'The Vicar of Bray' - English Satirical Song

[@r2d266]

English sense of humour hasn’t changed

[@thesouthernsinger2763]

What a delightful song, sir!

[@elton1981]

This Vicar of Bray sounds like the actual Bishop of Llandaff. He kept his See all the way through the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI & Mary I and into the reign of Elizabeth I. He had been a Monk at Westminster Abbey, later Abbot of Eynsham. When the abbey was dissolved under Henry VIII he was made Bishop of Llandaff, a post he kept until his death at the age of 92. It has been said he would have become a Hindu if it meant holding onto the See of Llandaff. (E. Duffy, Fires of Faith. p23)

[@fitzant]

quite telling that..

[@JeffHall-dd3cl]

My grandmother, a working class woman who died in 1975, used to sing this to me as she learnt it in school, not that she remembered all the verses, she thought it was funny.

[@globe0147]

Someone had the Gaul to say to me once that “this song is about Loyalty” ( he was being Unironic) 💀💀

[@mojowwwav4357]

well, I guess you could say it's loyalty to yourself lmao, go with the tide.

[@RaffieFaffie]

Was it Julius Caesar?

[@wor53lg50]

?? Not sure what ceaser has to do with this song?, can you explain!

[@Albukhshi]

@@wor53lg50 Gaul is how you spell the name of the region that Caesar conquered. Gall was the word he was actually going for.

[@utubrGaming]

Loyalty to the vicar of Bray.

[@seraphim7454]

Bray must be a pretty nice place if the man was so determined to remain a vicar there

[@studiotamara5787]

This retains the distinction of being the only song that actually made me guffaw. Hats off to the English humour.

[@Longshanks1690]

This really does emphasise the point of how much life and monarchy changed for people in this time period. When the song starts out, presumably when the vicar is a young man, Charles II is ascendant after the Restoration determined to see his Catholic brother succeed him but by the end of his life, Prime Ministers and Parliament hold all the power and the King is only so if he maintains the Protestant religion. It’d be pretty much impossible to keep a consistent stance on the issue and also keep your position.

[@Ryan.90]

When I first saw your comment, I thought that's a bit of an exaggeration, but yeah looked it up...Charles II was restored to the throne 1660, the same year, the future George I was born in Hanover. 54 years later he became King. When you think that's basically 1970-Now....that's crazy!!!

[@jai-kk5uu]

His constitution is "that whatsoever king may rain he will be vicar of bray"

[@MateusVIII]

To be fair the monarchy didn't change that much in the sense that the fundamental change was already ongoing and had been since the Civil War. A lot of it wasn't really down to religion, but to the relation between parliament and the Crown, the limitations of royal power and even foreing policy (James' support of France against the HRE was a big issue for parliament), issues ongoing ever since James I. I guess you can say there was a big change since at the end of it you have a consolidated parliament being able to pass the Bill of Rights, but the song does start out more in the middle of a changing monarchy than in the begining of the process, a moment where a lot of substantial changes regarding the monarchy had already irreversably affected the kingdom.

[@vladsiminica2801]

Kings of England : Charles ll (1660-1685) James ll (1685-1688) William lll (1688-1702) Mary ll (1688-1694) Anne (1702-1707) Kings of Great Britain : Anne (1707-1714) George l (1714-1727) George ll (1727-1760)

[@jamespowell5259]

Classic British satire... You can definitely draw a direct line between the Vicar of Bray and some of Gilbert and Sullivan's patter-song-spouting "survivors" like Sir Joseph Porter and Major-General Stanley!

[@airlinesecret6725]

Love it , thank you Sir !

[@AvaT42]

I enjoyed this. I have not heard of this saying before, the song covered it well lol

[@Longshanks1690]

I do wonder if this was based on an actual vicar from Bray who kept changing his position, or whether this relatively low level position is just used to make a general, reflective point about how much people in those positions kept changing their tone in the Stuart/early Georgian era. We didn’t even address whether the vicar would have sided with King George or Prince George in their dispute. “Which King and Prince George are you talking about?” Exactly. 😂

[@brucebennett8005]

It's not entirely clear. There is a real Bray. I think the consensus is that it's based on two or more clerics at different times not all at Bray. The time period is too long for one person really. But a lot of people changed with the times. To be fair, many people probably thought the issues were not quite as crucial as they seemed to the committed or to political leaders, but when a vicar preached different teaching in a new reign it must have been a bit undignified.

