( 82 )
3dly. Tis offered to consideration, whether the cause of these clamoures were not partly envy of better lotts, partly that some of the same mans lott was worth but twelve pence a year, whereas the body of his whole lott was worth six shillings, whereby he was apt to call that worser sort unprofitable, whereas other men rejoiced to have any, even the best of their land, yeilding twelve pence per acre, vizt, as much as the worst of his whome wee supposed to complaine; or whether these complaints did not proceed from hopes, by rejecting one hundred acres of course land as unprofitable, to obtaine at least a possibility of one hundred acres of very rich land for itt, not being contented with one hundred acres of noe better land then should in the judgement of other surveyors bee esteemed barely profitable.
4thly. But as the Dr did not distinguish the lands in his owne person, but by his deputies, soe did he never give any private directions or encouragement to them for being unjust, or even severe, in this particular; nor did he ever alter any returne made and offered him by his said deputies and instruments, or suffer the same to be done.
5thly. Were not his instructions published in print, viewed by the councill, and exsposed to the sight, censure, and exception of all the world, before ever chaine was layd uppon any land by the Doctors appointment?
6thly. Suppose the surveyors imployed had been as ignorant as, for the answering of certaine of crooked ends, they were represented, was there more danger that they should mistake wett meadow for bogg, then, on the contrary, bog for marshy pasture; or were they soe drunke, as sometimes allsoe hath been alledged, that they could not see the afforesaid distinction, and yet had not only their eyes, but as much of their other sences, reason, and art too, as served them to give a sufficient accompt of the quality, ffigure, and scituation of the land they admeasured? Or, if they were to be corrupted, who was most likely to corrupt them? The Lord Deputy and Councill, who minded them not, or the souldiers, who, knowing neer the places of their respective lots, were many of them knowne to be too busy where and when the surveyors were at worke. Moreover, allthough every foot of the unprofitable should have been returned for profitable, yet the State was sure never to have saved an acre by such severity, there being by the Act of Satisfaction more debt charged on the lands of Ireland then halfe as much more will pay.
Why am I blamed if there were any miscarriage therein, and not those who
