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consequently did proceed in the like sort throughout the whole county. And allthough that, in our instructions, there is not set downe that wee should value lands, yet there wee are required to give the quality of every parcell surrounded, and even of what sort and sorts.
Now the said county being generally mountainouse, rocky, and boggy, soe that all the pastures came under one of these titles, and most times they are rocky and boggy mount pastures in one and the same places, and yet there is a great deale of difference in the quality, and the same title must be given to it, though there be a great disproportion; so that we judged fitt how to value how many acres was worth one, even to distinguish betwixt course and course, to answer that clause of our instructions.
And that your lordshipps might have a true account of the quality, and to judge of it as you might thinke fitt. As to what wee have done in Kerrey, wee can very well justifie quantities, but as for the quality of land wee had noe rule to walke by, only as aforesaid, but did according to the best of our judgements, and the best information wee could get; soe, breaking noe law, wee thinke not to have wronged any, either the Commonwealth or souldiers, seeing it was not said lands should be worth quitt rent, or else they are worth nothing, or any other rate put uppon them. But, least you might thinke that wee were not able to value or equalize lands as it ought to be, wee got one of the worst parishes in the said county valued by the chiefest and ablest men that lived in the place; and finding what wee did, by the help of our bounders, to be just and agreeable to the ancient custome of setting or dividing of lands in that countrey, wee did proceed from time to time, much to our great paines, charge, and loss of time.
Now whereas itt is said that there hath been such a large debate, that itt is concluded that, according to the returnes of Kerrey, every acre that wee have soe valued must goe for one as good land as any of the rest, I doe here declare to your lordshipps that it was never soe intended by us, but that according to our value, or something that should bee equivalent with the same, the land should be given out, wee judgeing the said values or valueing to bee the only meane betweene the two extreames; for either must the said values stand, or something equivalent with them, or else nothing but the small spots of arable and good pasture must be accompted as good or profitable, and whole plowlands, allmost parishes and barronyes, must be throwne away, or else must all
