ined that the Dutch
had a right to the exclusive possession of the whole Gold Coast by
reason of their conquest of the Portuguese. He required the English to
leave the lodge which they had recently built at Tacorary and demanded
that they refrain from all trade on the Gold Coast. He even had the
temerity to claim that the English had injured the Dutch trade at Cape
Corse and Tacorary to the extent of sixty marks of gold per month, and
that the Dutch had lost one thousand marks on account of the
interference of English ships such as the "Charles" and the
"James."[70]

In answer to Valckenburg's sweeping assertions Francis Selwin, the
English chief at Kormentine, and John Stoakes, commander of one of the
English ships, replied that the English had more right to Cape Corse
and other places on the Gold Coast than the Dutch, because they had
first settled and fortified Cape Corse with the consent of the natives
in 1649.[71] As a further indication that they were not intimidated by
the hostile attitude of Valckenburg the English commenced to build
another factory at Anashan in the Fantin region. In September, 1663,
this brought forth another vigorous protest from Valckenburg, who
declared that he would not tolerate the continuance of this
factory.[72] By way of enforcing these threats the Dutch prevented the
"Sampson," another ship belonging to the Royal Adventurers, from
engaging in any trade at the factory of Komenda.[73] Thereupon Stoakes
declared that, although the English greatly desired to live in peace
with the Dutch, they would not under any circumstances abandon their
factory at Anashan.[74]

At this time the English had factories and settlements at Kormentine,
Komenda, Tacorary, Anto, Anashan, Ardra, and Wiamba. The forts and
lodges of the two companies were all located within a few miles of one
another and for either company to increase the number of its
settlements only made the instances of friction between them more
numerous.[75] It seemed that whichever company was able to overcome
the other would be sure to do so. It was under these circumstances
that Sir Robert Holmes made his appearance on the Gold Coast. The fact
that the Dutch had laid claim to the whole Gold Coast was sufficient
excuse for his interference, although, if we may believe the Dutch
version, Holmes exceeded their claims by reasserting the English right
to the whole of the west coast of Africa, as he had done at Cape Verde
in 1661.[76]

Be