THat your Petitioners taking into consideration the present confused state of the Adventurers satisfaction in Ireland ; and in order to remedy the same , have ( in pursuance of your Lordships Letter , bearing date the Seventh day of May , 1658. and of the several Acts and Ordinances of Parliament thereunto relating ) caused several things which were on their own parts to be done , to be forthwith put in hand ; and have also here collected such other things , as they humbly desire may be done by your Lordships : Both which , they humbly represent in the several particulars following , viz.

I. YOur Petitioners have made a compleat Book , to be signed by the Committee of Claims , and themselves , or their appointments respectively , containing the Debt of every Adventurer , whose Certificate for the same hath been stated unto this day , with the name of the Barony , wherein the same ought ( if it may be ) to be satisfied : As also the Order of Priority , wherein the said satisfaction ought to be made .

II . They have desired the Committee for Claims , to cause an Estimate to be made of such Debts , for which no Certificates have been yet issued , which ( as they probably conceive ) will be hereafter claimed and allowed .

III . In case no Land be put upon the Adventurers as part of their measure in satisfaction , but such as are profitable and forfeited , with all other Priviledges and Advantages according to the Acts and Ordinances of Parliament , then this Committee are of opinion , That the general Survey and Admeasurement last taken by your Lordships , under the oversight of your Surveyor-General and Dr. William Petty be submitted to , and not otherwise .

IV . They desire that such Books may be made as Dr. Petty hath shewed them Forms and Patterns of ( by him called Neat-Books ) containing the names of the Lands surveyed , as forfeited , with the number of the profitable and unprofitable Acres , both according to your Lordships Survey , and the private Survey taken by the Adventurers ( where the said Adventurers Survey can be had ; ) as also the names of the Lands subducted out of the same , either upon the accompt of Decrees for constant good affection , &c. Compositions , private Grants and Incumbrances of any kinde whatsoever , and consequently containing an accompt of what Lands are Neat and clearly disposeable for the Adventurers satisfaction ; together with an accompt of what Lands the Adventurers have assumed of themselves , and by their own particular Survey and Rules of Distribution in satisfaction of their respective Debts ; and withal , an accompt how the Lands now found , upon a more clear view disposeable , are to be distributed pursuant to the more perfect Rule of distribution hereafter to be framed , in pursuance of this present Declaration and Petition . And lastly , of the final distribution and settlement of all the said Lands , according to the former or future ways of distribution , according to such expedients of reconciliation and private Agreements , which may happen to cause alterations in either of the said Methods of disposal , desiring your Lordships to contribute whatsoever is necessary on your Lordships parts , as Maps , &c. towards the making and compleating these said Books and Accompts .

V. When the Debt and Credit of the Adventurers is ascertained in manner aforesaid , both in general , and also upon every particular Province , County , and Barony : And that thereupon an accompt is made , expressing what Baronies are deficient , and what have a surplus , they desire and propound , That in order to repair the one with the other impartially , and according to all or any Provisoes of the Act of Parliament in that behalf made ; That it may be distinctly determined by Lot , which Province , County , and Barony , shall succeed each other ; That thereupon two distinct Lists , the one of all the deficient Baronies , the other of all the Surplusage Baronies , may be drawn forth ; and that the Baronies contained in each , may be placed in such Order of Priority , as by the said Lot is or shall be determined . And it is further desired and propounded , That all the Baronies of the County of Lowth , except the Barony of Atherdee , be added to the aforesaid List of Redundant Baronies , each of them in such Order of Sequence , as by Lot shall be determined .

VI . It is humbly desired and propounded , That if any Surplusage shall appear upon the aforesaid List of Redundant Baronies ( the County of Lowth being so comprehended ) the same may be cut off upon the last Baronies of the said List : And that such general Surplusage may be withheld from disposure to the Army , for some reasonable time to be agreed upon ; wherein your Petitioners may make out what real damages they have received by Errors in your Lordships said Survey , which they have conditionally submitted unto as aforesaid , either as to the quantity , quality , or title of the Lands by them accepted , according to the said Survey ; to the end they may have due reparation for the same out of the reserved Surplusage-Lands , as to your Lordships shall seem just .

VII . The satisfaction of the Adventurers as to the whole , being thus regulated , It is further humbly proposed as followeth , viz.

1. They desire that the Deficient Baronies may be repaired out of the Redundant Baronies one after another , according to the Paralelism of the two above mentioned Lists of Deficient and Redundant Baronies , ( that is to say ) That the first Deficient Baronies may be repaired out of the first Redundant Baronies , and so downwards , until all the Deficient Baronies be compleatly satisfied out of so many of the first Redundant Baronies ( as they stand in the Order of the abovesaid List ) as shall suffice for the same .

