Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/174

150 Coode a confederate in Fendal's insurrection, took the lead, and an armed "Association for the Defence of the Protestant Religion" was formed. The delays on the part of the Council, in proclaiming William and Mary, favored the designs of Coode, and caused general dissatisfaction. Coode and his confederates called a Convention, which met in August, and proceeded to depose Lord Baltimore and proclaim the new king and queen in Maryland. An address was also transmitted to convey their congratulations on the accession of William and Mary; and for some three years the people of Maryland, by the ill advised assent of William to the insurrection, were subjected to the tyrannous exaction of those who had seized upon the reins of government. Truly, it would seem, as Chalmers surmises, that William "did not reflect, because his mind was occupied only with schemes of influence and conquest; that, in order to gain present power, he gave his assent to transactions, which, while they deprived an individual of his rights contrary to law, engendered a spirit of revolt, that, in after times, would shake the throne on which he then sat."

New York was also, at this date, the scene of great political excitement and commotion. The ardent spirit of Protestantism was aroused by the news that William of Orange was now king of England, and the people enthusiastically rose to proclaim his authority. Jacob Leisler, a merchant of New York, and senior captain of the five free companies, under Bayard as colonel, was persuaded by the people, who tumultuously rushed to his house, to take the head of affairs, for it was rumored that there was a plot on foot, and a scheme to murder all who favored the new king's accession. A provisional government was fixed upon, and Leisler, charged with all authority till orders should come from the king, proceeded to proclaim their majesties by sound of trumpet. The "loyal and noble Captain Leisler" next addressed a letter to the king, giving an account of his proceedings and the reasons moving him thereto. Bayard, finding his authority gone, and Nicholson the lieutenant-governor being in the same predicament, retired to Albany, where they held out against. Leisler and his party. The calamitous fall and ruin of Schenectady led to the submission of the malcontents to their hated opponent, and they called on him for aid and support. The king did not answer Leisler's letter; but appointed, in 1689, Colonel Henry Sloughter as governor of New York. Sloughter, however, did not arrive till March, 1691, when he was induced by Ingoldsby, captain of the troops which had reached New York before the new governor, to arrest Leisler and put him upon trial before his bitter enemies. By an insolent mockery of justice, Leisler and Milboume his son-in-law and principal associate, were condemned to death as rebels and traitors. Sloughter hesitated to order the