I find that Jacob Leislaer a man of disporate fortune ambitiously did assume unto himselfe the title of Liev governour of tjiis provins of new Yorke and Chose a Council of the meanest and most abject Common people made to himselfe a broad seale which he called the seale of the province with the usual armes of the kings of englandt and affixed the same to some unlawful grants of lands within this province and Commissionated under the same Justices of the pease in whose hearts were mischiefs he Constituted Courts of oyer and terminer and tryed severall subjects for pretended treason muither and other Crimes he taxed and levyed mony upon their majestie Subjects to their grievous oppression and great Impoverishment When he wanted more mony for his occasions he forcibly robbed and spoiled broake open doors and locks where he guessed it was to be found and Caryed away to the value of some thousands of pounds in mony or goods and all this against the best protestant subjects in the province He imprisoned whom he feared without any other Cause than that their integritie to the protestant interest and fidelyty to their Majesties became a terrour to him some of them after tedious Confinement without Colour of law he Whipt & branded and some he kept Induresse so long as he hould the fFortt

Upon the news of Maj"^ Ingoldsbys arrivall w^ith their Matys forces under his Command the said Leisler fortifyed and recruited himselfe in the fort with such persons as wal from the neighbouring Colonyes as in this province who were knowne to be of principles Contrary to the Intrest of the Crown when the Major Came to New Yorcke he made great preparations as if he were to hold out a long siege and night and day was taking in flower beefe porke &c: in great quantytyes notwithstanding the Maj"" and the rest of flie gent' Commissionated from their Matyes gave him that satisfaccon to show their Commisions and tell him that governour Sloughter was upon his way Coming hither that they were Come hither to defend and protect the Country and that he would lodge his men in the tovme and suffer him to hold the fort till the governours arrivall this did not answer his ends his Inpatience became the