2. Forasmuch as there hath been already made by the Committee of Adventurers , several Rules for distributing of Baronies , to the particular Allottees and Individual persons contained in them . Your Petitioners do humbly explain the cheif of the said Rules as followeth , viz.

Where it is said , That a Barony shall be divided into Quarters , it is to be understood , that all Lands , both profitable and unprofitable , forfeited and not forfeited , comprehended within the true Out-line of every such Barony , be divided into four equal parts ( as near as may be ) whether the same be done by Lines of different Positions ; as by the North and South Lines , and East and West Lines together , or by Parallel Lines and such as are of the same Position , whether they bear North and South , or East and West , or upon any other point onely .

And whereas the said Divisional Lines being intended to be straight , may probably cut many Denominations into two parts . Your Petitioners desiring that intire Denominations may be preserved as much as possible , do explain themselves , That they intend , that on which side soever of the aforesaid Quartering Line , the greatest part of any Denomination falleth , That the whole Denomination shall be reputed and deemed to lie intirely on that side of the said Quartering Line ; both which Explanations your Petitioners humbly desire may be applied to the matter of Subquartering where any such thing hath been agreed upon .

3. And to the third , there may be certain Rules , where such Rules are not already for passing from the first Denomination ( which soever the same be ) to the Second , Third , Fourth , Fifth , &c. Your Petitioners desire that the same may be for the future determined , and to that end they propound , That every Barony being duly quartered by Rule , or the mutual consent of the Major part of the Adventurers concerned therein as aforesaid , may be reduced ( as to the several Denominations comprehended therein ) into one continued File or String of Contiguity , so as may be certainly known from the first to the last disposable Denomination , or part of Denomination , in what Order of Priority each of them shall be disposed of . And this we desire may be done by three several Artists ( from whom the knowledge of the Lists of Priority of Lots contained in the Debt Books , may be carefully withheld ) and that they make their said Strings of Contiguity in the presence of some persons to be intrusted for that purpose ; and that when three such Strings are so made , that one of them be chosen by Lot , as the onely Rule to be observed in the matter of Succession .

4. They further propound , That the persons imployed in making the said Files of Contiguity , do determine by what Line every Town-Land shall be cut , in case there be occasion thereof , for making up a just number of Acres answering to each Lot or Debt .

Now although it be wisht , That the above-mentioned Rules of Distribution ( as being supposed perfect Rules ) had been followed in the Adventurers former receiving of Lands for satisfaction , yet hoping that the proceedings of many such Adventurers ( though made otherwise ) have not been either contrary to their own Rules , or injurious to their Fellow-Concernees . Your Petitioners humbly propound , That Distinctions may be made between such of the said former Distributions as are fit to be continued from such as are not ; in order whereunto , they offer that Distribution be made according to the above-mentioned supposed perfect Rule forthwith , by such Instruments as your Lordships shall think fit , together with a like number ( to be also approved by your Lordships ) such as shall be humbly recommended by your Petitioners . And that the said Distribution being so made , be forthwith sealed up and kept private until Examination be had of the aforesaid former proceedings of the Adventurers ; to which end it is humbly propounded ,

First , That a person or persons be appointed at London and at Dublin , both to receive from all such Adventurers , who are already possessed of Lands , for their satisfaction , an accompt of what Lands , by name , they are so possessed of , with an intimation of their desire to continue in the same , in case no injurious irregularity can be made appear to have been practised by them in acquiring the said satisfaction .

Secondly , Your Petitioners think fit publick notice being given in Churches , in Diurnals , and by all other convenient ways , both in England and Ireland , That such accompts or desires ought to be brought unto the persons which shall be nominated as aforesaid ; That such Adventurers as do not bring in the said accompts or desires within two moneths after the above-mentioned supposed perfect Rule is declared to be sealed up , shall not have any benefit of their said former received Lands or Possessions , not being according to the said Rule : And withal , that all Surveys made , at the charge of the Adventurers , which shall not be brought in and exhibited within the said two moneths time , either at London or Dublin , shall be declared null ; and that the Distributions made upon them , be consequently declared null and void likewise .

Thirdly , They humbly propound , That the person or persons to be appointed at London to receive the said Surveys , ( and the above-mentioned desires of particular Adventurers , to continue in their satisfactions formerly received ) do transmit the said Surveys and desires to the above-mentioned Committee at Dublin , consisting both of your Lordships Instruments , and of those other persons recommended by the Adventurers as aforesaid . To the end , that the reasonableness of the said desires , as also of such other desires as shall be exhibited at Dublin may be examined ; in order whereunto your Petitioners humbly propound ,

1. That the Distribution to all persons who are concerned in a Barony , whereof the Survey is not produced as aforesaid be null .

