Page:Petty 1851 The Down Survey.djvu/242

 commissioners received their new commission of the 7th of July, whereof the Dr himselfe was one, there was given the officers then assembled in a great number such a scheme of assignements for the six grand divisions, with such an accompt of the quota, the dubiouse lands, the reservations for other uses, &c., as gave them such satisfaction as it hath proved the ground of whatsoever hath since been done, and composed the clashings then in being.

There was in this latter commission, besides the Doctor, Mr Vincent Gookin and Major Miles Symner, persons of knowne integrity and judgement; the first whereoff, within a moneth after the commission, and before one foot of land was actually sett forth, went into England, to attend his duty in the afforementioned Parliament, which was to begin the 17th of September following; and Major Symner, a person ever generally beloved, and especially in this very army, foreseeing the danger of incurring as much the armyes causeless hatred as he had before enjoyed their well merited good affections, and being distracted with the frequency and vehemence of applications, could not with that pleasure attend the clamorouse part of this business, as his publicke spiritt otherwise disposed him unto. Soe that the daily directing of neer fourty clerks and calculators, cutting out worke for all them, and giving answers as well to impertinent as pertinent questions, did lye cheifly uppon the Doctor; and the more he did the more he was imployed; and withall, the better he gave men satisfaction at first, the more and more unreasonably it was requested at the latter end; which continuall disquiett might (even in Solomons judgement) be the reason why some thought him more short and satiricall in this replies then his former and naturall temper had before represented him to the world.

When it came to pass that he was reputed the author of whatever displeased any man, in soe much as, if men had not what they would have, and did call to remembrance any injuriouse exspressions they ever had uttered concerning him, they presently apprehended that the disappointments they were under were nothing but the secret revenges of some evill they had perhapps long since done him. Att length, when it became customary to reproach, noe man tooke much care what he said of him; and the wiser men, in being convinced how causelesly he suffered, would none of them venture to bee joined in this commission; soe as Major Symner and the Dr were forced to carry alone a burthen not usually imposed, unless a treble strength, nor borne without a greater countenance then themselves could give it.