Reflections upon Ireland (Petty 1660)/2

by William Petty

These Præliminaries thus dispatcht, and my Charge being concerning the Cozenages of Mony, Land, and Records, you will now ask me first, how I came by the mony I am rumored to have; viz.

—horum Irritamenta malorum.

I will tell you: 1. By doing a Work in one year, thought by Ephesian Demetrius himself the work of seven.

2. By doing it a rate not half so great as was immediately before given.

3. According to a Contract four moneths in forging and filing by all that would please to busie themselves about it, and secured (as to its performance) more than ever any was before.

4. By doing the undertaken Work so well, as that no conviction of Error hath been made by all the envious querulous eyes that have since reviewed it, nor one parcel in a thousand so much as accused.

For this Survey did pass, not only more Examinations than were necessary (being made to run the Gantlope of all Offices belonging to the State) but many more than ever were heard of before: For immediately before my undertaking, a Surveyor (though known to be both careless and ignorant) needed for receiving his wages only to attest under his own hand, that his work was good; whereas M^r Worsly rackt himself and his brains to invent racks for the Examination of my work: Not unlike the Policy of the Church of Rome, as it was deciphered to me by Monseur Cantarine that Priest, whom (if you remember) wee were wont to admire for his wit, notwithstanding his free feeding and age. This Priest and self were eating together at the image of St. Ambrose our Ordinary, and together with us a mad swearing Debauchè: after dinner I asked Monseur Cantarine what pennance they used to impose upon such lewd Hectors; hee answered mee, Very little; for (said hee) they would do little, if wee should, and rather neglect the very Church, than put themselves to any pains that way; which when they do, they come no more at us, but become incorrigible or Hereticks: But (said he) they be the Biggots and Devout persons, whom wee load with Pennance, and on whom wee impose all the Scrutinies imaginable in their Confession; because such can and will submit to us therein. In like manner, because I was willing to give content in all things reasonable, had I unreasonable things put upon mee, alwaies enduring a more then Inquisition-severity.

You will next ask mee how I came by my Land: I will tell you that also; viz.

1. By and for Debentures, bought at the dearest rates, in the openest Market, & generally of the most crafty Traders; or else for ready mony, more then ever was given rateably by any other; or else I had them by way of pawn, which I have often desired to have redeemed; that is to say, I accepted by way of pawn ten pounds as security for thirty pounds: ten pounds which my Debtor had no possession or use of, nor clear right unto, for thirty pounds which was long before and undoubtedly due to mee from him. By all which means, upon the whole matter I have paid much more ready mony for my Land than any of those that complain against mee. Moreover, I contrived those singular waies out of design to give lesse offence, and to be found more meritoriously frugal for the State and Army then by the common way could be. Moreover, when I perceived some jealous at they knew not what, I asked, Masters, Is it I? and whether this singularity which I voluntarily acquainted them with, displeased them? and to humour them, I offered, nay desired, to reduce the whole into the most common method. I offered to alter my supposed and but nominal (yet dear bought) Elections of Land, into a real Lot, propounding uncontradictible Expedients to put the same in practice. I proceeded all along without repugnance to Law, according to express Orders of the chief Authority, and those interpreted and executed by their special Ministers; I never dealt for Land till all persons were satisfied, which by several Proclamations made all the Nation over could be summoned in; never traffiqued under other mens names, was contented with other mens scraps and leavings, ventured to deal in Lands against my own inclinations, meerly to pacifie those who pretended fear of my giving Ireland the flip with my mony, forbore dealing at such times as caused my hinderance neer 4000 l. and that, to prevent imaginary scandal, I acted in the most artificial, laborious, odious, and dangerous Employments, without any Wages yet paid mee: I have Land assigned, for the one half whereof I never got a penny profit, of many parcels not so much as the possession, of few the possession without extraordinary trouble; I never made any man a Delinquent to get his Lands, have encouraged and assisted many poor men to recover to themselves what by the rigorous construction of the Law they had forfeited.

But for the more full explication of this point concerning Land, I must acquaint you, that there be two crimes charged upon mee, which I may call Ministerial, whereby they say I got the Lands much better and better cheap then I ought. The first whereof was, The laying aside all choice parcells, so as the Army in general could not possibly have them, and then taking them (as by a right of Election) to my self.

The second was, That by various Artifices I bought Debentures much under the usual rates.

