Page:Petty 1851 The Down Survey.djvu/243

 As for the Dr himselfe, he became to bee esteemed the, or evill angell of the nation; and allthough God enabled him to cleare himselfe before the Councill and all other authorityes, as allsoe to any other particular persons who was but curiouse enough to understand the reason of his actings, yet all he did it was still said to bee but delusion, and casting a mist before the eyes of men he dealt with. Yea, though it was his vanity to carry all things with justice and impartially, yet the contrary was still imputed unto him, even allthough his greatest adversaries could never procure him a checque from his superiours, nor could hinder his masters, who had seen him faithfull in small matters, to sett him over greater, nor to entrust him with the adventurers and disbanded mens survey, even allthough he had been excessively railed att for what he had immediately done before of that nature, inserting him allsoe in all comissions relating to distribution of lands. Nor did the then Lord Leiftenant (then whome noe man knew him better) frighted for owning him for his secretary, as to his bussiness of nearest concernement. Nor was the Councill soe convinced of his unworthinesse as to refuse his service as clerke to their table; ffor these two honors did God add unto him, even when the cry of his adversaryes was loudest, the which, as he did not seeke as shelters to his crimes, soe he did not too broadly appeare in them, to avoyd the ostentation which usually springs from such advancements. The access of this new and more honourable trusts did but quench his fires with oyle, and provoked his ambitiouse adversaryes to thinke of hewing downe the tree uppon a twig whereoff he stood, so as by multiplying their surmises and clamoures, hee became the Robin Goodfellow and Oberon of the countrey; for, as heretofore domestique servants in the countrey did sett on foot the opinion of Robin Goodfellow and the ffairies, that when themselves had stolen junketts, they might accuse Robin Goodfellow for itt; and when themselves had been revelling at unseasonable houres of the night, they might say the fairies danced; and when, by wrapping themselves in white sheetes, they might goe any whither without opposition, uppon the accompt of being ghosts and walking spiritts; in the same manner severall of the agents of the army, when they could not give a good accompt to those that entrusted them, to say Dr Petty was the cause of the miscarriage was a ready and credible excuse. If the agent would goe from his countrey quarters to Dublin on free cost, the souldiers must contribute towards it, uppon the accompt of getting justice from Dr Petty. If the poor souldiers would have their lands sett out Rh