The _Massachusetts_ petitioned for a renewal of their former charter, but it could not be obtained; and many reasons were assigned for not granting it, among the rest, its giving them no power to lay taxes and raise money, especially on inhabitants not being of the company, and on strangers coming to or trading with them. One of the chief acts of delinquency alleged in the writ of _scire facias_, issued against their former charter, was, their having _levied money of the inhabitants_. [1691.] King _William_ and queen _Mary_ granted a new charter, in which _Plymouth_, the _Main_, _Acadia or Nova-Scotia_, and the tract lying between _Nova-Scotia_ and the _Main_, were annexed to and made a part of the _Massachusetts_. It was complained of, as being not much more than a shadow of the old; seeing that the appointment of the governor, lieutenant-governor, secretary, and all the officers of the admiralty, was vested in the crown; that the power of the militia was wholly in the hands of his majesty’s governor as captain general; that all judges, justices, and sheriffs, were to be nominated by the governor, with the advice of the council; that the governor had a negative upon the choice of counsellors; that all laws enacted by the general assembly, were to be sent home for the royal approbation or disallowance: and that no laws, ordinances, elections, or acts of government whatsoever, were to be of any validity, without the consent of the governor, signified in writing. The new charter, however, conferred on the inhabitants a number of very important privileges, and was to be preferred to the old in many respects. They were informed by the best civilians, that their religious liberties were forever secured; and that they could be touched by no tax or law, but of their own making; which had a good effect in quieting them under the variations to which they objected.