As to the first, which is Arbitrary witholding Lands from the whole Army; I affirm, That was done, was warrantable by the Law, by order of the Coucel, former Practice, and by natural reason it self: and it was administred by the best means extant, by the most responsible Instruments, and not at all by self; and lastly, the persons concerned were not only made acquainted with the design before 't was acted, but had an exact account of the thing done, before any Distribution was made upon it unto any, much lesse to mee, who till many moneths after, owned neither Land nor Debentures in Ireland; neither did any man but M^r Worsly tempt mee to with-hold any particular parcel from the Dividend, but hee did Clontubbride^[1], although no reason could be alleged for it, save that it lay convenient to somewhat which hee had injuriously gotten before. Now whether 'twas done or no to this day, I do not know, nor ever concerned my self to examine.

The next part of this first Crime is, That I chose my satisfaction out of such with-drawn Lands. To which I say,

1. That I had indeed an order from the Council to take my satisfaction by Election; which favour was granted me as part recompence for my labour, in setting out the whole Lands, as well as in common satisfaction for my Debentures. The which kind of favors, for as much as the Council had granted to several, before any Lots were cast, or any satisfaction at all made, they might much more lawfully grant, when further Lottery was become unpracticable, and when the whole Body of the Army was already satisfied: Neither ought the Agents of the Army wonder at, or begrudge me herein, who was their common and universal Agent, and chosen Trustee for giving them satisfaction; when as most of themselves wrung, or accepted of the like advantages for the like work, from their poor Souldiers.

But it may be objected, That the Council had no power to grant any satisfaction by Election; and consequently, their Commissioners ought not to have served such orders. To which I answer

At the present directly nothing, least I should officiously go about to help the Councel where they need mee not; only I shall say, That the Commissioners acting under them, ought not to refuse the said Orders for Election granted me as aforesaid; forasmuch as their general Commission ran, that they ought to set out the Lands according to the Acts of Parliament, or such other power as the Councel had received. In pursuance of which latter words, at least, they might well conceive my Orders to have been made; besides, the said Commissioners had received & executed the like Orders for Elections before mine, and in great abundance, since; nor could they but observe, that many great and general things, had been done, besides the prescript of the Act of Parliament, the warrant for which they had no reason to look into beyond their immediate Superiors the Council; especially since there was another temporary, pretended Legislative Power besides Parliaments in those times, which could make Laws to stand, till succeeding Parliaments should null them.

3. These Commissioners had seen such Elective Satisfactions (after solemn debates had upon them, all parties against them being heard) allowed of, long before they received the said Orders in behalf of mee.

Lastly, to speak strictly and truly, few Lands have been set out either to Adventurer or Souldier, more by Lot, or lesse by Election than those I hold have been; the difference between mine and most other mens Satisfactions lying in words and phrases only.

Wherefore (I say) the Commissioners receiving Special Orders, for doing most righteous and equitable things, contrary to no known Law, and agreeable to former frequent practices, in lesse just and vaster matters, and withall consonant to their general Commission; and all this at a time when no other way was practiceable, the same for that reason being alwaies used, afterwards in future cases. The Commissioners (I say) upon these grounds had no reason to do otherwise then they did concerning me: Now to come nearer the point.

If then such Elections might be allowed, what need had I (though I had medled with the afore-mentioned business of with-holding or Neating of Lands, as I never did) to lay by, scattered incumbered litigious small scraps (promiscuously good and bad, nay more frequently very bad, then ordinarily good) and to take them for satisfaction; as well for my pains, as for my Debentures: and withal to redeem the Mortgages upon them, to be at Extraordinary cost and trouble in Law to get possession of them, and to endanger myself to be impeached in two Parliaments to make them good; unless I had been necessitated to this unhappy course, to which alone my own modesty and meal-mouthedness had before left me? Besides, whereas there was perhaps 1000 parcels thus withdrawn, and express search made touching all the Abuses committed, as well in the disposing, as the said withdrawing of them; It is a wonder that nothing is complained of, but what concerned myself alone, without mention of Balleen, gotten by Mr. Worsly: concerning which, there are these Enormities, viz.

1. The said Mr. Worslyes debt could not in any wise, nor according to any rate, be satisfied on, or near that place, nor indeed any where; when he took Balleen.

2ly, When he received those Lands, he had no sufficient Debt due, nor any Debenture stated, till some years after.

3ly, The said Lands were onely admeasured, without any valuation of the Housing and Wood, as ought to have been; besides twenty other Enormous Circumstances, whereof he was so conscious, that he soon after sold it, that is, exchanged it for other Land, lest Col. Abbot should have Recovered it from him.

