Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/195

 in their hands. However I am glad I have any fortunate friend, how much soever otherwise I am myself.'

The 'two Chanceries,' having once got Sir William into their clutches, showed no inclination to let go of him easily. He appears to have been partly indebted to his own want of caution for the trouble in which he found himself involved. 'This day,' he says, writing on February 10, 'about 11 o'clock, I and my Councile, one Mr Whitchett, were comitted Prissoners to a Serjt-at-Armes by the Lord Chancellor, upon a very great mistake, as I think. The matter was this, viz.:—I drew up materials for a Bill to be preferred in Chancery against the farmers; and, as I used always to do, I gathered up all matters and motions which might have any affinity or relations to my intentions, expecting that my Councile would have made such alterations in matters and form, as might answer the practise of the Court. Whereupon he made a few notes up and downe my paper, as if he had thoroughly passed over it. But when I myself came to review it, I found he had not corrected some nonsense and other defects, which I myself had left in it—insomuch as I went to him, myself showed him his oversight, and desired him that he would take a special care of it, for that, although my matter was short, I would have it soe tempered by him as to give noe offence, nor spoile my business; telling him that I had several times suffered (as you know I have done), by oblique advantages which my adversaries have taken, upon some faults in the forme and cirkumstances, when they could not do it directly upon the matter. But hee having much business, let pass those two following points, viz.: I complained among other abuses the farmers had done me, that they (as I believed) had instigated my Ld Chancellor of England to speak sharply to mee; and that they stood laughing, whilst the dreadful grinding of your orator to the nether Millstone was denounced. And the point was this, that the farmers had given out Thatthat? [sic] they would force your Orators plainest pretences at Common Law into Chancery; and that they had turned