A naval war soon broke out. England, without warning, seized the ships of Holland in English ports, and impressed their crews. The Dutch war fleet was entrusted to Admiral Tromp. He was enjoined to protect the Dutch vessels from visitation or search by foreign cruisers, and not to strike his flag to English ships of war. The instructions of the commanders of the British men of war, were to compel the ships of all foreign nations whatever, to strike their colors to the British flag. England thus set up its arrogant claim to "its undoubted right to the dominion of the surrounding seas."
The English fleet, under Admiral Blake, met the Dutch fleet in the Strait of Dover, on the 29th of May, 1632, and a bloody but undecisive battle ensued. A series of terrible naval conflicts followed, with victory now on the one side and now on the other. At length Blake, discomfited, was compelled to take refuge in the Thames. Admiral Tromp, rather vain-gloriously, placed a broom at his masthead to indicate that he had swept the channel of all English ships.
In this state of affairs the Directors wrote to Governor Stuyvesant, saying,
"Though we hope that you have so agreed with the colonists
of New England about boundaries that we have nothing to fear
from them, still we consider it an imperious duty to
recommend you to arm and discipline all freemen, soldiers
and sailors; to appoint officers and places of rendezvous;
to supply them with ammunition; and to inspect the
fortifications at New Amsterdam, fort Orange and fort
Casimir. To this end we send you a fresh supply of
ammunition.
"If it should happen, which we will not suppose, that New
Englanders incline to take part in these broils, then we
should advise your honor to engage the Indians in your
cause, who, we are informed, are not partial to the English.
You will also employ all such means of defence as prudence
may require for your security, taking care that the
merchants and inhabitants convey their property within the
forts.
"Treat them kindly, so that they may be encouraged to remain
there, and to give up the thought of returning to Holland,
which would depopulate the country. It is therefore
advisable to inclose the villages, at least the principal
and most opulent, with breastworks and palisades to prevent
surprise."
Looking into the future with prophetic eyes, which discerned the future glories of the rising republic, the Directors added,
"When these colonies once become permanently established,
when the ships of New Netherland ride on every part of the
ocean, then numbers, now looking to that coast with eager
eyes, shall be allured to embark for your island."
This prophecy is now emphatically fulfilled when often one or two thousand emigrants, from the old world, land at the Battery in a day. When the prophecy was uttered, New Amsterdam was a small straggling village of one story huts, containing about seven hundred inhabitants. The whole island of Manhattan belonged in fee to the West India Company. A municipal government was soon organized, which about the year 1653, gave birth to the city of New Amsterdam.
Holland and England were now in open and deadly warfare. It will hardly be denied by any one, that England was responsible for the conflict. The New England colonies wished to avail themselves of the opportunity to wrest New Netherland from the Dutch, and to extend their sway from Stamford to the Chesapeake. Governor Stuyvesant perceived his danger. He could be easily overpowered by the New England colonies. He wrote very friendly letters to the governors, urging that, notwithstanding the hostilities between the mother-countries, commercial intercourse between the colonies should continue on its former peaceful footing. At the same time he adopted very vigorous measures to be prepared for defence should he be assailed.
Rumors reached New Amsterdam of active military preparations in progress in New England. It was manifest that some hostile expedition was contemplated. Fort Amsterdam was repaired. The city was enclosed by a ditch and palisade, with a breastwork extending from the East river to the North river. The whole body of citizens mounted guard every night. A frigate in the harbor was ready at any moment to spread its sails, and its "guns were kept loaded day and night." The citizens without exception, were ordered to work upon the defences, under penalty of fine, loss of citizenship and banishment.
Thus barbaric war came again to mar all the prosperity of the colony, and to undermine all its foundations of growth and happiness. The Mohican Indians, on the east side of the North river, and whose territory extended to the Connecticut, were allies of the English. Uncas, the chief of this tribe, declared that Governor Stuyvesant was plotting to arm the Narragansetts against New England. At the same time nine chiefs from the vicinity of Manhattan, sent a messenger to Stamford, who said: