The State Test (Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon)

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• (Posted 2025-10-24)  CPDL #87219:     

Editor: Drew Sellis (submitted 2025-10-24).   Score information: A4, 1 page, 66 kB   Copyright: CPDL

Edition notes: Written pitch and note values retained. The text for each verse has been written out in full underneath the notes in this edition for ease of use. In the source, just the first verse is given with the music, and the remaining five verses are written below the music.

General Information

Title: The State Test, or The Subversion of Parties
Composer: Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon
Lyricist: Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon
Number of voices: 1v   Voicings: S or T
Genre: Secular

Language: English
Instruments: Keyboard

First published: c. 1790 in Bodleian Library Tenbury Mus. c.56 (9)
Description: Occasionally the 4th Earl of Abingdon's musical and political interests intertwined. This song, for which the Earl composed the music, attacks the political divisions created by Whigs and Tories.

Original text and translations

English text

1  A Churchman and Dissenter had once an odd Adventure and grew exceeding hot. They made a mighty Pother and rail'd at one another about they knew not what. 2  But when they came to cooling And leave off Party fooling They found they'd been to blame, Like Christian and like Brother, They look'd at one Another For each Man meant the same. 3  That Names of Whig and Tory, Were all an Idle Story, A Statesman's artful Snare Invented to divide Us But with a View to ride us And then the Cash to share.

4  That Trade and Navigation, Those Bulwarks of the Nation, We shou'd with Life defend: And not with tame Subjection, Be subject to Inspection, Or to proud Spaniards bend. 5  So Reconciliation, Succeeded Disputation, Both being in one Mind: To make their Hearts the lighter, They made their Cheeks the brighter, And in this Health they join'd. 6  A Protestant succession, Without the least Oppression, In Church or yet in State. Oh may our Faiths Defender, Increase the Nations Splendor, And make us truly great.