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

TO THE HONOƲRABLE COMMITTEES.

COmmittee-men, so cald, no question then; It were most needfull you were honest men: For by the name Committee, you may finde, All is committed to your honest minde. Abuse not then what comes into your trust, Committee-men should constantly be just; Know you are Members of that Noble place, Which pleads its pow'r proceeds of Law, and Grace. You all are sworn to be just, and then, If yee be so, ye'r right Committee-men▪ I do believe ye all are just, but ye, Must not believe me, not unlesse ye be Both just, and honest, and you must examine Your selves in secret, what concerns the samen; Stain not that State from whence you do proceed, Shun long debate, in things concerning need.

You men of honour, think upon your fame Be not defil'd, it is a fearfull shame: And you who are men of a meaner kinde Be not perswaded to a partiall minde; Nor let not love, nor hatred, nor the lust Of earthly things, move thee to be unjust; Nor waxe too proud, because thou sees thou can, Sit in the Chair as chief Committee-man: But now I fear, that thou wilt shake thy head, And think me sawcie, for the thing ye read, Yet I have had experience now and then Of some of those you call Committee-men, And if you chide or challenge me, in spite, I will accompt you, one of whom I write; Besides, conceive the nature of the time, And you will give me leave to speak in rime: Or if you quarrell, and will call me to it And question me, how I durst dare to do it? I tell you this, the wats have made me bold, And I am lately, very scarce of gold; That to be plain, I have no more to say, But cure this evill, I shall humbly pray.

W. M.