ommitted against the Dutch.[51] When the two English
ships continued their effort to trade at Cape Corse and other
villages, the "Golden Lyon" followed them from place to place, and on
one occasion seized a small skiff which was attempting to land some
goods. Discouraged at the treatment accorded to them the English
officers finally gave up the attempt to trade on the Gold Coast, and
returned home with their ships, after delivering to the Dutch a solemn
protest against the injuries which they had suffered.[52]

When Secretary Williamson informed Sir George Downing of the
misfortunes of the two ships, "Charles" and "James," and asked him to
interfere in behalf of the Royal Company at The Hague, Downing
promised to do what he could, but since he was so well acquainted with
the Dutch method of treating such complaints he did not anticipate
favorable results. "God help them," he declared, "if they (the Royal
Company) depend upon paper relief." With the duke of York at the head
of the Company and the king as well as many of his courtiers greatly
concerned in its welfare, he considered that it would be well cared
for. "Whatever injuries the Dutch do them," he exclaimed, "let them be
sure to do the Dutch greater, & then let me alone to mediate between
them, but without this all other wayes will signify not a rush."[53]

Downing demanded of the States General whether Dirck Wilree had been
given any authority to blockade the entire coasts of Comany and to
forbid all English trade with the natives.[54] In this way he hoped
either to have the States General disavow Wilree's action or to raise
the question whether the West India Company had a right to institute
such a blockade. In letters to Clarendon and Bennet, Downing
maintained that the Dutch were accustomed both in West Africa and in
the East Indies, to declare war on the natives and to cut them off
from all trade with foreigners until they agreed to sell their goods
only to the Dutch. Downing declared that the English had already lost
a great deal of trade on account of such impositions, and that if they
were continued the East India and African companies would be ruined.
"Pay them in their own kind & sett their subjects a crying as well as
his Majties, & you will have a very faire correspondence, & they will
take heed what they doe, and his Majtie shall be as much honored &
loved here as he hath been dispised, for they love nor honor none but
them that they thinck both can