ive feelings; and their own recent historian laments
the refusal of the Massachusetts authorities to bear part in
an offensive war against New Netherland, as an 'indelible
stain upon their honor as men, and upon their morals as
Christians.'"

There was a strong party in favor of war as the only means of wresting
the magnificent domain of New Netherland from the Dutch and annexing
it to the New England possessions. The majestic Hudson was greatly
coveted, as it opened to commerce vast and unknown regions of the
interior.

Hartford and New Haven discussed the question if they were not strong
enough without the aid of Massachusetts to subdue the Dutch. Stamford
and Fairfield commenced raising volunteers on their own account, and
appointed one Ludlow as their leader. A petition was sent to the home
government, the Commonwealth over which Oliver Cromwell was then
presiding, praying

"that the Dutch be either removed or, so far, at least,
subjected that the colonies may be free from injurious
affronts and secured against the dangers and mischievous
effects which daily grow upon them by their plotting with
the Indians and furnishing them with arms against the
English."

In conclusion they entreated that two or three frigates be sent out,
and that Massachusetts be commanded to assist the other colonies to
clear the coast "of a nation with which the English cannot either
mingle or set under their government, nor so much as live near without
danger of their lives and all their comforts in this world."

To fan this rising flame of animosity against the Dutch, a rancorous
pamphlet was published in London, entitled,

"The second part of the Amboyna Tragedy; or a faithful
account of a bloody, treacherous and cruel plot of the Dutch
in America, purporting the total ruin and murder of all the
English colonists in New England; extracted from the various
letters lately written from New England to different
merchants in London."

This was indeed an inflammatory pamphlet. The most violent language
was used. The Dutch were accused of the "devilish project" of trying
to rouse the savages to a simultaneous assault upon all the New
England colonists. The crime was to be perpetrated on Sunday morning,
when they should be collected in their houses of worship. Men, women
and children were to be massacred, and the buildings laid in ashes.

The Amsterdam Dir