THE CASE OF THE burrow OF Dunwich in Suffolk, Upon their Election of Members to serve in the Convention Appointed to meet the 22d. of January 1689.  
THIS burrow chooseth by Prescription, and not by Charter, and had Bailiffs before they were a Corporation.  
Their first Charter was granted by King John, which hath been renewed in divers Kings Reigns; Whereby The Good Men of Dunwich are made a Corporation, and have divers Franchises and privileges granted unto them; as to be quit of Toll, Portage, &c. but no mention is made in any of them of Elections to Parliament.  
About 25 years since the Magistrates began to make profit by Selling Freedoms of the Corporation, and the Benefit of their privileges, granting the same by dead, under the Seal of the Corporation, to divers Cole-traders and other persons living in Ipswich, Yarmouth, Norwich, and other temoter places, who upon showing the Common Seal have had Allowances made them accordingly, and in some late Elections have been admitted to Vote; being above Four hundred in number.  
Upon Notice given of the Election upon the princes Letter, about Three hundred of these, being above thrice as many as the Inhabitants, came to the Election and claimed a Poll, which was not denied them.  
The Opinions of the most Eminent and Indifferent Council hath been taken, concerning the Right of these Foreign Freemen, to Vote in Elections; who say, 

I. That the Right of Choosing is as anciently it was, in the Inhabitants, only, and that the Charters of Incorporation have no Influence upon it.  
II. That the Charters being granted to the Men of Dunwich, without a Power expressed, To make Foreigners free; such Freedoms granted to Foreigners, are as to the Corporation itself, an abuse, and voided.  
III. That it is not in the Power of the Magistrates to enlarge the Number of Electors, by constituting Foreign Freemen, as many and whom they please.    
However they thought fit to make the following Return, Viz.  
CHosen, according to the most ancient Custom, by the Majority of the Free Burgesses inhabiting within this burrow, the Honourable Roger North and Sir Thomas Allen, to be Representatives, &c.  
And also Chosen by a lesser number of Burgesses, residing within the burrow, and by the mayor part of the Freemen of the Corporation, who live out of the burrow, Sir Philip Skippon and Sir Robert Rich, to be likewise Representatives, &c.  
The said Return is under the Common Seal, according to Custom, and it is humbly hoped, that the said Mr. North and Sir Thomas Allen, in right of all the Inhabitants of the said burrow, may be admitted to Sit and Act in the said Convention, according to the Trust reposed in them, they being first name:  
The rather, Because, unless the Persons chosen by the Inhabitants, be allowed to Sit, it may be pretended that the said burrow, will have no Representatives, in this Convention.