Page:Petty 1851 The Down Survey.djvu/325

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.

( 291 )

3dly. That by fraudulent and indirect meanes he hath gott into his hands vast summes of money from the State, possest himselfe of many thousand acres of land that he hath noe right unto, having noe claime thereto by lott or consent.

4thly. That he used many foule and unwarrantable practises during his employment of being surveyor and Commissioner, to the great wrong of others, and dishonour of the Commonwealth.

5thly. That he, the said Dr, together with his fellow Commissioners, have placed many debentures uppon security that they had noe claime unto, and denyed unto others the security which of right belonged to them.

6thly. That he, the said Doctor, together with his fellow Commissioners, have totally disposed of the remaining part of the armyes security, contrary to law, the debt still remaining and chargeable uppon the State.

Hie. Sankey.

These things being att this pass, the said seaven officers, supposing that, in the Drs being thus sent for, his Excellency himselfe was strucke att, and that hee would thinke what was done was rather in order to some great matter, which indeed was the common opinion, came to the then Lord Lieutenant protesting and calling God to witness, that what Sankey had done was by noe advice or consent of theirs; that the Drs oppression would be their great greife and loss, he being one without whome they could not proceed in the rest of their distribution; and their only intention was to shew his Lordshipp such irregularityes in his actings as might procure reproofe enough whereby to take of that insolency and domination wherewith he managed that affaire; and that themselves had nothing to say but what was in their exceptions exhibited to the Councill, nor would they meddle or make further in the bussiness.

Notwithstanding all which, they mett dayly; sent up and downe to all manner of discontented persons, far and neer; used all meanes to draw out of every what he could devise to say; revived discontents in those who had cleered accompts with the Doctor some yeares before; sent for Worseley, the late Surveyor-General, his professed enemy; tampered with his servants, especially the most indigent of them; entertained lawyers; and, in fine, did whatever could be thought on, to putt weapons into the hands of this furiouse Knight.

On the other side, the Dr prepares himselfe to goe over to answer the charge, carryeth with him such letters of recommendation as his good friends were