The next Point relates to buying Debentures at under-Market Rates, and forcing Men to sell at such, by pretending Difficulties in satisfying them, &c, To which I say:

That 1. No person agrieved ever complained, till Sir Hierom had impeach't me in Parliament, nor do I know of any yet.

2ly. I never dealt or treated for Debentures my self, nor gave other Instructions, then to buy at the Market rate; my aim being onely to have them well satisfied, but not six pence in the pound cheaper; for what could I thereby have saved, but about 200 l? which in the Purchase (as men say) of 3000 l. per annum, is inconsiderable.

3ly, I bought of Debenture Brokers, seldom of the persons who had served themselves; as appears by the many Conveyances from hand to hand which I have to produce. By which it may appear, that I gave much more then they were bought for by others at first penny, besides most I have, were brought and offered to me, as the fairest Chapman in the Market.

4ly, If I bought any Debentures pretending want of Satisfaction, for them; I dare venture all upon it, that those Debentures, though now mine own, are not satisfied to this day.

5ly, When men have to my own knowledge, causelessly complained of their Lots and Satisfactions; I have, perhaps, offered them 4^s or 5^s per l. viz. though much less then such Lots were really worth yet ten times more then those Ananiasse's would acknowledge them to be worth; and this I sometimes did, to shame those Murmurers against Providence, but not to buy any thing from them, as by their complaint they think I intended.

Moreover, when Trepanners have come to me proffering to sell their Debentures, as not liking their hopes of satisfaction, I have perhaps (which is more then I know of, to give such men Rope) talked with them as a Buyer, but never dealt on this; no more then on the last mentioned occasion.

Lastly, Sir Hierome does not complain of buying Debentures without licence, nor of tricks used to elude the prohibition of buying under 8^s in the pound; for then he must accuse himself and others; notoriously guilty of abusing, not Debenture-Brokers, but their own poor Souldiers, whom remaining under his command, We may conceive frightable into any bargain.

But what if Witnesses be brought to swear the contrary of all this? Then I say, at present, that even as in the point afore-going, I proved that I had not pickt out Lands by stealth or fraud: by shewing that I had leave and good warrant to do the same openly, which I used modestly; so I now shew, that it was a matter as well impossible, as of inconsiderable profit; for me to force men to sell me their Debentures.

For, 1. There were three other Commissioners besides my Selfe, any two of which could set out Lands; Besides, The Councell often did intermeddle therein themselves: wherefore I alone could not do the feat complained of, viz. obstruct at my pleasure.

2ly, If I alone had been able to give or with-hold Satisfactions, and would so with-hold them from such as would not sell, It argues that either there were no other Buyers (in which case I might lawfully have done harder things, then any man whispers against me) or else I did by this Prerogative, beat down the price of the whole Market, whereas it is most notorious, that from the time of my first buying, till my very leaving of Ireland, Debentures constantly rose. Now if I proffered under the Market; why should any Man sell to me? since when he had once sold, I could afterwards do him neither good nor harm in the satisfactions of such Debentures, being now no longer his; so that if malice had not blinded even the natural Light of my Adversaries, both they and I, had (as to this matter) been at quiet.

Lastly, I will prove, that those who accuse me, have bought Debentures of their own Souldiers, for one third part less then I constantly paid; Which; by what awings or other means, they effected, I leave to consideration.

This being a briefe and superficial account concerning my Land and Money; the last is About the Records: Concerning which I tell you further, That I have no Surveys, but either the imperfect, fowl, confused and unauthentique Draughts, (or else the Abridgments) of what the State hath already perfect and fair, and authentically attested; I have nothing that I was bound by Contract to give in: Nothing but what many Souldiers and Surveyors have the like of, and are known to have, and are allowed to keep them, without the least Question; Nothing that can corroborate, but rather vitiate and distract the Survey now upon record in the Exchequer. Nothing which (such as it is, and although my own proper Goods, and made at my own charge) hath not beene alwaies hitherto made use of for the service of the Publique, not to any Profit or behoof of mine: And as for Papers belonging to the Distributions, I know none that may be called Records, being for the most part only Draughts & Essays of what I see no encouragement to perfect. Things that are not in my particular Custody or Charge, and such as I never heard asked for, but in the Parliament House, nor saw demanded in writing, but in Justiciary Sir Hieroms last Articles. All which Papers being of little use to me, I proffered in Parliament, to sell at reasonable rates, and even to my Adversaries, to let them see by those Papers, the vanity of their fears and bustlings against me, whilst they hope to find among them effectual Engines of my ruine.

