King William III

(Tune — “When the Kye came hame”)

Wherefore is the name of William
Such a watchword to the free?
Why do we still prize and honour
His immortal memory?
Not because he was a hero,
Nor a statesman, nor a king;
But because the truth he honour’d
More than every other thing.

Not because he was the leader
Of our fathers in the field,
Nor because to kingly traitors,
He, more kingly, would not yield;
But because for truth he battled,
And because for truth he bled,
And because for truth he conquered,
With the heroes he had led.

Therefore was the Prince of Orange,
Honoured and beloved by those
Who defied Rome’s usurpation,
And became her mightiest foes.
Therefore is his memory
“Pious, Glorious, and Immortal” too;
Would that all Great Britain’s Rulers,
To the truth, like him, were true!