Right worshipful the High Sheriffs and Justices of the Peace, for the County of Cornwall, met and assembled at Truro in the said County, the 27th. of December, 1659.  
The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Gentlemen, Ministers, and Free-holders of the said County, on the behalf of themselves and the whole County.  
Sheweth,  
THat the Liberties, freedoms and privileges of the people of England, having been long since owned and challenged by the people in Parliament, and in Parliament allowed,& confirmed by the late King,& the preservation thereof having been constantly declared to be the chief end of their Trust, who have succeeded the said King in the Government of these Nations. We could not but think ourselves sufficiently( on all hands) secured of our Liberties,& so( slighting those who would persuade us to a contrary belief) have peaceably, and too securely, sat down under our own ruins, not suspecting the loss of that which seemed with so much zeal contended for, and with such care continued, and confirmed to us.  
In which security we should still have restend, had it not pleased him that never sleeperh to awake us, and by our own suffering to inform us that we are not safe, but that our dangers require that we should exclaim with the Prophet jeremiah the 8. and the 11. That they have healed the Daughter of my people with sweet words, saying Peace, Peace, when there is no Peace.  
Wherefore knowing it to be the duty of every Free-man to stand sentinel over his privileges, and at all times to call in aid his fellow Free-man to disappoint such as shall offer an invasion upon their Right.  
We, in discharge of that duty, cry unto you, you being such as have a double call, as blessed with double talents, and made strong for the help of the weak: unto you we humbly remonstrate and complain with the same Prophet, Lament. the 4. and the 8.  
That our servants have ruled over us, and none will deliver us out of their hands. For certain disorderly persons embodied, taking advantage of the present distractions of the Nation, contrary to our ancient and undoubted rights and previledges, have of late entred the houses, taken away and despoiled the goods, frighted the wives, threatened and abused the persons of many of us, to the terror of us all.  
And to our greater astonishment such boldness h●●e th●● 〈…〉 ●●ly promise themselves impunity, but also brag that our innocence and Laws( the only weapons that are left us) are too weak to withstand their wills in defence of what we as yet possess.  
And to take from us and our posterity all hopes of ever regaining our rights, they openly declare against our having any more Parliaments, the only expedient for asserting our freedoms, they contemn the Law, the only means of gaining redress for our wrongs, and not content only to deprive us of our temporal well-being, they despise and threaten to destroy the Ministers who are our spiritual shepherds, and whose study is disposed to inform and reclaim such whose weaknesses may be apt to be deceived by the seditious.  
So that they being both resolute in their practise, and desperate in their principles, that a stop may be put to persons and actions so destructive to our Religion, freedoms and Liberties we humbly pray  
That you would now improve your endeavours to have our Liberties asserted by a Free Parliament, and in the mean time during this interval of Government while it is with us, as it was once with Israel, judge. 17.6. that you the heads of our Tribes, and fathers of our Country for our just Liberties, would recall your ancient spirits, and take such care in settling of this our County for the defence of our rights against the Outrages of such Lawless persons, as that the Prophesies of our Enemies may not be fulfilled to the reproach of such as have Credited our public Declarations and protestations.  
And besides our Prayers you shall receive from us such services as good Patriots, may justly challenge from their obliged countrymen.  
 
This Petition and Remonstrance was presented by a very great number of Gentlemen, Ministers, and Free-holders, to about fifty of the most eminent persons of the County assembled as abovesaid, who having heard the same red, ordered a worthy person of their number to return this answer to the Petitioners.  
That they had fully considered of the Petition, and were very sensible of the sad truths therein contained, thanked them for their good affecton to their country, and to Parliamentary Authority, and further, that by the blessing of God they would join with them with heart and hand for the accomplishing the matters and things therein mentioned and desired.