LEISLER 163

imprisoned both envoys and ordered his frigate to
hold itself in readiness to fire on the fort. Leisler,
at length and too late realizing that resistance was
useless, sent a letter to the Governor offering
submission. For the third time Ingoldesby was
ordered to demand the possession of the fort. This
time the garrison yielded and Leisler was put under
arrest.

With Milborne, now his son-in-law, and eight
others, Leisler was arraigned before a court having
inveterate royalists as judges. Two insurgents were
acquitted. Six made their defense, were convicted
of high treason, and were reprieved. Leisler and
Milborne declined to plead and appealed to the
King. They were, however, condemned and sen-
tenced to death. Sloughter was reluctant to sign
the death-warrants; but his associates, more par-
ticularly Bayard, who had been imprisoned by
Leisler, were determined on the execution. It is
maintained that the Governor's signature was
obtained at a banquet when he was under the in-
fluence of liquor, and that an officer stole with the
warrant to the prison and ordered the victims led
out for immediate execution. Be this as it may,
Sloughter's compunctions were overcome and the
death-warrants signed.