came 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 had become a Jesuit, but for the Revolution.

And this is the law that I'll maintain until my dying day, sir
That whatsoever king may reign, still 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
Passive obedience was a joke, a jest was non-resistance

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

When George in pudding time came o'er, and moderate men looked big, sir
I turned the cat-in-the-pan once more and o 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 until my dying day, sir
That whatsoever king may reign, still I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir

The illustrious house of Hanover and Protestant succession
To these I do allegiance swear while they can hold 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 until my dying day, sir
That whatsoever king may reign, still I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir