Fendall and Coode visited Nicholas Spencer Jr., Esq. (died 1689), the Secretary of Virginia and no great friend of Charles Calvert. Spencer advised them to forego any active role at this time, and to let the Catholics alone. Nevertheless, rumors circulated that in 1681, Fendall and Coode had planned to move their families temporarily to Virginia. Upon hearing this, Lord Baltimore had them arrested. It was said that they were arrested ""in their own houses at dead of night in time of peace with force of arms and without warrants shown"". Authorities apparently freed Coode on bail within five days, but Fendall remained in custody. It is very doubtful that a rebellion was actually under way. Virginia observers felt that Lord Baltimore's charges against the two men were unsupported and ""of little weight"". Some suggested that the arrests were merely one attempt to prevent participation by either Coode or Fendall in the upcoming session of the Assembly, which already promised to be a heated confrontation over defense policies.