Documentary History of the State of New York, Vol. II
About the Middle of May the Skip Beaver John Corbett Master, being ready to Sail for England, the Lieu* Govenor & Council sent in her M^ John Riggs, & in Several other Ships, that soon followed, letters to the Earl now Duke of Shrewsbury then principal Secretary of State & to the Lords of the Committee for trade & Plantations, wherein they Signified their rejoicing at the News of his Royal Highness The Prince of Orange, now his present Majesties arrival in England, in order to redress the grievences of the Nation, & giving a particular account of the State of Affairs of this Province, & that they would endeavour to preserve its peace & Security till orders, Should arrive from England, which they humbly prayed tnight be hastened with all possible Speed Which Said Letters were most graciously received & answered by his Majesty's Letter bearing date 30th July 1689--
42S ADMINISTRATION OF
But against expectation it soon happened, that on the Last day of Said Month of May, Ca2}tain Leisler having a Vessell with some Wines on the road, for which he refused to pay the Duty, did in a Seditious Manner Stir up the meanest Sort of the Inhabitants (affirming that King James being Jled the Kingdom all manner of Government was fallen in this Province) to Rise in Arms, & forceably possesses Themselves of the fort & Stores which Accordingly was effected whilst the Lieut Govenor & Council with the Convention were met at the City Hall to Consult what Might be proper for the Common Good & Safety, where a Party of Armed men, came from the fcrt & forced the Lieut Govenor to dehver them the Keys & Seized also in his Chamber a Chest, with Seven hundred ^ Seventy three pounds twelve Shillings in money of the Government, & though Col° Bayard, with some others appointed by the convention used all endeavours to prevent Those disorders, all provided vain (for most of Those that appeared in arms were drunk & Cry'd out, They disowned all manner of Government^ whereupon by Captain Leisler's persuation, they proclaimed him to be their Commander there being then, no other Commission officer amongst Them --