He promised he'd bring me a basket of posies, A garland of lilies, a garland of roses,

A little straw hat, to set off the blue ribbons That tie up my bonny brown hair.

And it's oh! dear! etc.-Anon.

George F.

CCXXIII.

THE VICAR OF BRAY.

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 miss'd,
Kings were by God appointed,
And damn'd are those that do resist,
Or touch the Lord's anointed.
And this is law that I'll maintain
Until my dying day, sir;
Whatever King in England reign,
I'll be the Vicar of Bray, sir.

When royal James obtain'd 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 law that I'll maintain, etc.

When William was our king declar'd,
To ease the nation's grievance,

With this new wind about I steer'd,
And vow'd to him allegiance.

Old principles I did revoke,

Set conscience at a distance;

Passive obedience was a joke,
A jest was non-resistance.

But this is law that I'll maintain, etc.