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would probably have been complete, but suddenly the venue was changed to London, by charges exhibited in Parliament by Sir Jerome Sankey, which Dr. Petty, himself a member of the House, was summoned to take his seat, in order to answer.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Pages 289—307.
On the 26th of March, 1659, Dr. Petty, when all was ready for his long-desired trial in Dublin, was called to London by the Speaker's order of the 26th of March, 1659, having been furnished with a copy of the articles presented against him by Sir Jerome Sankey.
The only definite charge was, that, contrary to the Act, he had "made it his trade to purchase debentures," he "being then the chief surveyor;" the others, though of serious import, were general, requiring minute evidence to support them, such as a committee in our own day would inquire into.
Dr. Petty took his seat on the 19th, and answered on the 21st of April, in a maiden speech, reported, it is true, by himself, but temperate, and quite consistent with the facts and circumstances which the preceding narrative will make all readers acquainted with. Sir Jerome's reply is characterized by the ludicrous vehemence and anger which the Doctor always describes as his peculiarity; but it must be remembered we have not his own report of it, and the dissolution of the Parliament prevented any further proceedings.
The attack was renewed by Sir Jerome in the Long Parliament, which re-assembled in May, his adversaries hoping, as the Doctor believed, to deprive him of the "benefit of the Act of Indempnity then passing;" and on this occasion it assumes the formidable designation of "articles of high misdemeanour, frauds," &c., which are expressed at great length.
On which it is "ordered by the Parliament that they be referred to the Commissioners for managing the government in Ireland," and the said Commissioners were "fully authorized to hear and determine the same."
This reference to the authorities in Ireland, would have restored matters to the state they were in before, but political events crowded rapidly on, and in the "Reflections," where copious answers to the several articles are given, the Doctor informs us that "Sir Jerome keeps off my trial in Ireland, never so much as delivering the articles and the Parliament's order of reference unto the referees appointed, yet sends me false alarms to discompose my affaires and negociations in England, and threatened upon the army's owning the northern brigade's proposals, promoted by himself, but distasted by the Parliament, to give me no quarter," &c.
We know from the history of the period that Sir Jerome took a prominent part in the proceedings of the army, during the short interval it assumed high power at the close of 1659. In the Parliamentary History, vol. xxii., p. 3, his name appears first of twelve who sign the
