Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/80

 rates as between the different counties in each province had been agreed upon by the Committee of Officers before casting the lot, which decided to which county each regiment was to be assigned. But it soon was noticed that lands varied just as much in value in the baronies and in the smaller denominations as in the counties, and fresh complaints arose. After much discussion the system of equalisation was extended to the baronies, and the plan on which the lands of the army were distributed was ultimately arranged as follows. The regiments in each province having settled in which county and barony each was to be located, the forfeited lands were then arranged on a string or list, barony by barony; and finally, a lot or ticket was made for every troop or company, with the arrears marked on it which were due in each case, and the total number of acres they represented subject to the equalisation, with the names of the several officers and soldiers. A species of ballot, or 'boxing,' as it was called then, determined in what barony the lot fell for each troop or company; and finally, the lot of each officer and soldier in the smaller civil denominations and the order in which they ranked. The equalisations made by the officers, notwithstanding their attempt at redressing the most glaring inequalities, were at best of a very rough and ready description. 'They were made,' Dr. Petty afterwards wrote, 'as parties interested could prevail upon and against one another by their attendance, friends, eloquence, and vehemence: for what other foundation of truth it had in nature I know not.' The army had indeed signed a paper in which they all declared 'that they had rather take a lott upon a barren mountaine as a portion from the Lord, than a portion in the most fruitful valley, upon their own choice;' but when Providence gave 'a lott upon a barren mountaine,' then too often the contrast with the more fortunate possessor who had obtained 'a portion in a most fruitful valley' became more than the minds of even the elect could endure. 'The principal care,' says Dr. Petty, 'was to avoid the County of Kerry because of its reputed poverty;' and resort was had to every kind of device to obstruct the ways of