[@gerrywilliams9997]

This song is thought to have been based on the career of Simon Aleyn who is said to have been vicar of Bray from 1540 to 1588, through four reigns (Henry 8th, Edward 6th, Mary and Elizabeth 1st).He was actually only vicar of Bray from 1557 to 1565 and also held several other benefices at various times. Bray is a real place in Berkshire and its church is dedicated to St Michael. However, the song is based on a popular myth and it looks as if the anonymous 18th century author used it to produce biting and humorous satire on the turbulent events from the Restoration in 1660 to the accession of George 1st in 1714.

[@mediocrehistorian6798]

lol I had read this poem a year ago, and I always wondered if there was a sung version of it.

[@gerrywilliams9997]

It has always been a well known song.

[@moraesneto9508]

The anthem of the bureaucrats

[@kenlandon6130]

Everybody be clowning on bureaucrats until essential services fall apart.

[@RoniiNN]

Essential services are already falling apart

[@kenlandon6130]

@@RoniiNN because civil servant-bashing neoliberal politicians gutted them

[@richardcleveland8549]

It's a great song that in just a few minutes captures the religious and political turmoil of more than 100 years of near-constant change in religion. I'm quite sure the good Vicar of Bray was NOT alone in his gyrations!

[@vladsiminica2801]

The song was based in period of the 100 years of ascension of Great Britain to Great Power of the World from King Charles ll Stuart (1660-1685) to king George ll Hannover (1727-1760) 🇬🇧

[@moraesneto9508]

In Aerys’ reign, those golden days, When dragons ruled the sky, sir, I swore my life to Targaryens, Their blood was pure, on high, sir. I preached of kings with dragonfire, Their claim from gods above, And cursed the fools who dared conspire, Against the house I loved. And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying breath, sir, That Targaryens should ever reign, Or I shall meet my death, sir! When Robert took the throne by storm, And dragons met their fall, sir, I bent the knee without delay, And answered Robert’s call, sir. With antlered crown and mighty roar, The stag now claimed the throne, And I forgot the fire before, To serve the king of stone. And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying breath, sir, That Baratheons shall ever reign, As long as they have strength, sir! When Joffrey’s crown was placed on high, A lion fierce and bold, sir, I swore my fealty once again, For Lannister’s bright gold, sir. I toasted to the Queen’s command, And raised a goblet proud, For Cersei’s hand would rule the land, And silence every crowd. And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying breath, sir, That lions with their golden mane, Shall wear the crown of death, sir! When Stannis rose with shadow flame, And banners burned with light, sir, I whispered prayers to R’hllor’s name, And swore to fight the fight, sir. The Lord of Light would show the way, As Melisandre claimed, And I proclaimed that Stannis true, By fire, was ordained. And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying breath, sir, That Stannis and his shadow flame, Shall bring the realm to rest, sir! But whispers spoke of dragons born, Beyond the Dothraki Sea, And Daenerys rose with fire and storm, To claim her family’s legacy. I pledged my sword to the Queen of Flame, The rightful heir of old, For fire and blood would rule again, As it had once foretold. And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying breath, sir, That Daenerys shall ever reign, Or the world shall turn to death, sir! Then came the wolves from Winterfell, And spoke of northern might, sir, With Stark and snow and icy breath, They called the North to fight, sir. I bent the knee to Robb the king, And swore a northern vow, For Winter’s wind was gathering, And cold would claim us now. And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying breath, sir, That wolves in winter shall remain, As long as they draw breath, sir! But then the winds began to shift, As dragons soared once more, And so my oath to fire I lift, As I had done before. For in this game of thrones we play, One truth I’ve always known, The one who wins is who I’ll stay, And serve upon their throne. And this is law, I will maintain, Until my dying breath, sir, That whoever claims the crown again, Shall find my loyal chest, sir! Here’s a flowing and rhyming English version of The Vicar of Bray set in the world of A Song of Ice and Fire, capturing the opportunistic spirit of a character in Westeros, who changes loyalty depending on the shifting tides of power:

[@ryandanngetich2524]

I love the vicar of bray 🎉❤

[@Waltyworld]

Also good song

[@randeshjayawandhane2844]

