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to his highness the lord protectors councill for the affaires of ireland.
The humble Petition of Dr William Petty
Sheweth,
That your petitioner, since his first being employed, either as surveyor or commissioner for setting out lands to the army, hath not dealt in the least for land or debentures, directly or indirectly, as hee will make appeare by oath or any other satisfactory proofe, and hath neglected to make such lawfull advantages as other men, perhapps less qualifyed then himselfe, have done, and hath withall incurred the suspition of intending to withdraw himselfe out of Ireland, out of feare to stand to his severall actings uppon the afforesaid employments. And this he had done to prevent scandall and sinister constructions, which jealouse and disatisfyed persons might make uppon your Lordshipps management of affaires, in imploying such as could not containe themselves from traffiqueing on the peculiar object of their trust and employment.
Your petitioner, therefore, to demonstrate his intention of abideing in Ireland, and to lay out himselfe and talent in the plantation thereof, doth now, when all lotts are generally satisfyed, and when there remaines noe house or land of value to bee disputed off, but only refuse ends and tayles of lotts, humbly desireing of your Lordshipps but that liberty which, were it nott for the scandall afore mentioned, he might otherwise lawfully take, consisting in the following particulars, vizt:
1st. That whereas your petitioner hath accepted of the arreares of the souldiers contributions, att one penny per acre, in satisfaction of 614li 8s 9d, that he may bee satisfyed what he cannot receive in money as soe much debentures.
2dly. That he may have the liberty of purchasing att least one thousand pounds debentures.
3dly. That he may have liberty to reedeeme land mortgaged for more then their respective values, at the Act rates.
And that he may use the said liberty in such places, for satisfaction, as he shall make choice of, to prevent the jealousies of such as may be otherwise concerned in a lott with himselfe. In granting whereoff, your petitioner assureth your Lordshipps that nothing shall bee done against lott, rule, or instructions, to one penny prejudice of the State or army. And this your petitioner
