Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
God Save the King
God Save the King.
A National Anthem.
[This celebrated air first became known to the public in 1745, when it was introduced at Covent Garden Theatre by Dr. Arne, during the time of the Scotch Rebellion, under the title of “A Loyal Song.” Arne told Dr. Burney that he had not the least knowledge who was the composer, nor could he guess who wrote it. It has been attributed to Carey, Dr. Bull, Purcell, Anthony Young, and others, but with equal absence of documentary evidence on which reliance can be placed.—See the People’s Music Book by Turle and Taylor.]