Proceedings between Sankey and Petty (1659)

The Proceedings between Sankey and Petty is a pamphlet that contains a summary of the controversy that arose between Sir Hierom Sankey and Sir William Petty in the aftermath of the Down Survey. Sankey accused Petty of bribery and fraud. One of the ways in which Petty answered to this accusations was by this pamphlet, that was published in print by Petty in 1659 and covers a total of ten pages. In 1650 William Petty, who was educated in France and in the Netherlands, became doctor of medicine, professor of anatomy, fellow and vice-chancellor of Brasenose College, Oxford. In 1652 he went to Ireland to assist Oliver Cromwell in his conquest as a physician-general. In 1655 he carried out a large survey of Ireland, the Down Survey and subsequently acquired much land himself. This made him vulnerable for accusations of corruption. Jerome Sankey, who fought in Cromwell's army in Ireland between 1650 and 1652, had become a Member of Parliament and was knighted by Richard Cromwell in 1659. He was one of the persons that accused Petty of bribery and fraud. Bibliographical information