WEE the surviving Inhabitants of the much despised and di­stressed County of Dorset, having like the rest of the Kingdome, long groaned un­der the oppressing tyranny of those whom We deputed for our redeemers. And being for­merly too impatient, sought wayes of redresse, but proved unsuccessefull. Nor could We now imagine any hopes of a Iubile; did We not see out fellow Counties (who have former­ly been too insensible of Our misery and their Own dangers) throwing down their Issakers burthen and unanimously lending their hands to wrest Our Sove­raign from the jawes of Rebellion and Treason; and vindicating Our gasping lawes and liberties, from the unrelenting tyranny of those that would bury Both in the Golgoth [...] of their lawlesse wills.

And though distance and remotenesse hinders us from performing the Ceremony of a Petition, to tra­vell so far for a few dissembled thanks from a Member of the house, of the ayery promises of (shall be.) Yet we think fit to certifie our fel [...]ow Subjects of our un­doubted readinesse, with life and estates to second the Loyall endeavours of any that labour for the restitu­tion of Protestancy, there instatement of his Roy [...]ll Majesty unto his primitive splendor and greatnesse; and the establishing an inviolable and well grounded Peace in all his Majesties Dominions.

'Tis not to be expected that We sholud travell so [...]r with a formall petition in our hands to see the two Houses, or to take Paines to be scoffed at, or slighted, or cudgeld back. For experience hath taught us, that we have been fools too long to worship & deify those that are but our Trustees and Deputies, by petitio­ning them for that which they know is our own, and those insulters take pride either to delay or deny. See­ing therefore we perceive by your fruitlesse examples; that t [...]ey are inexorable, and will do nothing for us, we thought fit to declare to the wo [...]ld what we m [...]an to doe for our selves, and the Kingdom.

1. Therefore, we demand a speedy retroduction of our imprisoned King, to sit personally in the house of Peers, that the su [...]ream Court of the Kingdome may not be any longer a Ludibruco to the people, and be called a Master without a head.

[Page 3] 2 That the government of the Church may [...]e first setled by the advise of a new assembly of Protestant Divines to be indifferently chosen▪ by the Clergy of each County or Diocesse, and thi [...] Synod, that [...]ave sate so long to so little purpose, unlesse to [...]ct the wils of those that pa [...]k'd them, may be sent home to their Lectures. and the 4. sh. pe [...] d [...]em, conferred on those that have more need on't, and better deserve it.

3. That the Common birth right of us all, the Lawes may be restored to their former purity, and that we may enjoy them without the corrup Gloss [...]s and Comments of their Arbitr [...]ry Po [...]er, or the unequal Ordinances and practises between them and their Committees.

4 T [...]at our Liberties (the purchase of our auncestors blood) may be redeemed [...]ro [...] [...]l former infrin [...]e­m [...]nts, and preserved [...]encefor [...]h inviol [...]ble, and t [...]t our ancient liberties may not lie at the mercy of those that have none, not be enlarged and re [...]ealed by the votes and revotes of those that have taken too much liberty to destroy the Subjects.

[Page 4] 5 That we may have a speedie and just accompt of all our moneyes, and estates cheated or wrested from us; by loanes, contributions, taxes, fines, excise, or plun­der, and that the estates of Committees, Sequestrators and all State officers, (being lately purchased and rai­sed out of the ruines of honest and loyal subjects) may be resequestred, and be made lyable to give us and the kingdom satisfaction.

6 That Our Knights and Burgesses may be recalled, as having broken their trust reposed by Vs, in them, and that we may have free power and liberty to make a new choyce of such Patriots, as We shall have just cause to repose things of such moment, as Our lives and fortunes, and the power of making the Kingdom happy, or miserable, into their hands.

7 That wee may no longer subjugate our necks to the boundlesse lusts, and unlimited power of beggerly and broken Committees, consisting generally of the taile of gentry, men of ruinous fortunes, and despicable e­states, whose insatiate desires, hungry with their fre­quent wants, prompts them to continuall projects of pilling and stripping us, to repayre themselves. Nor be awed by their Emissaries; who are generally the most sherking, and cunning beggers that can be picked out of a County.

8 That instead thereof we may be governed in Milita­ry affaires, and Civill, by men of visible estates, and of [Page 5]unquestioned repute, welbeloved by us; such whose degree and condition may make them assume places of authority and trust, out of noblenesse of mind and love to their Countrey, and not to reedifie their de­lapidated fortunes.

9 That the late imperious Governour of Lyme and o­ther of his office, & broken condition, may be no more sheltred under the wings of a member-ship to glory in the innocent blood of well-meaning Countrey-men he hath so unjustly spilt; nor live upon the estates which they have thievishly taken from the right owners, but that they may be exposed to the equall [...]ust [...]ce of the known Lawes, that we may freely right our selves, and each of us fetch back a stoln feather.

10 And lastly, that all those among us who have been sequestred, imprisoned, plundred, or fined, or any way abused, and stripped of our estates, for our alleageance and loyall adherence to his Majesty, may be restored to our estates, without any more compositions, and may have leave to take any legall course for due repa­ration.

These are our joynt desires which we would have moulded into a Petition, but that we hear of the suc­cesse, unnaturall usage of our fellow Subjects on the like occasion; of which the King cannot in duty but be sensible. This made us turn our petitionary resolves into resolute demands and propositions of which we expect satisfactory grants, and do hereby declare, that [Page 6]as heretofore on lesse encouragement, we engaged our lives, liberties, and estates, on the same grounds, un­der the slighted and unprosperous notion of club-men. Notwithstanding our sufferings therefore, out ends are still the same, and our endeavours shall bee now vigorous and active, and we doubt not (by Gods and your assistance) more prosperous and successefull.