Page:Petty 1660 Reflections.djvu/137

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hered to him more close then I have done? I voluntarily first engaged in his affairs, when they seemed even to himself very cloudy, And when he was either deprived of, or deserted by his other friends and instruments. Who hath fawned less upon the thriving party? Who has made fewer staggers in his profession for one or t'other Faction? Did I ever betray any secret? Have I sold one friend to buy another? Or done ugly things with one Man, to ingratiate my self with another, his enemy? If these things be true in matters of greatest Consequence; how likely is it, that I have basely broken my trust in matters which I contemn, such as I have no need of, and by which I have not really encreased my Estate or interest?

Who in the place and credit I was once in, with so powerful a person as the said Lord Lieutenant formerly was, would not by a closer adherence to some party, have built himselfe a larger interest, then I did? And (not despising the thanks of such as had good Lots) have trusted to my bare innocency, against the frowns of them that had bad: Who would not have bent all proceedings