After a lot of thinking and a number of scrapped attempts, I've finally managed to make this song Pro - Hanoverian, and Anti - Papist. There might be some irregularities with the beat, and a couple of broken rhymes, but I tried to make it work as much as possible, and still keep it similar to the original song. In good King Charles's golden days, When Loyalty no harm meant; A Zealous High-Church man I was, And so I gain'd Preferment. Unto my Flock I daily Preach'd, Kings are by God appointed, And Damn'd are those who dare resist, Or touch the Lord's Anointed. And this is law, I will maintain Unto my Dying Day, Sir. That whatsoever King may reign, I will be the Vicar of Bray, Sir! When Bigot James stole the crown, And popery grew in fashion; The Penal Law he shouted down, And read the Declaration: The Church of Rome I found not fit Well our British Constitution, And as I was not a Jesuit, I waited for Revolution. And this is law, I will maintain Unto my Dying Day, Sir. That whatsoever King may reign, I will be the Vicar of Bray, Sir! When William our Deliverer came, To heal the Nation's Grievance, I turn'd James out and spat him then, And gave to William Allegiance: James’ Principles I did revoke, Set conscience at a distance, Passive Tolerance is a Joke, A Jest is non-resistance. And this is law, I will maintain Unto my Dying Day, Sir. That whatsoever King may reign, I will be the Vicar of Bray, Sir! When Royal Anne became our Queen, Then Church of England's Glory, Another face of things was seen, And I stayed a Royalist; Occasional Conformists base I Damn'd, and Moderation, And thought the Church in danger was, From such Prevarication. And this is law, I will maintain Unto my Dying Day, Sir. That whatsoever King may reign, I will be the Vicar of Bray, Sir! When George at fitting time came o'er, And Moderate Men looked small, Sir, My Principles I held once more, And so I became big, Sir. And thus Preferment I procur'd, From our Faith's great Defender And almost every day abjur'd The Pope, and the Pretender. And this is law, I will maintain Unto my Dying Day, Sir. That whatsoever King may reign, I will be the Vicar of Bray, Sir! 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 faulter, So George, my god given king shall be, Even when the Times falter. And this is law, I will maintain Unto my Dying Day, Sir. That whatsoever King may reign, I will be the Vicar of Bray, Sir!

[@gerrywilliams9997]

Many of the lines don't scan properly, and the verse about King George does not make sense! You are missing a rhyme in the Queen Anne verse and of course you "stayed a Royalist" because there had been no such thing as a republican vicar since the interregnum.

[@warrenlehmkuhleii8472]

How exactly did King James II steal the crown? His brother had no legitimate issue. There was no law from the Parliament to hide behind at that time. (Not that such a law would be valid without the approval of the reigning monarch. Which, even if James’ flight counted as abdication his son would have had the thrown). Also, only six English kings before James II had been Protestant. One of which, Charles II, was received into the Church on his deathbed. Also, James II. A bigot? It must have been some act of bigotry to try and allow his co-religionist to live in peace and worship God as their fathers had done for centuries before Henry VIII. Also also, the point of the song is that the Vicar has no concrete theology and just goes with whatever the king is doing at the moment.

[@randeshjayawandhane2844]

To answer your first question, I just really hate James, which is the only reason why I say he stole the Crown. The stealing part refers to the fact that James was a Stuart, and me being an Imperialist and Hanoverian, that just brings back memories from the Jacobite rebellion. Suffice to say, the fact that James stole the throne has no historical backing, and is just me hating the Post - Restoration Stuart dynasty. The next point. James was a bigot. The reason I say this, is because although I am Catholic, I hate the Papacy with a burning passion. The fact that James wanted to bring back that miserable wreck of corruption, which calls itself the Church of Rome, is just appalling, and can be quite frankly, be branded as bigotry. Also, the fact that James sided with our former catholic enemies, France and Spain, who at one point wanted to exterminate England in a murderous crusade, just doesn't sit well. Now, the last point. Yes, I understand the song, but the fact that such a nice tune was wasted on something which is basically anti - establishment is just appalling, and I could not let such an injustice stand! Sure, I may have angered a few Jacobites, but they lost the war, so it doesn't matter.

[@warrenlehmkuhleii8472]

@@randeshjayawandhane2844One, you are not a Catholic if you are against the Chair of Peter. Two, James could not go so far as to kill off the Church of England within his lifetime. Three, don’t say steal if it is not stealing. Fourth, how exactly was the Catholic Church corrupt at that time? Or at the very least, what were people in the Catholic Church doing that people in the CoE were not? At least Rome maintained a constant Theology.

