The said Captam Leisler finding almost every Man of Sence, Reputation or Estate in the place to oppose & discourage his irregularities, caused frequent false Alarms to be Made, & Sent Several Parties of his armed Men out of the Fort, Drag'd into Nasty goals, within said Fort, Several, of the Principal Magistrates officers, & Gentlemen & others, that would not own his Power to be Lawfull, which he Kept in close Prison during will & Pleasure, without any Process or allowing them to Bail, &he further Published Several times, by beat of Drums

That all Those who would not come into the Fort Sf Sign Their hands, & So thereby to own his Power to be Lawfull Should be deemed ^ Esteemed as enemies to his Majesties ^ the Couiitry, ^ be by him treated Accordingly, By which Means many of tlie Inhabitants, tho' they abhorrd his Actions only to Escape a Nasty Joal, &

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to Secure their Estates, were by fear & Compulsion drove to Comply, Submit & Sign to whatever he commanded --

And Tho Captain Leisler had at first so violently opposed the Collecting of the Revenue, Alleging it unlawfu^., as soon as his Wines were landed, & that he got in some Power, he forthwith set up for himself the collecting of the said Revenue by Peter D Lanoy allowing him a great sallary & all the perquisites of that office --

Upon the 10 of December following Returned the said M'^ John Riggs from England with Letters from his Majesty, & the Lords in answer to the letters sent by the Lieut Govenor & Council above recited. Directed to our Trusty ^ well beloved Francis Jfichr olson Es(f our Lieut govenor ^ commander in chief of our Province of JVew York, in America Sf in his absence to such as for the time being, take care for the freservation of the peace., & administring the Laws in our said Province whereby his Majesty Approved of the proceedings, & care that had been taken by said Lieut Govenor, & Council for the peace & Safety of the Province, with Further Powers, & directions to Continue therein till further orders, which Said letters the said M^ Riggs designed to deliver on the following morning to the gentlemen of the Council to whom they properly did belong being an answer to their Said letter, but was Obstructed therein by Said Leisler, who sent a party of his men in Arms & brought said Riggs, to the fort where he forced said Letters from him though some gentlemen of the Council that went the same time to the Fort.