These are my accusations properly concerning the Publique, beside which, Bribes, Extortions, forcible Compositions, &c. are objected; whereas Although I was Secretary to the Lord Lievtenant, and esteemed his Favourite, was envyed for my frequent Privacies with him, acted Solus cum Solo^[2], in Grants for Beneficial Offices, Civil, Ecclesiastical and Military, Licenses for Transplanted Persons, Exporting prohibited Goods, Pardons for Crimes, & many more matters: Yet never was I herein taxed as to Bribes, nor to delay men, in order to squeeze out of them the fatter gratuities; But on the contrary, in order to avoid the very appearances of this Evil, refused all manner of Fees and Gratuities, so as never to have received wherewith to defray the incident Charges of that Office: although Reason, Law, and ancient Custome, would have allowed me some Hundreds, during the time of my acting in that capacity. Now if I have not been so much as taxed, where I had the greatest temptation, 'tis probably I have not been notoriously faulty, where there was none, nor hopes of impunity.

2ly, When I was Clerk of the Council, In which place by the Opportunities I had to forward or retard mens business; to word Orders to more or less advantage of the Suitors: And when by my particular Interest with the Lord Lieutenant (who had a Negative upon the whole Council) and by my often being called to give my opinion touching the disposal of Land (being the greatest and most frequent business of the Board) I might have deserved real thanks: Yet no man can say, but that I was content with my bare Wages, and was so far from Bribery and Extortion, that I was even to the real prejudice of the Office, and my Partner; too slack in sueing for, or accepting the just perquisites of the place.

Thirdly, As Undertaker of the Surveys, Can any man say, I ever altered the Returns made unto me? changed unprofitable into profitable Lands? altered any Field-Books, expunged any Observation, chopt or changed in the least? or connived at defects having been at treble charges to secure the faults I but suspected? Or can any man say, I made a trade of communicating or giving Copies of Surveys? but used all the interest and power I had to hinder the same: which I did, not to keep men in the dark (as hath been alleadged) but to keep them from being unruly, and to prevent the wrongs, which the crafty did, by such unseasonable knowledg, attempt upon the simple, and plain-dealing persons; still being inflexible, either with Rewards or Promises on either hand.

Fourthly, When I was Commissioner for setting out Lands; Did prayers, or promises, flatteries, or frowns work upon me, to meddle or make with separating the disposeable Land, from such as was not? and under colour thereof, to put in, or leave out at my pleasure, Land for incumbred or clear? Did I ever give any private hint or intimation, to those who acted in that work, of what I would have done? Did I transact otherwise with them, but to keep them to their work, and Expound unto them the General Rules, which they were, by the Council, the Army, and my fellow-Commissioners, appointed to follow, without ever examining the particular effect of their acting? When things were done according to the above-mentioned and other Rules, Could the Grandees of any Sect or Faction, or could an extorted command from the Lord Lieut. himself (whose Votary I was said to be) effect the alteration of any thing regularly fallen out, and concluded on? Were particular Importuners accommodated, without respect had to the just interest of the absent, and helpless? Was it not by this rational, wholsom, and impartial severity, that the Scriptum est^[3] of our Office, was equivalent with the Signatum & Sigillatum^[4] of others; so as a Note out of our books, attested by a Clerk, went for a Pattent in all Courts? For my own particular, I can assure you, Sir, That to maintain this course and frame of Justice, I so far declined bribes or gratuities, that I alwaies refused even presents of Eatables and Drinkables; yea, I forbore to take Fees, as a Phisitian, for fear they might be intended to byass my actings, in my other trusts and capacities.

For evidence of all this you shall find no Complaints against me, for the favour I shewed A. to the wrong of B. but that I wronged both A. and B. to the advantage of my self: Nor did the Court commonly called the Green Chamber (instituted for the Examination of such matters, the Members whereof were most of them disaffected to me) ever make any reflections of this kind upon me: Nor could the busiest Informer, buzzing about the Parliament, at their first Restitution, whisper any objection against my administrations of this kind; which being true, Sir, Although I had by sleights and artifices gotten 15000 Acres of Land; And although I had paid nothing for them, instead of paying more then any others did, & since I was by that employment hindred from the most profitable Traffique that ever Ireland afforded, and for which I was as well furnished and fitted as any others were: And lastly, since I had no other Recompence for four years danger and drudgery; I say, these things being true,

Where is the abominable wrong? For even by that reckoning I should have had not full one per Cent. whereas Merchants Factors have two per Cent. from their Principals, for driving of a single Bargain, concluded at an Exchange-time, or over one Pinte of wine; whereas my work was for four years continual Agony. I say, that though I had absolutely cousned the State and Army of one per Cent. (whereas I have abused neither) having paid 30 per Cent. more then others; yet if I have kept all others from cousening them, it were no improvidence to connive at so moderate and convenient a miscarriage; nor is it against Custome and Policy, so to do on the like occasions.

