Whereas Jacob Leysler of y« City of N: Yorke Merchant hath for some monthes past assumed to himself a Power to Command there Maj^^ Fort at N: Yorke, and brougt to his Devotion severall of y® adjacent Tounes and Villages without y® Least Commission or Authority derived to him from y« Croune of England; whose Ambitious and Restlesse Spiritt, together with Diverse of his associates have Indefaticably strove and Endevord to bring there Maj^^ King William and Queen Marys Loveing subjects in y® City and County of albany unto y® same Confusion and Slavery, upon Pretence to Redeem them from Arbitrary Power, and to free them from y* Yoke of Popery, which his Creatures when Last here did Endevor to Infuse into y" heads of y® People and to stirr them up to Sedition and Dissobedience to y^ Lawfull Authority Confirmed by there Maj^^ most Gracious Proclamation J But he the said Leysler not attaining his aim, which was y« Subversion of y*" Governm* of this Citty and County (so Extream Dangerous at this Juncture by Reason of y« Indians) Continues Still his Malice, and Endevors to Disquiet there Maj^s Leige People, by assumeing to himself the Titell of Leif ' Governour and Commander in Cheeffe of there Maj^^ Province of N: Yorke, without y* Least Shadow of orders or authority so to doe from hismost Sacred Maj® King William, Deludeing the Common

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People and makeing them Believe, y* y® letters w^h were sent by his Maj« to Francis Nicholson Esqr his Maj^^ Leif * gov'" and Commandr in Cheeffe of New Yorke and in his absence to such as for y® time being take Care of y® Preserveing^ of Peace and administring y® Laws in said Province of N: Yorke, Belonged to him, which he can no ways Pretend to, but on y« Contrary we must Conclude are Directed to us so farr as y« County of albany is a Part of y® Province of New Yorke and althogh y® s^ Leysler IS sufficiently senceible of y« Dangerous Condition y® Citty and County of Albany are in, by Reason of y« French of Canida and there Indians which we may dayly Expect, haveing Intelligence that they have Drawne all there forces together to Mont Royall, y« season of y« year being now jnost favourable, if they Design to make any Attaqueupon us, who besides are usein'g all Possible means to Delude and Draw off y« five nations of Indians westward from there Obedience and Subjection to y^ Croune of England by there Indians Lately come from france, By which means there Maj®^ Intrest will not only in y® Citty and County of albany but also in y® Northern Parts of america suflfer Extreamly, To Prevent which w^e have spared neither cost nor Trouble to secure them to this Government.