Parentator. Memoirs of remarkables in the life and the death of the ever-memorable Dr.…

But that if they Declared, they would not Submit unto the Kings Pleasure, His Majesty would settle the Country as He Pleased, and They were ⟨p. 135⟩to take what follow. However, Mr. Mather drew up Reasons against the Minutes Proposed; and particularly urged, That Charter-Privileges might with as much (if not more) of Justice, be withheld from the Corporations in England, which were never legally Restored, as from New England: with several other Arguments. These Reasons he Delivered in Writing to the Kings Attorney-General, who Presented them unto the Lords at the Council-Board; and he also caused a Copy of them to be sent unto the King in Flanders; Procuring some Great Persons at the same time, to solicit by Letters, the Ministers of State with the King, that they would use their Interest with His Majesty, to prevent any thing that might be, grievous to His Good Subjects in New-England. Some thought, that if the King were in England, there might be more likelihood of Stopping the Disagreeable and Undesirable Minutes; and the Queen was therefore Prevailed withal, to Write unto the King, requesting him, That He would Graciously Command, that the Charter should pass as the Attorney-General had prepared it, or else that it should be deferred until His Majesties coming over. Mr. Mather taking it for granted, That he might get some Leisure to recover his Health, which had been greatly Impaired, by his Neglect both of Rest and Food in his close Attendance to the Service of his Country, made a short Recess unto the Waters. But he was quickly surprised, with Notice, That the King had signified His Approbation of the Minutes, and His Royal Pleasure ⟨p. 136⟩that the Charter should be accordingly forthwith proceeded in. His Majesties Principal Secretary of State showed Mr. Mather the Letter, wherein the King also Declared, That he did by no means Approve of the Objections, which had been offered. When there could no more Good be done, what remained was to stave off Harm as far as might be; and in Pursuance of This, he Presented a Petition, That no Property belonging to the Colony, or to any therein, might by the New Charter be taken from them, nor any Privileges which they had a Right to; That the Province of Main might be confirmed, and Nova Scotia added unto the Massachusetts: (Both of which were obtained against much Opposition:) And, That Hampshire might be under that Government: