gationalists," as the Church of Holland, of which King
William as Prince of Orange was Stadtholder, was "Presbyterian." But Dr.
Mather did not inform the King that the Presbyterian worship was no more
tolerated in Massachusetts than was the Baptist or Episcopalian
worship.]

[Footnote 207: "The Rev. Mr. Increase Mather, Rector of Harvard College,
had been at Court in the year 1688, and laid before the King a
representation of their grievances, which the King promised in part to
redress, but was prevented by the revolution. When the Prince and
Princess of Orange were settled on the throne, he, with the rest of the
New England agents, addressed their Majesties for the restoring of their
Charter, and applied to the Convention Parliament, who received a Bill
for this purpose and passed it in the Lower House; but that Parliament
being soon dissolved, the Bill was lost." (Neal's History of New
England, Vol. II., Chap. xi., p. 474.)

Mr. J.G. Barry says: "Anxious for the restoration of the old Charter and
its privileges, under which the colony had prospered so well, the agent
applied himself diligently to that object, advising with the wisest
statesmen for its accomplishment. It was the concurrent judgment of all
that the best course would be to obtain a reversion of the judgment
against the Charter by Act of Parliament, and then apply to the King for
such additional privileges as were necessary. Accordingly in the
(Convention) House of Commons, _where the whole subject of seizing
Charters in the reign of Charles the Second was up, the Charters of New
England were inserted with the rest_, and though enemies opposed the
measure, it was voted with the rest as a grievance, and that they should
be forthwith restored. Thus the popular branch of the Parliament acted
favourably towards the colonies; but as the Bill was yet to be submitted
to the House of Lords, great pains were taken to interest that branch of
the Parliament in the measure; and at the same time letters having
arrived giving an account of the proceedings in Boston, another
interview was held with the King, before whom, in 'a most excellent
speech,' Mr. Mather 'laid the state of the people,' and his Majesty was
pleased to signify his acceptance of what had been done in New England,
and his intention to restore the inhabitants to their ancient
privileges; but 'behold,' adds the narrative, 'while the Charter Bill
was depending, the Convention Parliament was unexpectedly