[@randeshjayawandhane2844]

@@warrenlehmkuhleii8472, I understand what you're trying to point out, but you're fighting a losing battle. You're trying to convince an irrational person to give a rational argument. I have no rational reason to hate James, or the church of Rome, except for the fact that I'm deeply loyal to the Hanovers and the Empire. Think of it as self inflicted indoctrination. Just because you prove to me, that I have no reason to hate James, does not mean I will change my political stance. I'll just ignore you and just hate on James and the CoR, regardless if I'm Catholic or not.

[@Dryhten1801]

A song that still applies to the modern "church" of England

[@foundationofBritain]

The vast majority of the Church of England is not, nor ever was like that... like with all denominations and other institutions, loud minorities plus convenient promotion by media or written works, tend to distort peoples perceptions. The Church of England, is not, nor has ever been devoid of factions, even factions like nonconformists were never truly kicked out, there is no one single face of any denomination and other institutions, is far more to do with who the dominant faction is, than any institution itself... all of this can also be said of the Church of Rome.

[@olekcholewa8171]

⁠Church of England lost it's Apostolic Succession when they started ordaining women. This is a big deal. The Church has changed.

[@georgludwigernstmaximilian9732]

Can you do the "Chapter of Kings"?

[@The_Christian_Cavalier]

Ah yes, the turn of the 18th century.

[@kenlandon6130]

Where are these video clips from?

[@Imperial_Britannia]

From various different films, mostly the series ‘The First Churchills’ for Charles II, James II, William III, and Anne. And mostly the film ‘Rob Roy’ for George I, and ‘Barry Lyndon’ for George II.

[@jonathanoates1298]

@@Imperial_Britannia The First Churchills, for a historical TV drama, is actually pretty good and factually accurate, though there's low budget battle scenes and Tyburn (episodes 3 and 4) wasn't a field in the countryside. Rob Roy on the other hand is Hollywood fantasy (eg blue coated Dutch troops at Sheriffmuir).

[@vladsiminica2801]

God save the king Charles lll ! 👑🇬🇧

[@deewesthill1213]

For Bible-believing Christians, Paul's Epistle to the Romans says that "the powers that be are invested of God" and whoever resists such powers resists God and is "damned". So the Vicar of Bray's constant shifting with the political "winds" appears to be every Christian's duty! 😀

[@British_loyalist]

ONLY A PROTESTANT KING

[@olekcholewa8171]

Never. Tandem Triumphans.

[@ballgang367]

>TFW you'll forever put parliament above the crown but it's okay because atleast your king isn't catholic. :)))))))))

[@moraesneto9508]

In Good King James’s golden days, When loyalty was law, sir, A steadfast Jacobite I was, And for the Stuarts stood tall, sir. I preached of rights divine to rule, Of kings by Heaven’s hand sent, And cursed the knaves who dared to doubt The true and rightful claimant. And this is law, I will maintain Unto my dying day, sir, That James, and all his royal line, Shall reign o’er me always, sir. When William came to seize the crown, I spat upon his name, sir, For he was but a Dutchman’s pawn, And Jacobites felt shame, sir. I hid my cross beneath my vest, And whispered of sedition, For James’s cause, I pledged my life, In secret opposition. And this is law, I will maintain, Unto my dying day, sir, That James, and all his royal line, Shall reign o’er me always, sir. When Anne, the daughter, took the throne, I hoped for reconciliation, But whispers came of her deceit, And Protestant salvation. I held my ground, and watched in wait, For rightful restoration, For Bonnie Prince to sail back home, And lead our great rebellion. And this is law, I will maintain, Unto my dying day, sir, That James, and all his royal line, Shall reign o’er me always, sir. When George of Hanover arrived, I cursed the foreign blunder, For Jacobites would rise again, And put his reign asunder. I wore the white rose on my chest, And toasted to Prince Charlie, And swore the Stuarts would return, With every glass of barley. And this is law, I will maintain, Unto my dying day, sir, That James, and all his royal line, Shall reign o’er me always, sir. Though times may change and crowns may fall, I’ll hold the Jacobite banner, For kings anointed by God’s hand, I’ll pledge in Highland manner. And when at last the Stuarts rise, Restoring our great nation, I’ll gladly stand at their right hand, And drink to restoration. And this is law, I will maintain, Unto my dying day, sir, That James, and all his royal line, Shall reign o’er me always, sir. *This version reflects the steadfast loyalty of the Jacobites, particularly to the Stuart cause, and their hope for the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, even as political winds changed.*

[@JohnRowsell]

No doubt if things turn out as some think, the vicar of Bray would become a Moslem?