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money then it cost them, allthough the principall use of it be now over; all which, Sir, have been signes that the State hath not been soe egregiousley cheated as is alledged. Besides, Sir, itt seemes a foule reflection, not only uppon the present Lord Lieutenant, but uppon the late Lord Deputy Ffleetwood, as allsoe uppon the Councill, the surveyor, auditor, receiver, and Atturney-Generall, and severall other ministers of State, that they should bee soe frequently and soe grossely cousenned by me of such vast summes; nor is it less arrogance for any one stranger in these affaires, not famouse for his sagacity, to smell out those frauds and cousenages, which soe many ministers of State, acting in their proper spheares, could not.
As to the many acres of land I am posessed of, I tould you, Mr Speaker, that I had dealt for about 7000li in debentures, and I tell you that my lands are but proportionable to my debt, and have cost me more ready money then any man I know hath paid for the like, and that money soe bestowed hath not produced to me halfe soe much as I could have made by itt at the interest usuall in Ireland; besides, I have noe lands but by exspresse order from the proper dispensers of it, and those againe grounded uppon other orders of the cheife authority of Ireland, and their orders, as I am very well advised, correspondent to the laws. I confess. Sir, there is a singularity in the modes of one or two of my satisfactions, but this singularity is a prejudice to noe man but my selfe, a convenience to some and an advantage to the State, and is such as I have offered to change into the high common road of other mens satisfactions, which hath been opposed by some peevish and forward persons, meerely out of hopes to make that singularity appeare a crime against mee.
As to the fourth article, which is that I have used, both as surveyor and Commissioner, many foule and unwarrantable practises, to the wrong of particular persons, and dishonour of the Commonwealth: to this, Mr. Speaker, being so generall, I know not what answer to make; only lett me tell you, I should be glad to see one instance of this nature made good in the same manner, as to see some extraordinary rarity of art or nature, allthough it were to my cost or damage; ffor, Sir, if I have not been in a dream these three or four yeares, and drunk with selfe conceit, the practises which I have used, both as surveyor and Commissioner, are such as I can glory in, that is to say, to have admeasured, as I told you, twenty-two countyes in thirteene moneths time, with the chaine and instrument; to have done this by the ministery of about one thousand
