The Election, a Medley
Tune, Vicar of Bray
1
In Pensylvanias Peacefull Days,
When Quakers Rul’d the Roast Sir;
No Quarrell then (my Boy’s) there was;
love warm’d each honest breast Sir.
But now the Scene is alter’d Quite,
And all things Seem Confused;
Then lets get Presby……ian light;
Lest we should be Abused.
Chorus
That this is Law I Will Maintain,
Unto my dying Day Sir;
Let whatsoever Parties reign;
I’ll be like t’Vicar of Bray Sir.
2
They’ll Rule us well I make no Doubt,
Like the Caledonian Nation;
With Fire all Honest Men Purge out;
Oh Dreadfull Conflagration.
By Lies almost their Point they’ve Gain’d,
(Lord keep us from their Evils;)
For if they Rule we must be Chain’d;
By Presby……ian Rebels. (Cho.)
3
I dont much Care which Party Sways,
So I Enjoy in Quiet;
My Posts, my Profits, and my Ease;
I’d Join in Paxton Riot.
But if for that they’re once Condem’d,
How Quickly will I turn Sir;
And make the other Side my Friend;
And Presby……rians Spurn Sir. (Cho.)
4
Ward of from Us New Englands Bane,
And such Bloodsucking Leeches;
And then our Freedom will retain;
And ne’er be hang’d for Witches.
Keep Bigot Teachers within Bounds,
Keep us from Flagelation;
Let’s Kick them out a Pack of Hounds;
With Calvins Reprobation. (Cho.)
5
Exclaim against Such Hypocrites!
Grin at such Grace Partakers;
And in an Instant save my Rights;
By Hugging Church and Quakers.
Hang Presbyte….ns and their Tribe,
Such Rascalls I Despise Sir;
That Murder Scripture (Christians Guide
And tell Ten thousand Lies Sir. (Cho.)
6
The Rev…..d Clergy of the Ch….h
Combin’d (with Long Grace Makers)
To leave each Freeman in the Lurch;
Themselves as well as Quakers.
The Quakers Quake, the Ch….h not Sound,
O Shocking Desolation!
Imust turn too(Since they Give Ground)
To Cursed Perturbation. (Cho.)
7
Tune A Toping We’ll all Go
Ye traitrous Sons of Tumult hear;
The records of each Action;
Which ev’ry Factious Cavalier;
Engag’d in at T’Election. (and a Voting)
[END FIRST COLUMN]
It’s Necessary to Convey,
To those Unborn the Measures;
Unkingly Minds take to betray;
Liberty at their Pleasures. (and a Voting)
8
Six Presbyters in Coats and Bands,
(Uncircumcis’d Philistines)
O’ercharg’d with Grace lift up their hands;
Like Devils more than Christians. (Cho.)
By turns these Holy men did Pray,
Like Prophets and Apostles;
Cock sure t’Election they should Sway;
By John and St. Luke’s Gospels. (Cho.)
9
Unthinking Souls they thus Trepan’d,
Fight the Good Fight we charge Ye?
Stick to the Test or You’l be Dam’d;
Without Benifit of Clergy. (Cho.)
They Thunder struck (poor Ignorant Souls)
In that Unrighteous Hour;
But after Sermon Quaff’d their Bowls;
With Energy and Power. (Cho.)
10
These Holy Priests, and (Scripture Theives)
Most taught in Wood’s and Thickets;
Devoutly Pray, while one Concieves;
[*] A Box of Bastard Tickets. (Cho.)
No Sooner born, and brought to Light,
They Gap’d at one Another;
Turn’d up their Eyes, Sneak’d out of Sight;
Squire Geor’gey stood God Father. (Cho.)
GOD SAVE GREAT GEORGE OUR KING.
11
O Lord our God Arise!
Scatter our Enemies,
And make them fall;
Confound their Politicks,
Frustrate such Hypocrites;
Franklin, on the we Fix,
God save us all.
