Whenever I had the Honour of speaking to the King, whether at White-Hall, Hampton-Court, or Kensington, I still mentioned the Charter, and always found that the King (although he judged it would be for the Advantage of New-England, to have a Covernor Commissioned by his Majesty, yet that he) was graciously inclined to Restore Charter-Privileges unto his Subjects in that Territory. Once, at Hampton-Court, his Majesty was pleased to bid me rest assured, that it should be so, if it were in his Power to cause it to be done. I advised with many wise Men about this momentous Affair, whose Judgment was, That the best, and most effectual Course would be, to endeavour a Reversion of the Judgment against the Charter of the Massachusetts, by an Act of Parliament; and after that, to Petition the King for such additional Privileges as should be thought needful. I prayed Sir Henry Ashurst, whom I knew to be a worthy Member of the Convention (as well as of this present) Parliament, to concern himself for the good People in that Country: Which he did without much entreaty, being of himself forward to do Good: Nor is it possible for New-England ever duly to Recompense him for his sincere Intentions, and assiduous Endeavours to serve them. We both of us spake to many of the principal leading Men in that Parliament: The Issue of which, was, The Commons of England Voted the Taking away the Charters belonging to New-England (as of those in England) to be Illegal, and a Grievance, and that they ought to be Restored. A Bill was drawn up accordingly, which Passed the House of Commons, and was sent to the House of Lords for their Concurrence, on January the Tenth, 1689. A great Interest, in behalf of New-England, had been made amongst the Lords; but that Parliament being unexpectedly Prorogued and Dissolved, a whole Year's Sisyphean Labour came to nothing.
Whenever I had the Honour of speaking to the King, whether at White-Hall, Hampton-Court, or Kensington, I still mention'd the Charter, and always found that the King (although he judged it would be for the Advantage of New-England, to have a Covernor Commission'd by his Majesty, yet that he) was graciously inclin'd to Restore Charter-Priviledges unto his Subjects in that Territory. Once, at Hampton-Court, his Majesty was pleased to bid me rest assured, that it should be so, if it were in his Power to cause it to be done. I advised with many wise Men about this momentous Affair, whose Judgment was, That the best, and most effectual Course would be, to endeavour a Reversion of the Judgment against the Charter of the Massachusets, by an Act of Parliament; and after that, to Petition the King for such additional Priviledges as should be thought needful. I prayed Sir Henry Ashurst, whom I knew to be a worthy Member of the Convention (as well as of this present) Parliament, to concern himself for the good People in that Countrey: Which he did without much intreaty, being of himself forward to do Good: Nor is it possible for New-England ever duely to Recompense him for his sincere Intentions, and assiduous Endeavours to serve them. We both of us spake to many of the principal leading Men in that Parliament: The Issue of which, was, The Commons of England Voted the Taking away the Charters belonging to New-England (as of those in England) to be Illegal, and a Grievance, and that they ought to be Restored. A Bill was drawn up accordingly, which Passed the House of Commons, and was sent to the House of Lords for their Concurrence, on January the Tenth, 1689. A great Interest, in behalf of New-England, had been made amongst the Lords; but that Parliment being unexpectedly Prorogu'd and Dissolv'd, a whole Year's Sisyphean Labour came to nothing.
