Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/101

 an answer, and the dissentient officers again replied, when suddenly at this point the controversy was transferred by the action of Sir Hierome himself from Dublin to Westminster.

On January 27, 1659, the Parliament summoned by Richard Cromwell had met, and Ireland sent members to it. It had been the object of the late Protector to rally to himself the greatest possible number of members of the conservative classes of society, but as the majority of these were Royalists or Presbyterians, the choice was limited. Following the same line of policy, Thurloe now determined to try to strengthen their forces by the election 'of five or six good argumentative speakers.' Amongst others the name of Dr. Petty recommended itself to the managers, with those of Mr. William Temple, Mr. W. Domville, of Lincoln's Inn, Vincent Gookin, Sir A. Morgan, and Admiral Penn. Dr. Petty was accordingly returned as member for West Looe in Cornwall, and also for Kinsale. Vincent Gookin was returned for Youghal.

The following letter from Vincent Gookin to the Lord Deputy contains an interesting account of the humours of an Irish Election in 1659: —

'May it please your Excellency. Having your Excellencyes free leave to attend this Parliament, or chuse another in my place, I pitcht upon Doctor Petty upon these grounds. 1st, hee is a person of excellent parts. 2ly, noe person I thinke in the 2 nations can doe more to the settlement of the army and adventurers than hee. 3ly, the good the army will certainly receive by his management of their affayres in the House, will convince them that they canot harme him without injuring themselves, and possibly that they doe ill if they love him not. 4thly, hee is (I humbly conceive) fit for such worke, and will goe through with it, which is too hard for such as I am and many others noe wiser than myselfe, to