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 Directors had this "most infamous and lying libel," translated into their own language and sent a copy to Governor Stuyvesant and his council, saying: "We wish that your honors may see what stratagems that nation employs, not only to irritate the populace, but the whole world if possible and to stir it up against us." The position of Governor Stuyvesant had become exceedingly uncomfortable.

He was liable at any day to have from abroad war's most terrible storm burst upon him.

And the enemy might come in such force that he would be utterly unable to make any effectual resistance.