The middle colonies, which included New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, had a unique relationship with England characterized by a degree of autonomy and a more diverse demographic compared to the southern colonies. The governments in these colonies often operated with a mixture of local governance and reliance on the British crown for overarching authority.
In general, the middle colonies experienced a more flexible and somewhat decentralized governance structure. While they acknowledged the authority of the British monarchy and Parliament, they also had significant local self-government through assemblies that allowed colonists to influence legislation and local policies. This arrangement facilitated a diverse approach to governance that often included various religious and ethnic groups, contributing to a culture of tolerance and cooperation.
Thus, the best statement to describe the government relationship with England in the middle colonies would be that it was one of relative autonomy under British rule, allowing for local self-governance while still recognizing the authority of the English crown.