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the Commissioners concerning only the two former particulars, it was thought more safe and honourable to make a further application to the Councill, before the concession concerning mortgages was putt in practice; wherein, as was just and convenient, the Dr sett forth to the Councill the manner how the benefitt hee mentioned in his petition did arise unto the State by the advantage of the enhaunced above the depressed rates, and withall their power to dispose thereoff in pursuance of their order of the 4th of February aforementioned, as allsoe the reason why he desired that the benefit of such the States game or winnings should be applyed for and towards his owne accommodation, to answer the formality of a legall title; itt being as reasonable that a thousand acres of lands, incumbred for more in name, and thrice more in deed, then the State is allowed to sell it, should bee given away even for a shilling, then that one thousand acres of wood, bogg, or mountaine, perhapps of a considerable intrinsicke value, should be given away for nothing; and the rather because such equalizations are highly countenanced by the aforementioned ordinance of the second of September, 1654, provided for the like cases: uppon all which grounds, and much more alledged pro and contra att severall meetings of the Councill, the following order was obtained, vizt:
By his Highness the Lord Protectors Councill for the Affaires of Ireland.
Uppon reading the petition of Dr William Petty, setting forth that, by order of this board of the sixth of March last, he had liberty granted him to redeeme any lands he should pitch uppon, if mortgaged for more money then the amount unto att the Act rates, and that he can make noe use thereoff without some way of making himselfe a title, according to the Act; and thereuppon praying that he may have the accomodation of such surplusage as shall happen in the whole lands assigned for satisfaction of the army (by reason of the not satisfying odd perches and pence, satisfyeing debentures, by way of composition, at rates above the Act, and the enhanceing and depresseing of barronyes), as whereby he may make a title unto the few lands which he may bee able to redeeme with his money, att rates exceeding the Act. And forasmuch as, uppon consideration had thereon, it is conceived that the granting the petitioners desires will bee noe loss, but an advantage to the State and army, both as to the satisfyeing more publicke debt, and by the quitt rent increasing the revenue, itt is thought fitt, and accordingly ordered, that he have the accomo-
