Page:Life of Sir William Petty 1623 – 1687.djvu/196

the Chancellors of both Kingdoms against him. Upon the reading of these paragraphs, and having heard both Sir Whitehall and myself speake somewhat in explanation and excuse of the matter, he gave sentence as aforesaid: saying that he could easily pass over those reflections, which was in those words upon himselfe; but not what concerned a principal Minister in England—meaning (as we all think) the L^d Chancellor.—Now see my misfortune: that I who had lately received an account out of England, how my L^d Chancellor there publickly expressed himself to this purpose, viz.: That though he had granted an Injunction against mee with some fávour to the farmers, yet that he did not intend that by delays or other devises, the Justice of the Court should be discredited; and therefore bidd them to dispatch their cause by Easter—upon which I was greatly pleased, and my thought of my Lord Chancellors former severity was quite banish't away. I say that my misfortune was that when I was well reconciled to my Lord Chancellor's proceeding, I should be thought to throw dirt in his face, whilst I was endeavouring to wipe off what I conceived to have been thrown against him by others. Now the mistake I think my Lord Chancellor was in, was that he punishes me for telling him that some others abused him, without even questioning those whom I accused for so doing. There be two or three points more, which I lett pass, for I do not like to believe that persons in great place doe mistake so much as it seems to me they doe. In brief, I am now a prisoner for having scandalized the L^d Chancellor of England; whereas I verily believed I was doing the quite contrary, and at the time when his Lordship was as kind to me as I desired. All that I can accuse myself of, is that I took such a method as was not absolutely necessary; but which way I scarce had proceeded. It is an easy matter to say "An asses ears are horses," as mine are now esteemed. I presume you will hear this story with much flourish among mine enemies; but in these two above mentioned points does lie the Ratio formalis of my suffering.... Deare Cousin, I am sure you will have some sympathy with me in these troubles, and I am sorry for it. I am in the right, and my adversaries are in the wrong: at least