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

TO The Right Honourable the LORDS COMMISSIONERS of SCOTLAND.

MY LORDS,

AS you are persons of a High discent, So do your persons highly represent, The body of a Kingdomes whole estate, Whose former freedomes, need I not relate; You know the case, therefore I will forbear, Yet let me humbly tell you since ye're here, Scotland hath kepe its Crown unconquish'd ever, Foes oft invaded, but they had it never; Nor did they love it for its riches then, But for the active spirits of the men: By whose assistance, all the world so wide, So much triumphs; and in their faith confide. How great a Glory is it to that place? They had the honour in so short a space, Even by their pow'r, to enter and withstand The sorrowes threatned in their Neighbours Land; By their assistance set the Borders free, And what they did, the world a witnesse be? This is the Land, these are the men, for who, You all were chosen, and came here to do: Be not too slow▪ nor seem not in a fleep, Lose not the thing, which you so long did keep;

Cast not your burthen, on this noble Band, But know your selves best what you have in hand▪ They have affairs so weighty, that they must Begin at home, according to their Trust; Think on your selves, and that, for which you came, It is enough, all is allow'd by them: Nor onely must the Publike be relieved, But every private Member that is grieved, It doth belong a little to your charge, Such to assist; or if you doe inlarge Your warrant there, it cannot do amisse: You may commit a greater sinne then this, And I conceive it cannot give offence To further things that suffer in suspence, Such as were sharers in the self-same thing For w••ich you say, you did your Army bring, And Natives too, it cannot be unfit, For to befriend them, they deserved it, In Suits so just, what is't you may not do? They covenanted for to answer you▪ And then your actions cannot but must thrive Such grave Divines, assist you to contrive, Who constantly invoke with holy words, For blessings from above, and so affords Assistance alway's, from the heavenly Throne, And still obtains the same before they'r gone. Then in a three-fold manner may you take, Concurrence also, and a Linck may make, Of such-like strength, as it will ever last For to prevail, and take it from the rest, I meane of those judicions Gentlemen, Whose Ayd you have, and I am certain then, You nothing can desire, not yet demand But you will surely have it at their hand▪ Excuse my boldnesse, that I speak so much, But I presume because I know you such

You will but smile, to see a souldiers Pen Imployd to write, unto such mighty men; But to be plain, I am so poor in purse And void of learning; which the greater curse? That I consider, neither what I say, Nor what I write, nor have I time to stay: Yet Noble Lords, the errors that I make I pray you pardon, for the Countries sake.

W. M.