2. That although the Survey be produced , yet if the Barony-Plot ( whereby the Distribution of the said Barony hath been actually made ) hath not been according to the appearing Out-line of the same , divided into four parts , answerable to the four proportions or quarters of money respectively , which appear by the Book of Lots , to have been drawn upon them : But that there is contained in one or more of the Quarters above Fifteen per cent . more of less then there ought to be . Your Petitioners conceive that so gross a miscarriage in the Foundation of the Distribution , is a sufficient Reason why all the Distributions founded thereupon shall be declared null .

3. Where the States Survey maketh more disposable Acres in any Barony , then the private Survey exhibited by the Adventurers doth , ( whether the same happen by the Adventurers omitting of certain parcels taken in by the State , or by reason difference in distinguishing the quality , or through difference in admeasurements ( such difference in admeasurements not exceeding three per Centum , upon the profitable and forfeited Lands of the whole Barony ) It is thought fit to avoid that necessity of imposing small scraps of Land upon some deficient Adventurers ) That so much of the said Distribution be null , as is subsequent to the first irregularity ; and that the above-mentioned Distribution made by the supposed perfect Rule be adhered unto in lieu thereof : Provided , That those who are removed by vertue hereof , shall be allowed the value of their necessary improvements , as the same shall be set , by indifferent persons to be chosen for that purpose .

4. They humbly propound , that in all other Cases , the Distribution made by the Adventurers shall stand , unless in the particular Cases of Individual persons hereafter named , viz ;

I. Where a satisfaction consisting of several denominations , is in length , from one extremity thereof to the other , more then triple the breadth of the same , ( Provided that the Lines by which length and breadth are computed do cross one another at right Angles ) except where the said proportion or satisfaction , as to the quantity , could not be set out otherwise , then in such disproportionable figure . And except such distribution be acquiessed in by all , or the major part of the contiguous Allottees , which kinde of acquiessence your Petitioners account a General Exception to all paticular irregularities ; forasmuch as the same cannot be injurious , where all the major part of the persons concerned are contented , and do allow of the same .

II . When in proceeding from a point of beginning according to any Line of progression , the subsequent denomination is either not contiguous to some of the preceding , or not most according to the said Line of progression . As for Example , if the point of beginning or entrance , be in the Denomination A , and that the Line of progression be from North to South , and the Denomination taken next after A , be B , your Petitioners do understand , that if there be any other Denomination contiguous to A , whereof any part is more Northerly then any part of B , in such case the Denomination B is injuriously taken .

III . If ( to make up a Satisfaction for any Lot ) more then two Denominations ( by Denomination , being understood the disposable part of a Denomination ) be cut , we conceive the same to be injurious .

IV . If a Denomination be omitted by the first private Distribution , which is admitted by the supposed perfect List , all those Allottees , whose Proportions touch the same omitted parcel , shall be held guilty of that Omission ; and if but one Allottees Proportion touch the same , as aforesaid ; Then the said Allottee , by reason of the said Omission is removeable , but if there be more then one in such case , one of them is to be chosen by Lot , who by removal is alone to suffer for the whole , Except it can be made appear , that at the time of the said Distribution , some Claim was entered upon the Publick Book of the Civil Survey , or that some order of Suspention from the Councel be produced which might be a Reason and Excuse for the said Omission .

5. That all Possessions taken by Deficients of Surplusages in Lands , without Lots drawn for the special County , Barony , and Denomination , where such possessions are , or shall be , or without publication of the Allotments aforesaid , and freedom for all others in the like cases to the like Lots , be utterly void .

We further propound , that after the expiration of the two moneths appointed for bringing in the Surveys , and desires of continuing each man in his respective possession ; that another time to be appointed for those who shall make the said desires , to prove that the Possessions were allowed unto them in the former Distribution , and withal to answer such charges of injurious irregularities which may be made against the same .

Having thus framed a supposed perfect Rule of Distribution , as also Rules whereby to reject some of the former Distributions totally ; and withal , how to distinguish the designed and injurious irregularities committed within other Distributions ( although allowed of in general ) and having propounded the persons by whom , and the places where this whole affair is to be transacted in its several parts respectively . It is lastly propounded , That all omitted Cases not reducible to the above Proposals ; and that the interpretation of all Ambiguities upon the said Proposals themselves , be referred to the aforesaid Commissioners as such in whose determination your Petitioners are contented to acquiess .

Now although your Petitioners are not ignorant , that the right of making a Survey is in your Lordships ; and that the Act of Parliament gives your Lordships clear power to decide Controversies between Adventurer and Adventurer : Nevertheless your Petitioners humbly desire , That out of a tender regard to the confusions wherein they are involved , and to the several repugnant Interests , which are or may be among them ; that your Lordships would be pleased to exercise your said Authority ( so far as may be without prejudice to the Publick ) according to the above mentioned Advice , which by your Lordships favor and invitation , they have been imboldned in this manner to present .