But not to digress, but to come more close to particulars, I am charged with Bribes, or Tanquam Bribes, or something like them, from one Flower, and one Sands.

1. As to Flower, I say that I never yet received a penny from him: Nor did I ever set him out Lands in particular: He hath received many hundred pounds (by virtue of a lawful Concession I made him as a private person, and at the desire of the Lord Deputy on his behalfe) even whilst I have been implicated by him, in most expensive Tribulations for nothing: I indeed joyned with others, in offering an Expedient, being especially thereunto required in order to mitigate a former just report, which the said Expedient recited. He has 500 l. per annum that was my due upon many Accompts, and yet I am forced to spend 500 l. per annum to save my selfe from being fined, as my Adversaries say, 50000 l. and that for thus making a fool of my selfe, in favor of this Flower.

Sir, More monstrous mistakes, and more absurd prejudices have never been known in any case, like as in this. This Flower haunts me up and down, Caresses and entertains me, Courts me himselfe, solicits me by others, promises me great Services, as that he will take off my Enemies, help me to great bargains, &c. and all but to work me unto that, for which he would now ruine me; when he has done it; He, like the Devil, first accuses me; represents the whole matter falsely, confessing still to several persons, that his End was but to save what he was to pay me, crying God and me pardon for his treachery and baseness, profering to be a false Brother to his confederates, if I would forgive him; And yet this Man having once over head and ears engaged himself, is encouraged to persist in this Diabolical practice; and though he be dealt with as infamous and criminous for many things else, yet is esteemed Glorious and Meritorious for his malice against me; Sir, I must cry out to you,

——Oro miserere laborum,
Tantorum, miserere animi non digna ferentis.^[5]

As for Sands, whereas I was to give him 800 acres of Land for an House worth but 250 l. at most; he gives out that his House was to be given me as a Bribe, for but having about the like quantity of Land set him out upon his Debenture, when I contriv'd a way for his reliefe in a hard case (which I since hear to be much softer) he intimates that I would be paid for it; whereas I onely desired that I might be no looser for postponing my own Prior Order of favour for his accommodation: When out of the like tenderness (as Nurses use to their sick Children) I thought of many waies to please and accommodate him, he terms them all stratagems to abuse him; when I invented laudable and honest means to facilitate the granting of his Petition, He would have them thought so many tricks to cozen the State. When he found he could not perform what he had promised about disincumbring the above mentioned House, He to break with me, interprets our Agreement and his Orders in an impossible and abominable sence: When certain Lands, (possest according to all the Lawes and Rules then in force, irregularly by an Adventurer in wrong to the Souldiers) were proposed to him, and he advised privacy for his own sake to prevent his disappointment, He intimates that I did it to conceal my own knavery: Whereas, though he was eager to have the said Lands by hook or crook; Yet as soon as he perceived he might not have the Housing on them, his Eyes were then first opened, and his conscience then first smote him, for coveting another Mans possessions. When being weary of the trouble he gave me, I desired him to take out of my hands his Agreement, Orders, &c. and to trouble me no more; He affirms he was fain by strugling to tear the said Papers peece-meal out of my hands. And lastly, when I gave him Brotherly and Christian admonition concerning his thick miscariages in this business: He then contrives how to accuse me. and render me the most corrupt wretch in the world, whom for a whole year before, he profest to be the most upright, patient, and misunderstood person he knew. All this, while pretending Conscience and Religion, which makes me ask,

Tantum religio potuit suaderem malorum?

