Angliæ speculum: or Englands looking-glasse.: Devided into two pats [sic], / by C.VV. Mercer.

To the Honourable House of Commons.

VVHere am I now? O! let me wisely weigh Since I presume thus, to approach so high; As to appeare in presence of that place Which is so stor'd with statelinesse, and grace, The body which doth represent a King, Admits no title but a Sacred thing, Each member there, may well be said to be A perfect part of our chiefe Sanctuarie: The true extract of Wisdom, and the best Which by consent, are sifted from the rest, Whose easlesse labours, with impartiall eyes, Prevents the dangers, dayly which arise, Expires their Spirits, almost to regaine What cursed catives, labours for in vaine, Are early up, can skarcely go to bed, Five falls and springs, such troubles have they had, Must heare the cries, of every one that are Almost confounded with this cruel war. The great man coms, petitions in his griefe; And then the poor petitions for reliefe: The Widdow cryes, my husband's slain, and I Am destitute for want of food may dy. Then comes the Orphan, Loudly cries alasse I most of all am in a fearfull case: As also numbers of the hurt, and lame, All have recourse, calls for reliefe at them: The great and mean, the destitute and poore, All call for pittie at their pious doore.

Yet they have patience, and do much prevent The pressing sorrowes of the discontent: Like to the tender parents, who provide For such, as on them faithfully confide: Themselves are robd of all that was their own, Yet must maintain such as are overthrown. Must strive to still the out-cryes of all those Who have been ruind by their raging foes: But wherewith do they what they have to do? I ask it of thee, and must tell thee too: Their prudence, and unwearied pains appear, They do provide it, though it be not here: Their ardent prayers prevaileth most of all: God grants their suits, they so divinely call; See how they do such certain dayes allot For such occasions as requireth note: Each moneth a solemn publick Fast they keep, Presents their pray'rs in private, and they weep: What they forbear, that is collected truly, And to the poor is dedicated duly: They put restraint long since to sinfull plaies, And have prevented idle holy-daies: They have collections constant for the needy: To act such things, their goodnes makes them greedy: 'Tis not the heat of Summers scorching Sun, Makes them desert the busines begun: Nor yet the sharpnes of the winters day, Prevents their travels, nor provokes delay: But they go on still, with undaunted fear; Observes no times, nor seasons of the year. This is the course continually they keep, More constant then they either eat, or sleep:

Yet all is counted nothing, since they can Not please the persons of each private man; This is the thanks they conquish for their care, They boldly ask them, wherefore sit they there▪ But O! the charge wherein they are ingag'd, Cals for our reverence not to be enrag'd; But these are they, those Worthies whom I would If I had knowledge, faithfully unfold; But since my skill cannot extend so high, I must desist, and pardon of them cry: The•••• actions are true witnesse of their wayes, What ever malice, or Malignants sayes. And in the Evening of their wearied day Their greatest foes, shall be enforc'd to say, They have done well; and in the end of all For their rewards, receive a welcome shall▪ So that at last, they shall be cald to rise, And keep their Meeting farre above the skies.

W. M.