Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/106

 have been digested into particulars, for the charge was general; but at last it was resolved he should be summoned to attend the House that day month; and I believe Sir Hierome finds the sense of the House so much inclined to particularizing his charges, that he is gone to Ireland, to enable him to do it; and yesterday he began his journey.... The speech Sir Hierome made before he declared his charge made the business seem very great; but when the thing itself was read, it made but little impression. Mr. Annesly told us the Doctor had been used to things of this nature, but never yet upon any examination could anything be fastened upon him, and he doubted not but he would acquit himself of this.'

Henry Cromwell, whom Dr. Petty describes as 'passionately affected with the hardships used towards him,' expressed his views on the subject to Secretary Thurloe by letter. 'I have heretofore told you,' he wrote, 'my thoughts of Dr. Petty, and I am still of the same opinion; and if Sir Hierome Sankey run him not down with number and noise of adventurers and such like concerned persons, I believe the Parliament will find him as I have represented him. He has curiously deluded me these four years, if he be a knave. I am sure the junto of them, who are most busie, are not men of the quietest temper. I doe not expect you will have leisure or see cause to appeare much for him. Wherefore this is only to let you understand my present thoughts of him. The activenesse of Robert Reynolds, and others, in this businesse, shows that Petty is not the only marke aimed at; but God's will be done in all things.'

On the day appointed, Thursday, April 21, Dr. Petty appeared in his place and Sir Hierome attempted to make good his charges. The rashness with which in the first instance they had been advanced, was evident from the prosecutor being now obliged to drop the most important of the original set of articles he had exhibited, six in number, and also three of the seven instances of misdoing which he