Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/105

 was; such news has not been of a long time: a high breach of trust. It is against a great person—the charge consists of several articles: (1) bribery; (2) imposing money and lands. He is both cook, caterer, and is Commissioner and Surveyor; has had the disposing of two million acres of lands. He is a man of great parts, and has greatly wronged them. His name is Dr. Petty.' He then proceeded to develop his charges.

A debate ensued, in the course of which the good service the Doctor had rendered to the State, and the vexatious proceedings to which he had already been exposed in Ireland, without any malpractices having been proved against him, were urged on his behalf by Sir A. Morgan and Mr. Annesley. Finally it was ordered, 'that William Petty, Doctor of Physic, a member of this House, be appointed to attend this House, on this day month, to answer the charge.'

On March 26 accordingly, Dr. Petty received a summons 'to attend the House' on April 21, together with a copy of certain articles brought into the House against him.' They were seven in number, and in substance contained a repetition of those against which he had been defending himself in Dublin, to which was added a mass of vague charges of dishonesty and corruption. The last article contained the sting of the whole matter: 'That he, the said Doctor, together with his fellow Commissioners, have totally disposed of the remaining part of the Army's security contrary to law, the debt still remaining, and chargeable on the State.'

Henry Cromwell watched the proceedings from Ireland with the deepest interest. 'On Friday,' Dr. Thomas Clarges wrote to him, 'Sir Hierome Sankey brought a charge into the House, of bribery and breach of trust against Dr. Petty, to which he set his hand; and, amongst other expressions, he told us he knew so well the danger of bringing a charge o that nature against a member of Parliament, that he would not have done it, but in confidence to make it good. Many of the Long Robe were against the receiving of it till it should