During the time of Sir _Edmonds'_ Government, Mr. _Increase Mather_, Teacher of the North Church in _Boston_, having undergone some trouble by Fobb-Actions[151] laid upon him, _&c._ (tho with some difficulty) he made his Escape, and got passage for _England_, being therein assisted by some particular Friends; where being arrived, he applied himself to King _James_ for redress of those Evils the Country then groaned under; and meeting with a seeming kind reception, and some promises, it was as much as might at that time be reasonably expected.[152] [149] Upon the Day of the Revolution here, tho the greatest part of the People were for reassuming their Ancient Government, pursuant to his Royal Highness' Proclamation; yet matters were so clog'd, that the People were dissmist without it, who did not in the least mistrust but that those who were put out of the Government by Mr. _Dudley_, would reassume: Mr. _Broadstreet_, who had been then Governour, being heard to say that Evening, when returned home, _That had not he thought they would have reassum'd, he would not have stirr'd out of his House that Day_.[153] But after this, some that were driving at other matters, had opportunities by Threats and other ways not only to prevail with that good Old Gentleman, but with the rest of the Government wholly to decline it; which some few observing, they took the opportunity to call themselves a Committee of Safety, and so undertook to Govern such as would be govern'd by them.[154] It has been an Observation of long continuance _that matters of State seldom prosper, when managed by the Clergy_. Among the opposers of the reassuming few were so strenuous as some of the Ministers, and among the Ministers none more vehement than Mr. _Cotton Mather_, Pastor of the _North_ Church in _Boston_, who has charged them as they would answer it another day to reassume. Among his Arguments against it, one was that it would be to put a slight upon his Father, who, he said, was in _England_, labouring for a compleat Restoration of Charter Privileges, not doubting, but they would be speedily obtain'd. Any Man that knows _New England_ cannot but be sensible, that such Discourses from such Men, have always been very prevalent. And hence it was that even those that would think themselves wronged, if they were not numbred among the best Friends to _New-England_, and to its Charter, would not so much as stoop to take it up, when there was really nothing to hinder them from the Enjoyment thereof.[155]