ed to the West India Company.[110] Later, in the same month
of August, 1664, Downing submitted to the States General the draft of
a proposed agreement for the settling of future disputes in the East
Indies and in Africa.[111] Downing was of the opinion that, although
the Dutch could never be depended on to keep such an agreement, it
would be a good thing in the East Indies because "ye (the English) are
the weaker ther." In Africa the situation appeared different to
Downing, for there the English had the advantage. "I hope in the
meantime," he declared, "while we are (negotiating) Holmes will doe
the work ther," because there "never will be such a opportunity as
this to make clear work in Affrica."[112] A few days later he advised
that everything on the African coast should be done "so as (the) king
of England may not appeare in it, but only (the) Rll Company, & they
takeing occasion from our affront."[113] Still later he asserted that
even in Holland everyone believed that since the king and the Royal
Company had gone so far, they would seize the entire African coast so
that the whole affair might be worth while.[114]

Although DeWitt had been successful in sending the secret orders to
DeRuyter concerning his voyage to Guinea, he could not long hope to
deceive the ever-watchful Downing. Indeed with all due respect to his
crafty rival one is almost surprised that Downing's suspicions were
not aroused for more than a month after the commands were despatched.
When the possibility of DeRuyter's having been ordered to Africa
dawned on Downing, he at once demanded of DeWitt where DeRuyter was
going when he left Cadiz. Without hesitation DeWitt replied that he
had returned to Algiers and Tunis to ransom some Dutch people.[115]
The bald falsehood disarmed Downing's suspicions and, although he
advised that Sir John Lawson keep a watchful eye on DeRuyter, he
assured Bennet that the report that the latter had gone to Guinea was
without foundation.[116] The report continued to be whispered
about,[117] however, and although two weeks later DeWitt repeated his
falsehood, Downing began to fear that he was being deceived. He
declared that although he was certain that the States General had
given no orders in the usual way for DeRuyter's departure to Guinea,
he was very well aware that the Dutch could find means to do those
things which they deemed necessary. The more he considered the matter,
the likelihood of secret orders having been