LEISLER 161

In December, 1690, Sloughter set sail with
several ships and a body of troops. By some ac-
cident the vessels were separated, and the ship
bearing Major Richard Ingoldesby, "a rash, hot-
headed man" who had served in Holland and
recently returned from service in Ireland, arrived
in the Beaver two months before Sloughter's ship
reached New York. His commission required him
to obey the royal Governor, but did not give him
authority to act as commander-in-chief in case of
Sloughter's absence or death. Nevertheless In-
goldesby at once announced the appointment of
Sloughter and demanded the surrender of the fort.
Leisler replied by offering quarters for Ingoldesby's
soldiers; but refused to surrender the fort till he
saw the Major's commission.

Ingoldesby had no credentials whatever, but he
issued a proclamation calling on the people and
magistrates to aid hiih in enforcing the royal com-
mission. Leisler issued a counter proclamation
warning him at his peril not to attempt hostilities
against the city or the fort; but on receiving assur-
ances that Ingoldesby had no intention of using
force against the people of New York, he per-
mitted the troops to land. The fort, however, he
would not yield. With rival forces in the town,