 Immediately prior to King Charles' death (in February, 1685) the town of Berwick had petitioned for a new Charter, and "There was present at the delivery Captain Ralph Widdrington and Captain Biggerstaffe, but they stood aside and were taken noe notice of.However, they two are the towne's irreconcileable enemies, and they endeavour to have the Charter so drawn that all the towne's grounds may be given to the garrison, and that all the burgesses be no burgesses, and only a certain number as they please to name to be inserted in the new Charter, and these only to be burgesses, and impose a parcel of justices of peace upon the town, etc.