very third man was detailed to act as a minute man whenever required;
and the whole population was pledged for the public defence. At the
same time, to prevent any misunderstanding, messengers were sent to
Connecticut to inform the colonial authorities there, that these
measures were adopted solely for the protection of their commerce and
the punishment of robbery.

In February of this year, a church was organized at Flatbush. Domine
Polhemus was chosen pastor, with a salary of six hundred guilders. A
cruciform wooden church was erected, sixty feet long and twenty-eight
feet wide. This was the first Reformer Dutch Church on Long Island.
The Lutherans had now become quite numerous in New Amsterdam. They
petitioned for liberty to organize a church. Stuyvesant, a zealous
Calvinist, declined, saying that he was bound by his oath to tolerate
no other religion openly than the Reformed. In this intolerance he was
sustained by the Company in Holland.

Oliver Cromwell now decided to carry the war against Holland into the
New World. He sent word to the governors of the New England Colonists
that he was about to dispatch war ships to the coasts of America, and
he called upon them to give their utmost assistance for gaining the
Manhattoes and other places under the power of the Dutch.

Four armed ships were soon crossing the Atlantic. The expedition was
entrusted to Major Sedgwick and John Leverett. They were directed to
enter some good port in New England, where they were to ascertain
whether the colonial governments would join in vindicating the English
right and in extirpating the Dutch.

"Being come to the Manhattoes," wrote secretary Thurlow,

"you shall, by surprise, open force, or otherwise, endeavor
to take the place. You have power to give fair quarter in
case it be rendered upon summons without opposition. If the
Lord give his blessing, you shall not use cruelty to the
inhabitants, but encourage those who are willing to remain
under the English government, and give liberty to others to
transport themselves to Europe."

Governor Stuyvesant received early intelligence of the projected
expedition, and immediately convened his council. The danger was
imminent. The Dutch alone could oppose but feeble resistance. The
English in the Dutch colony, though they had sworn allegiance, would
probably join their countrymen. "To invite them," Governor Stuyvesant
said, "to aid us, would be bringi