There be some other things which they pretend, as fraud in my Accompts, viz. My having received 2665 l. three times over, Whereas indeed 't was nothing but receiving the same in a scambling manner, part in one, part in another, and part in a third way, (the two latter being termed fraudulent) all of them together, not making up one such payment as I ought to have had; it being in effect about two hundred pounds short of what my satisfaction, precisely and according to my Contract should have been. Now as to one of these pretended fraudulent waies: Consider, That I was forced to collect and wrangle out of the Souldiers in an ungrateful way, and by driblets, what the State was bound to pay me in a lump; to receive in base Spanish money, what I was to have had in good sterling; as also to run up & down with assignments from Post to Pillar, and to give my hand five or six times over for the same thing; and (which was worst of all) run a dunning of disbanded Souldiers, and other Debenture-Buyers, which were not in the pay of the Army; and yet I am complained of, when all the Money I received from them upon this pretended fraudulent course, was not neer worth my pains in collecting it: And as for the other fraudulent payment; I was forced to take Lands in pawn for part of my money, or else until this day to have had nothing, which Lands I could have bought in the ordinary way of Debentures, for the original money detained from me, by reason of the Souldiers own disagreement and delayes concerning the final Conclusion of their satisfaction; And yet now, although I took this way of satisfaction, not only as payment for my Survey, but also towards a reward for my distribution likewise: Yet must I be troubled and prosecuted as a Cheat, even for accommodating those that complain; nor may I be suffered to put what was extraordinarily done into the common Road; because my Adversaries (who will be pleased neither full nor fasting) hope to make by their Criticisms that to be irregular, which was indeed but singular, and a Singularity of more advantage to the publick, then my self.

In the next place, they tax me for having about 600 in monies, which (as they fancy) in strictness I could not require, never taking notice (though their affections were true) what real and necessary work was done for it, by way of reparing the States own Ministers ignorance or neglect, without which extraordinary work, twenty times as much other Charge that the State was put to, had signified nothing: Nor taking notice of 2000^l reimbursement, which I tamely swallowed and discounted, though by no Law compellible thereunto; Nor of the many extraordinary Sufferings I endured in the whole course of my work, all which motives and pretentions to the said 600l. were rigorously debated, and again and again referred, before the imaginary indulgence was allowed me: Where also by the way, I must, Sir, advertise you, That I never was for two or three years together admitted to speak at the Council Board about my own business, in the absence of such Members as were critically skilled in it; and also of such other their Ministers as either hated or envied me; Nor did I ever procure Order upon any Petition without committing and recommitting it, nor under three weeks time: No amendment (though but of a word) escaping without a formal reading again of the whole at a full Table: And moreover, All this while, I never sollicited the particular Members of the Council in private, seldom fawning on them at their Tables, never officiously seeking to lessen the wholesome strictness they used towards me: And as for my Lord Lieutenant, When I have perceived him passionately affected with the hardships used towards me, I ever made it my business to beg his carelessness and unconcernment for me; still alluring him, that the Justice and Right I sought, must with a little more time, and without any trouble of his Lordship, take place and prevail, to my Honour and Comfort.

But to proceed: They charge me with a Fogery of 516 l. which is a meer piece of Rashness and Ignorance in the Article-maker: Who as to a part of that Sum hath added where he ought to have subtracted. And as to another part, he takes no notice that I was by Articles bound to repay it (which I never denyed) at a day not then, nor yet come, and which the Armies own wranglings onely kept of.

I shall trouble you but with one point more, for I would not implicate you with these tedious pro and contra's, although elsewhere and hereafter, I must be much more large upon all these matters, and that point is, about the payment of some Surveyors. They say, that although my own wages was greater then ever was given, I gave my under-workmen much less then was usual or sufficient; and yet that I did retrench by seigned Exceptions much even of those low unconscionable rates I agreed with them for,

In answer whereunto, I say;

1. That the allowance I had, Was upon, and according to a Contract made with the greatest labour and discussion, that, ever was.

2ly, That the allowance was not half so great as those next mediately before my Contract, given.

3ly, Not half so much as many Adventurers gave at the same time, for bare, admeasurements.

4ly, Unusual dispatch was to be made, and unusual security was given for performance.

5ly, The State paid but three of seven towards this charge, and yet by my Contrivance and interest, had the benefit of the whole seven.

Now as for what I paid my under-workmen, I also say: 1. That I frequently paid 5l. 10s. and 5l. and 4l. 10s. (as I could beat my bargain) for what I received myself but 6l. Neat.

2. That I furnisht these Men with Extraordinary helps; 3. That I paid for doing som works three times over, for very much twice. 4. These Surveyors got twice more by those that wrought under them, then I got by themselves, 5. gave them (to please the World) above three times more then I knew the intrinsick value of the work to be, which my selfe did first of all men truly calculate and find out. 6. I gave them one third part more then the State hath since paid them; Of which succeeding cheapness to the State, my present hazard and Trials were the cause: 7. These men since have often importuned me for employment, at half the rate I first agreed with them for; All which I conceive a sufficient answer to the Second part of this Calumny.

In the last place, I say, That I never brake Covenant with any of these Men, for I have given some double to what I agreed with them, to very many much more, and proportionably to their respective industry and fidelity.