12
Thy knowledge Rich in Store,
On Pennsylvania Pour;
Thou Great Blessing;
Long to defend our Laws,
Still give us Greater Cause;
To sing with Heart and Voice:
George and Franklin.
13
Tune NANCY DAWSON
[+] But who Could equal B…h…a…n,
Who Play’d a Pretty Trich Sir;
This Legerdemanian Gentleman,
Was tempted by Old Nick Sir.
Contrary to his Solemn Vow,
Put Conscience to Allowance;
Chang’d Scores of Tickets (Lord knows how)
And Swore that they were true Ones. (Cho.)
14
A Pair of Goal Birds fly About;
Slob’ring John and Busy Buck Sir;
And Conrad after takes his Rout,
And bellows Broken Dutch Sir.
There’s Buffing Wh….e (a Patriot Soul!)
Soft Will and Squinting Peter;
Wise Al…ns Negro (Cheek by Jowl)
And Ruth…f….d the Shoemaker. (Cho.)
15
Alderman Blank Makes a Great Pother,
With His wonted Elocution;
Drives Conrad from one Side to t’other;
Swears Blood a Nouns Confusion.
Here Damme pass these Votes they Are,
Far better than Cold Plan Sir; “
“O Yes! Pesure, Py Cott, I Shwear; “
“The Boogar Bawls “Yaw, Yaw Sir.” (Cho.)
16
Tune CHEVY CHACE.
But now a Shocking scene Appears,
(Not to his Worships Glory)
For Fact it’s told, he that hath Ears;
Come listen to the Story.
[END SECOND COLUMN]
His Worship did bold Ald…..n,
His Loyalty being Spent Sir;
Like Thraso, Bluster, Curse and Damm;
Both King and Government Sir.
17
Tune NANCY DAWSON
See Lilliput with Beehive Wig,
(An Old Abandon’d Sinner)
Wou’d Vote for Boar or Sow with Pig;
To Gain thereby a Dinner.
From Germantown, rode like Quixote,
Or Sancho on his Dapple;
Methinks tis Pity He’s forgot;
The Horsepond and Bob Apple. (Cho.)
[#] 18
“They’re lies says he, they are Dam’d lies!”
“They’re Charges most Unjust Sir,”
“I Conscientiously despise;”
“All Letchery and Lust Sir.”
Like the Old Coachman, loves the Smack,
Tho Worn with Clap, looks Meagre;
Takes t’other touch, and then does Crack;
“[cc] I’ve Pax’d Squire Harrisons Negro. (Cho.)”
19
Old Gravity in Wig comes there,
Poses’d of Pupils Ticket;
“Instead of One, recieves a Pair;
“(You know boys will be Wicked)
“Its best he crys to be Secure,”
“For fear that one won’t do Sir;”
“For if they should reject the Poor;”
“The Rich may Put in two Sir. (Cho.)”
20
Some that Pretend to know him best,
Swear he was only Funning;
It may be so-by Gad he Must;
And did not Show his Cunning.
At such a time(You know ‘tis Said)
We ever are Distrustfull,
Of Priests, of Levites, Good and bad;
The Rich, the Great, the Lustfull. (Cho.)
21
But who can think His Worships Fist,
Would Wilfully thus Sin Sir;
I’ll ne’er believe he’s like the Priest;
Who Put two Tickets in Sir.
Look round About-You maybehold,
Great Numbers more to blame Sir;
Rebellious Sluberdegullions bold!
As Blood Ran Al. McL…..e Sir. (Cho.)
22
Tune FLOWERS OF EDINGBURGH
Blund’ring McM….t…e Queer enough,
He damnd the Race of Quakers;
And Rebel like, bedawbd with Snuff;
Asists the Kennel Rakers.
With furious Voice, for the New Ticket,
Rebelliously he Thunders;
God Grant he may (and allso Wicked)
Like Rebels hang by Hundreds. (Cho.)
23
Tune BABES IN THE WOODS
But who comes there? Pray look About,
Tis Gouty Sawney Coming;
His toes are turn’d the inside Out;
Disabled quite from Running.
Up Steps he Shovels “pray make Room?”
