The committees of safety met the military officers to consult on the measures proper to be taken. They felt themselves at a crisis that would either compel them to submit, or take the field against a royal Governor and British troops. Having reflected on the justice of their cause, the labor and expense of building and the cultivating of their lands, they unanimously resolved “that it was their duty to oppose Governor Tryon and his troops to the utmost of their power, and convince him and his council that they were punishable by the Green Mountain Boys for disobeying his majesty’s prohibitory orders of July, 1767.” The elders of the people assured the military officers that they would afford them all the assistance in their power, and advised them to concert among themselves the plans of defense, and then withdrew. A messenger was sent to Albany to ascertain the truth of the report, and learn the strength of the enemy and the order of marching. On his return, the messenger reported that “the British troops were wind-bound some distance below Albany, and were destined to relieve the garrisons at Oswego, Niagara, and Detroit, and that Governor Tryon was not with them.” Of course all preparations for a battle were suspended. The Governor and land agents of New York were in due time apprised of this “note of preparation,” and were thus assured the Green Mountain Boys would fight even the King’s troops on provocation. This affair served the purposes of Vermont as well as a bloody victory could have done; and prompted the Convention to forbid “all inhabitants of the New Hampshire Grants to hold or accept any office of honor or profit under the colony of New York, and requiring all civil and military officers who had acted under New York to suspend their functions under penalty of being _viewed_.[C]” The first settlers of Clarendon were adherents of New York. Disturbances had often sprung up in that place, and Mr. Spencer, who had acted as Justice of the Peace under New York, had often sent writs against the people. Colonel Allen and a few hundred men set off for Clarendon, to frighten Spencer out of the country. Acting on information received of Allen’s intended visit, Spencer fled into the woods, and was not to be found when the party reached the house. After scouting the woods in vain, they marched three miles and put up for the night. Towards daylight, Allen and his two men went again to Spencer’s house. Forcing the door with a log, they rushed in with their guns and pistols, crying out for Spencer to appear; but he had not ventured to return home.