Some indeed who have been imposed upon me (I suppose as Spies) and have been always treacherous, lazie, negligent, and debauched, I have sometimes kept strictly to their Agreements; but yet still allowing them according to the Letter and Equity of their Articles, though perhaps not according to the extent of their own self-conceits concerning the meaning of them, nor according to that opinion which themselves had of their bladder-blown performances; in so much as that I never had any Suit at Law with any of them, but one onely complaint before the Council, which also came to nothing, except the Complainants shame; and but one Arbitration, the award whereof I voluntarily exceeded in favour of my mistaken Adversary.

As for Compositions and Retrenchments, I made but few; Such as were made, had their rise from unexpected alterations, in performing the respective works whereunto they related. 2. From extraordinary helps I gave to the persons concerned. 3. From taking off part of their labour and hazard. 4. From paying them their Moneys before demandable. 5. From their own loss and mislaying of their Accompts and Papers, &c. All being so just, as whereupon I had their legall Discharges, with many (at least seeming) thanks; what ever new Spirit hath of late been conjured up in the more querulous, indigent, and unconscionable part of these abused Abettors of Sir Hierom, some of which are such as for their gross miscarriages have been reprehended by me, and are therefore now become their own revengers upon me.

Moreover, I alwayes told these Surveyors what is since too truly come to pass; That when I had discharged them, they were discharged, but 't was otherwise with me, who had to deal with the State and Exchequer; and that I was considerable enough to be vext in a Parliament, by the interest of those whom I must be forced to offend; Upon which ground I stick not even now to declare afresh; That I ought to deal cautiously, and to be aforehand with them, whom I found to be from the beginning treacherous, disaffected, and too ravenous upon me; and into the bottom of whole smutty Actions I could not easily, and on the sudden penetrate.

You have here a view of my charge and answer, both of them in a summary way, and according as I answered the Knights first assault in the great Parliamentary Assembly on the 21. of April, 1659.

Nevertheless as small and as sleight a defence as this is, if you should communicate this Letter to the sight of my Adversaries, I might be prejudiced by the preparations which they will make from it, to overthrow what I have said, unless they think this is written on purpose to be published; and that this defence is so published, that it may serve as an Ignis fatuus^[6] to mislead them; Or else by making them decline Sir Hieroms last eleven Articles (as my defence in Parliament made them decline the said Knights first six, & his seven Instances) put them upon framing new ones in the next Parliament, which Sir Hierom, and his Complices shall make and qualifie.

For, Sir, let me advertise you by the way, 'tis not satisfaction as to any of these points which will make them leave troubling me, but the seeing me actually undone, quocunque modo.^[7] For such satisfactions and Convincings, do onely beat them of their first ground to some other; the unfirmness whereof, they do not so well understand. For if I could have been so patient, as to have said little in answer to all the noise they have made: it had been pleasant to see the numerous absurdities they had run into, as they did before in their idle talk of Bribes (which since they call forcible Compositions) buying Debentures without Licence, Embeazelling the whole security of the Army: Od pence, Tipperary Surveys, &c. Wherefore I do not impose upon your discretion as to the manner, time, &c. of communicating all or part of what I have written; For if they will take the paines to frame new Articles, I shall still receive the honour to answer them; and as for everting what I have said, I give them seven years time, and will allow them seven times as much malice as Mr. Worsly himself hath against: Let me but have (as one time or other I shall) an upright Judicatory, I mean by upright such as do not more desire I should be found guilty then innocent; For as to other things, I suppose, that though my Judges should have no fear of God before their Eyes; Nor no honour nor common honesty; Yet they will be afraid to commit horrible and palpable injustice, to gratifie a few (who in a small time may not be able to gratifie them again: But who shall rather be the first, that will accuse them, even for what they shall do unrighteously towards me) Nor will they much endanger themselves to vindicate Sir Hierom from being an ambitious, rash, and inconsiderate Knight-adventurer. I could never fancy but three causes of my trouble.

One was Reason of State, viz. to pull me down by oppressing, and to cripple my very naturall power for the future, by defaming me: and perhaps they did even this (if I may so say without vanity) in order, and as a small beginning, to pull down the Government it self; and to punish me in particular for a general evil whereof I was not guilty, and which the Parliament had pardoned in those that were; The which having been effectually done, I ought not since to have been troubled.

The second Cause (and that which acted the more moderate) might be that of doing Justice; So, as that the injured might be repaired out of me, or else might understand they did but dream they were wronged, or know to whom else to seek for reparation: and withal, That such ill Doers as I am represented to be, might be condignly and exemplarily punished.