Lord’s see how Sawney Goes!
And with his Cane, and Negro Quom,
Guards well his Gouty Toes.
24
“Tis Strange (he Crys) and bawls aloud,”
The People will be Pushing;
“The Impudence of this Dam’d Crowd;”
“Quom, Quom, fetch me my Cushion.”
“These dogs, my Patience they have try’d,”
(But swears he’ll never Flinch),
Grip’s hard the Post, and hugging Cry’d;
“Can Cripples stir an Inch.”
25
He beat a Parley, beg’d a truce,
Cry’d “Zounds, take care my Toes;’
But they, regardless of his Shoes;
A Combat fierce Arose.
END OF THIRD COLUMN
They jostled him, trod on his Toes,
(Had you but seen him grin)
Like Hudibrass repeats his Blows;
Then Put his Tickit in.
26
Tune BRISH LIVELY LASS
A Fiery Patriot now Appears,
(Charitys in his looks Sir)
Who Almost forfieted his Ears;
For feeding of the Troops Sir.
It must be true (what most Men thought)
His Head was fill’d with Knowledge;
Can’t Read, nor Write, yet Wisdom Got;
And Wealth in Bullocks Colledge.
27
Tune GOD SAVE GREAT GEORGE.
God save Great George our King
Prosper Agent Franklin,
Grant him Success;
Hark how the Valleys ring!
Long live our Gracious King,
From whom all blessings Spring,
Our wrongs Redress.
28
Tune CHEVY CHACE
A Pleasant Sight tis to Behold,
The Beggars hal’d from Hedges;
The Deaf, the Blind, the Young, the Old;
T’Secure their Priveledges.
They’re bundled up Steps, each Sort Goes,
A Very Pretty Farce Sir;
Some without Stockings, some no Shoes;
Nor Breeches to their A…e Sir. (Cho.)
29
Such Fellows sure, are a Burlesque,
They do exceed all Bounds Sir;
Stop evry Man at any Risque;
S’blood your’re worth Fifty Pounds Sir.
Stop ev’ry Porter worth a Groat,
Stop Good well meaning Dutchmen?
Each Ragamuffin takes his Vote;
From Kitt, His Hon…..rs Coachman. (Cho.)
30
Tune POPE JOAN’S ANTHEM
The Church of Rome did Join with them,
To Vote Predestination;
And blindly hurry’d on to Damn;
Old Transubstantiation; Libera Nos bene Domine
But Pennance after Sin takes Place,
They did it in a Hurry;
And rather than lye in Disgrace;
They’d Suffer Purgatory. (Cho.)
31
Should this be true, we Pity them
Nor add to their Confusion;
The Pious Doc…r S…..h they Blame;
Who brought them in Delusion.
Poor Souls! It made them Shudder So,
At the Change of Constitution;
In Spight of I….h and D…..L, too;
Good Priest Grant Absolution. (Cho.)
32
Tune NANCY DAWSON
Now Dickey comes to crown the Whole,
(With Pensioners full Plenty)
The Body large but Little Soul;
Of Brains his head is Empty.
“Constable clear the Steps let Me,”
“These Freemen Introduce Sir!”
“For the Proprietors Family;”
“They’ll be of Special Use Sir." (Cho.)
33
But stop a While let’s not forgett,
Our Worthy Friend M..t….g….y;
Who far outshines the Patriot Pitt;
See Adress, meer Stuff and Mummery.
Long Represent in Parliament,
Most Noble Soul’d M…t….g….y;
For Your Reward(if You’ll Consent)
We’ll stuff You full of Flummery. (Cho.)
34
Tune VICAR OF BRAY
And now I’m Fixd with Grace let Me,
Act with all Moderation;
Keep firm to my Integrity;
Without Prevarication.
For by my Faith, and Loyalty,
I never more will Faulter;
But will Maintain their Dignity;
Untill the times do Alter. (Cho.)
[*] Lancaster Election.
[+] Chester Election.
[#] See Life of Chevalier Taylor
[cc] Memoirs of Gloucester County
