Difference between revisions of "The Religious Turncoat"
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[[Category:British history]] | [[Category:British history]] |
Latest revision as of 09:43, 4 August 2017
The Religious Turncoat is a satirical song on the religious turmoil of the sevcenteenth century. It is a precursor of the better known Vicar of Bray.
The text of the song itself is
! | Explanatory Notes | |
---|---|---|
I lov'd no king in forty-one | 1641 - when Charles I was in conflict with Parliament | |
A cloak and band I then put on, | the approved dress of a C of E clergyman on the Protestant wing | |
And preached against the Crown. | ||
Chorus: | ||
:A turncoat is a cunning man, | ||
: That cants to admiration, | ' to cant' ~ 'to talk hypocritically' "especially with a false display of moral or religious principles" (Chambers (1996)) | |
: And prays for any side to gain | ||
: The people's approbation. | ||
When brewer Noll with copper nose | Oliver Cromwell | |
The stinking Rump dismounted, | the Dissolution of the Rump Parliament, by Cromwell, in 1653 | |
I wisely still adher'd to those | ||
Who strongest were accounted. | ||
I preached and prayed for Oliver, | sc. Cromwell | |
And all his vile abettors, | ||
But curs'd the King and Cavalier, | Charles II and the Royalists | |
And cried 'em down for traitors. | ||
When Charles returned unto the land, | Charles II | |
The English Crown's supporter, | ||
I shifted off my cloak and band | ||
And then became a Courtier | i.e. attended court; followed the King's beliefs, so becoming more catholic in religion | |
The King's religion I profest, | catholicism | |
And found there was no harm in't ; | ||
I coged and nattered like the rest, | 'to cog' ~ 'to cheat, deceive; to fawn or wheedle' | |
Till I had got preferment. | i.e. promotion, or appointment to a Church position | |
When Royal James began his reign, | James II | |
And Mass was used in common, | mass - the central Roman Catholic church service; used in common ~ generally practised | |
I shifted off my Faith again, | ||
And so became a Roman. | sc. catholic | |
When William had possess'd the throne, | William III; came to throne in 1689 | |
And cur'd our country's grievance, | ||
New principles I then put on, | ||
And swore to him allegiance. | ||
I then preached up King William's right | ||
Pray'd for his foes' confusion, | ||
And so remained a Williamite, | ||
Till another Revolution. | ||
But when Queen Anne the throne posses't, | in 1702 | |
I then, to save my bacon, | ||
Turn'd High Church, thinking that was best, | ||
But found myself mistaken | ||
For soon discerning very plain, | ||
The Whigs had got the better, | ||
I turn'd Low Churchman, so remain | ||
A Trimming Moderator. | ||
Therefore all you, both high and low, | ||
Let me for once direct you, | ||
Serve no cause longer than you know | ||
The party can protect you. |