The Third is to sacrifice me unto particular revenge and spleen, viz. of these whom I have Eclipsed, so as they might shine again; and that such may see my heels tript up by foul play, whom by fair, they could never Out-run.

As to the first end and cause of my being troubled; It is perfectly answered, and (so far as concerns my Selfe) to my own content.

As to the Second, it had been answered, though it need no answer, if my many Expedients had been accepted, or considered.

And as to the Third, (as I said before) I do not believe that any who can be my Judges, will venture their Honour, Consciences, Credit or Estates, on such a Bottome: Onely I must confess, That if Sir Hierome and Worsly both, should happen to cumber the upper Bench, like Minos and Radamanth, upon my case; I should be terribly afraid of what so much conceited ignorance and intoxicating pride might bring upon mee. But I suppose no Revolution that can come; will advance that Multiloquious pair of Monti-Parturists above the name I now give them, and the place of Under-Speech-Makers to a Committee.

I say, what I have here written is but summary, and indeed but an Elenchus rerum aliquando probandarum in that greater defence which God willing I intend. This is but the flashing of my priming powder, I must ram other stuff with powder and shot, into the barrel of my said greater piece; or else I should not think my self secure: Although to defend my self from this Knight, (who like a St. George) thinks he can pierce any Dragon) no harder scales are needful, then what covers this discourse. I have already published three sheets, being a meer brief of proceedings between the Knight and my self till the 13th of July, that the world being amazed at the noise between us, might only know what the matter was, As men desire to do when they hear Murther cried in the streets at midnight. I have also written (as I just now told you) a profest Answer to Sir Hieromes Eleven last and greatest Articles, containing the proofs of what is herein but barely alledged, which I may not publish till after my tryal, unlesse God take mee before from that happinesse to the place of greater: which said Apology is the Balsom wherewith (in such case) I hope to embalm my reputation against Sir Hieromes putrid vapours, and will be an ointment which none of his venemous flyes dare lick off. A fourth Treatise I have, farr greater then any of these above-mentioned, being an History of the Survey and Distribution of the forfeited Lands in Ireland, and withal a Series of my own Services and Sufferings, with reference thereunto, and to that nation; which work consists chiefly of all Acts of Parliament, Resolves of General Assemblies of the Army, Orders of the Councel, Acts of Councels of Warr, Results of Committees, Petitions of Agents, References, Reports and Accompts, &c. relating to all and singular the premisses: all which pieces are I hope intended and fitted close to the matters and things they pretend to handle respectively.

There is another piece of a quite contrary nature, being indeed a Satyre; which though it contain little of seriousness, yet doth it allow nothing of untruth: 'Tis a Gallery wherein you will see the Pictures of my chief Adversaries hang'd up in their proper colours; 'tis intended for the honest recreation of my ingenious friends.

Sir, you shall see by that Essay how nothing hath provoked mee to lying and railing, with other scurrility unbecoming the candor I pretend to; I hope 'twill make you laugh, though the occasion hath been matter of mourning to mee. 'Tis my happiness, and the fruits of the good conscience I alwaies have kept, that I can

–ità vertere tristia ludo.^[8]

My Adversaries having thrown down the Government, Lawes, and Governor under which I acted, may oppresse mee too,

–sed nemo me impune lacessit.^[9]

If I be made a Gnat, I may yet be capable to get into the Lyons Nostrils, and may urge him to beclaw himself before he get me thence: If I am utterly undone by popular Rage, I am not the first, I have received good things, and must be content to take my share of the Evil also. If the Storm of injustice doth last to my utter consuming, I shall admire at the long suffering of God to them that occasion it, and shall say, How long, Lord, holy and true, wilt thou deferre avenging the oppressed?

Dear Sir, pardon these Excursions; Nam lacessitus loquor, which that you may the better do, as I have given you a Brief of what may be said for me, so I shall now give you the like relation of what hath been done against me, viz.

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1. a parcell of Land lying next Balleen.
2. all on my own
3. it is written (Wikisource ed.)
4. signed and sealed (Wikisource ed.)
5. Consider, I beseech you, all that I have undergone; have compassion on a mind which has suffered most unworthily. (Virgil) - Wikisource ed.
6. See: ignis fatuus on Wiktionary (Wikisource ed.).
7. In whatever manner (Wikisource ed.).
8. "Ita vertere seria ludo" (Horace): Thus to turn serious things into jest (Wikisource ed.)
9. "(Sed) nemo me impune lacessit": But no one can provoke me without being punished (Wikisource ed.)