TO
THE
HONOVRABLE
HOVSE
OF
COMMONS
Now
Assembled
in
Parliament
.
The
humble
Petition
of
the
Knights
,
Gentlemen
,
Ministers
,
Freeholders
,
and
other
Inhabitants
of
the
County
of
Dorset
.
Sheweth
,
THat
notwithstanding
the
indefatigable
pains
of
this
Honourable
House
,
for
the
redresse
of
all
the
Grievances
of
this
Kingdom
(
which
your
Petitioners
do
with
all
humble
and
possible
thankfulnesse
acknowledge
)
they
do
to
their
grief
observe
by
your
late
Remonstrance
,
that
by
reason
of
the
obstructions
of
your
proceedings
in
the
House
of
Peers
by
the
Popish
Lords
and
Prelates
,
your
godly
endeavours
want
their
desired
effect
:
Distractions
and
fears
encrease
amongst
us
more
and
more
;
the
Kingdom
is
not
yet
put
into
such
a
Posture
of
defence
,
as
these
dangerous
times
require
;
the
Rebels
in
Ireland
prevail
to
the
extream
hazard
of
that
Kingdom
,
for
want
of
speedy
supplyes
;
the
very
Priviledges
of
Parliament
(
our
dear
and
undoubted
right
)
have
been
very
much
impeached
.
And
besides
these
common
evills
,
your
Petitioners
conceive
themselves
above
others
in
other
Counties
,
in
speciall
,
endangered
.
First
,
By
fear
of
forraign
invasion
,
which
we
ground
upon
continuall
rumours
,
tending
to
that
purpose
,
and
upon
the
situation
of
this
County
in
a
sort
inviting
,
it
being
Champion
,
and
bordering
on
the
Sea
.
Secondly
,
By
the
now
more
then
usuall
flocking
together
,
and
posting
up
and
down
of
Papists
,
especially
by
night
,
together
with
their
contemptuous
and
insolent
carriage
.
Thirdly
,
By
the
dangerous
consequences
that
may
result
from
the
present
decay
of
the
Trade
of
Clothing
(
the
main
support
of
the
poor
of
these
Parts
.
)
And
lastly
,
After
all
these
imminent
dangers
,
by
being
lest
almost
wholly
destitute
of
means
to
prevent
them
;
for
since
the
late
removall
of
the
last
Lievtenant
,
we
have
no
Captains
appointed
over
our
Trained
Bands
to
draw
them
together
upon
occasion
,
or
to
discipline
them
in
the
mean
time
.
All
these
weighty
considerations
enforce
us
to
make
our
instant
addresse
to
this
honourable
House
,
humbly
craving
the
continuance
of
your
uttermost
endeavours
for
the
removall
of
that
obstructive
party
from
the
House
of
Peers
;
and
that
our
poor
distressed
brethren
in
Ireland
may
be
forthwith
assisted
,
and
the
whole
Kingdom
(
especially
this
County
speedily
put
into
a
Posture
of
defence
,
by
setting
fit
and
able
Captains
over
the
Trained
Bands
,
and
furnishing
them
with
lawfull
power
to
exercise
and
train
their
Companies
;
As
also
by
appointing
the
leavying
of
more
Arms
in
supply
of
those
many
that
were
carried
away
and
lost
in
the
Northern
expedition
.
Which
shall
engage
and
enable
your
humble
Petitioners
(
as
our
Duty
and
your
Deserts
obliege
us
)
for
the
defence
of
His
Majesties
Royall
Person
and
Dignity
,
and
the
Persons
and
Priviledges
of
this
great
Councell
of
Parliament
,
with
our
dearest
lives
and
estates
.
And
move
us
to
pray
,
&c.