156 DUTCH AND ENGLISH ON THE HUDSON

esteemed in Albany and representing the aristo-
cratic faction, that town refused entrance to
Milborne and his escort and refused likewise to
recognize Leisler as Governor.

The Albany Records for November, 1689, de-
scribe the incident as follows: "Three sloops neared
Albany bearing troops under Jacob Milborne and
immediately Captain Wendell and Blucker, Jo-
hannes Cuyler and Reymier Barents go aboard to
learn the object of his visit. Jacob Milborne asks:
'Is the fort open to receive me and my men?' The
reply is: 'No, the Mayor is in command and will
hold it.5"

On the receipt of this inhospitable message,
reenforced by military demonstrations, Milborne
wisely withdrew his inadequate force and returned
to New York to report the failure of his mission.
Three months after Milborne's rejection, in the
bitter February weather of 1690, the village of
Schenectady, at that time a western frontier post,
was burned and its inhabitants were massacred in
a French and Indian raid. Once more Leisler sent
his deputy at the head of a body of troops to the
assistance of the Albanians, and this time Milborne
was not denied entrance to the town. Having thus
gained control of the province, Leisler summoned