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att the wills and lusts of such as have been exasperated, only to doe your Lordshipps service in a way of justice and uprightness.
Moreover, how can your Lordshipps exspect that your petitioner can act cheerefully uppon his present most difficult commissions of setting out lands, for which he hath noe knowledge what his reward shall bee, in case he findeth himselfe soe out of favour with your Lordshipps, or his services soe litle valued that he can not obtaine in reason and equity, and even according to the opinion of the Atturney-Generall afforesaid, and all indifferent persons, doth belong unto him, which is his present discharge.
If, notwithstanding all that have been said, itt appeare necessary, for any private reasons best knowne to your Lordshipps, that your petitioner or others ought to stand bound for a longer time, your petitioner propoundeth that hee may have his present bonds, according to his right, to satisfye his suretyes, and for the other ends afore mentioned; and thereuppon he offereth to enter into new bonds, and to give new security, according to the nature of the reasons for which your Lordshipps doe desire the same; and uppon this accompt he propoundeth to stand bound for one year or three yeares, or seven yeares, nay, for twenty yeares, as your Lordshipps shall thinke fitt, to make good all manner of exceptions that shall happen concerning his survey within the same termes respectively, provided that a reasonable premium or consideration may be given him for his extraordinary insurance.
Or, lastly, if your petitioner may have his owne bonds forthwith, that soe he may be free to dispose of himselfe and of his estate, and particularly for the redemption of some mortgages, according to what your Lordshipps were pleased to grant him uppon a late petition, hee will offer an exspedient how any complaint which shall appeare within three or four moneths yett to come shall be answered without any further trouble or charge to your Lordshipps. In June following, when the army had been above six moneths in posession of their lands, uppon a kind of essay and draught only, having noe authentique warrant or order for their holdings, and when it was tould them that such warrants could not be granted but uppon authentick surveys, remaining as publicke records in the Court of Exchequer, whither it was not safe for Dr William Petty to send them untill hee had his discharge concerning them, the army, being convinced of the reasonableness thereoff, present the following petition:
