A Short and True State of the Case, relating to the Election for the Burrow of Corffe Castle, in the Isle of Purbeck, and County of Dorset, which was on the 4th of August, 1698.  
William Culliford & Edward Clavell Esqs; stood against John Banks & Richard Fownes Esqs;  
Mr Culliford & Mr Banks Were Returned, and are the Sitting Members. Mr Clavell & Mr Fownes are the Petitioners.  
BY the Mayor's Poll (who as chief Magistrate is Judge of the Election) after the strictest Scrutiny imaginable, and a good deal of partiality showed by the Mayor in favour of Mr Banks and Mr Fownes, Mr Culliford had 85 Votes, Mr Banks 70 Votes; Mr Clavell (who Petitions against Mr Banks) 63 Votes, and Mr Fownes (who Petitions against Mr Culliford) but 52 Votes, whereupon the Mayor proclaimed Mr Culliford and Mr Banks duly Elected.  
Mr Fownes in his Petition allows the Majority to be on Mr Culliford's side upon the Poll; But says that Mr Culliford, by Treating, and several indirect Practices, at and before the Election, did procure several Votes to his prejudice; otherwise he had been Chosen and Returned; alleging he can prove the same.  
Mr Culliford denies the fact absolutely, and believes that no person, who has either Credit or Reputation in his Country, or can be trusted there for , will pretend to prove any such thing.  
Mr Clavell in his Petition against Mr Banks Insists to prove, that the Mayor did allow 5 persons to Vote for a Charity, contrary to all former useage, and against Law; and also 13 persons more, that pretended to have purchased several small Tenements of one Mr Dackombe, just before the Election; which, as is conceived, is expressly against the late Act of Parliament, for preventing the splitting and dividing of interest in Houses or Lands, in order to multiply Votes: for that the same was not known in the Burrow above a week before the Election, and the Leases were dated all of one day, and some of the persons that bought the said Tenements never had seen them, or took possession of the same, until the day of Election. Which said 5 trusties, and 13 new made Votes, voted all for Mr Banks and Mr Fownes. Which, if set aside, than the Poll will stand, for Mr Culliford 85, for Mr Clavell 63, for Mr Banks 52, and for Mr Fownes but 34 Votes.   

Mr Cullifords CASE