The works of Sir William Mure of Rowallan :: :: University of Virginia Library

Of greatest Princes, Righteous Soveraigne,
The Scepter over Kingdoms set to swey,
That gifted are to Christ in speciall way,
Where, while He Lawes for Government doth give,
And takes the Throne, hath mad't Thy lot to live.

Three Crowns of Him thou hold'st, by long descent,

The improving of just power for the advantage of Christ's Interests, the surest pillar for supporting of the Kings Thrones.

These, for advantage of the just extent
Of His prerogative, so Thou improve,
Thy throne's-establishments best mean shall prove.

Him to acknowledge Heavens thy heart incline,

Christ to be acknowledged in His Royall Prerogative, and to be made use of in all his Offices, as one by whom Kings reign, Prov. 8. 15; and who removeth and setteth up Kings, Dan. 2. 21, at his pleasure.

In all His Offices; thy duties line
That not transgressing, as ingag'd, He may
Imploy for thee His pow'r, May in the day
Of danger make thy peace, and wisedome give,
Thy people's dying heart's how to revive,
For bow before Him, as the meanest, must
The Most, and Mightiest of created dust.

His Three-fold Scepter can no Rule admit,

Regall Power and Authority consistent with the absolutenesse of Christ's Soveraignty.

But such as doth his absolutenesse fit
Of Soveraignty, which most consistent stands
With Regall pow'r, by Him put in thy hands,
For, who Himself the Lord Jehovah shew,
Hath said, to Cæsar give what's Cæsar's due.

Learn to submit, to Him betimes to flee,

The King's heart a fit blank to put in Christ's hand to fill up, and in proof of the reality of the offer the signing of the Covenant, in securing of Religion, necessary.

That lifted up by Him thy head may be;
A blank put in His Hand; upon thy heart
The heads that He may fill, for either part,
Of an eternall League; In which to deal
Ingenuously that thou intends, the Seal
Set to the holy Band, (A priviledge
To every King not Common) for a pledge
Of faith ingag'd shall serve, and clear thy way
Of great obstructions, in thy Rising day.

Far, far be from thee, as thy judgement's stroke,

To walk in the counsell of the wicked, and joine in the yock of bad association, to be guarded against by the King, in his tender years, as against a sure stroak of judgement.

To join thy shoulder in unequall yoke
Of bad associations, or to call
Unto thy counsell men of Beliall,
Who, in thy tender bosome, to infuse
The poyson of bad principles will chuse.

Grief fills our hearts so soon to see thy reigne;

Scotland's grief and Scotland's joy.

Yet joy we ever, Sacred Soveraigne,
That from thy Father's loines, who Rul'd of late,
Succeedeth One to fill the Chaire of State,
From Race to Race, all whose Dominions may
Thy just commands most loyally obey.

Spare, Spare (we pray) to give thy Scotland ground,

The prejudice of intertained jealousies between the King and his Subjects.

More deep and deadly, that may make her wound
By harboring, in a jealous heart, mistakes,
Of which the thought the very ground-work shakes
Of mutuall confidence. O daign to hear
Their just desires, with thee who burden bear,
To stand and fall, to live and dy with thee
In God, whose bands Inviolable be.

Thy judgment Heavens informe, and clear what tye
On Christian Subjects doth convincing lye,
Attempts to owne, for which those men do move,
Who most unjustly thy just pow'r improve,
And pleading for all crimes commission, staine
The tender honour of a Soveraigne,
As tyrant turn'd. We humbly do deny,

The duty of loyall Subjects as relating to Christ's absolute Soveraignty.

These practises may passe for loyalty
To God, and thee in Him, our duties bound
To Soveraignty supreme relating found,
So that on us restraining bonds are laid,
Till surety of Religion be made,
Till Solemn League and Covenant be own'd
By Thee, for Christ, in Truth's defence, enthron'd,
To which, while in suspense of thy consent,
Our hands are feeble, and our spirits faint.

These minding come, and put in exercise
Thy Regall pow'r; of all Thine enemies
The necks be given Thee, to be trampled on,
Religion, Government, Christ's and Thy Throne
Who dare oppose. O that thou may'st lay hold
And fasten grips upon these locks of Gold
Found on Time's fore-head, and from events learn
Of ling'ring Resolutions to discern
Sad successes. Thus Heaven Thy counsels blesse,
And make Thy Throne a Throne of Righteousnesse.
As Monarch of thy Subjects' hearts, for Thee
Thus many to the Throne of Grace shall flee,

And plead Thy cause, for whose just interests, all
Shall cordially cry, when God doth call,
Let Colours fly, Drums beat. Gird on your swords.
Arme, Gallants, Arme. The Battell is the Lord's.