The answer is obvious.

One of the chief grievances of which the nation complained was the manner in which that Parliament had been elected.

The majority of the burgesses had been returned by constituent bodies remodelled in a manner which was generally regarded as illegal, and which the Prince had, in his Declaration, condemned.

James himself had, just before his downfall, consented to restore the old municipal franchises.

It would surely have been the height of inconsistency in William, after taking up arms for the purpose of vindicating the invaded charters of corporations, to recognise persons chosen in defiance of those charters as the legitimate representatives of the towns of England.
On Saturday the twenty-second the Lords met in their own house.