ecame the Occasion, at least the Popular Pretence of the war with
Holland."[138] In international disputes some facts, although of minor
importance, are often seized upon with great vigor by the contending
parties. It is very probable that both England and the United
Provinces greatly overestimated the value of the African forts and
factories, but, at that time, the possession of them seemed very
important. To many of these places plausible claims were advanced by
both the English and the Dutch. There was plenty of opportunity
therefore for disputes, and the representatives of the two great
commercial companies did not fail to utilize it.

If the factors of the two companies in Guinea found it impossible to
reconcile their differences, the same observation may be made
concerning Downing and DeWitt at The Hague. One is not inclined to
excuse the deceit of the latter nor to sympathize with the apathetic
neglect with which he met all English claims. On the other hand,
Downing was perhaps the match for DeWitt in cunning and his master in
argument. His contempt for the Dutch made it impossible for him to
deal with them without gaining a complete victory. Compromise is the
basis of most diplomacy, but such a word was scarcely in Downing's
vocabulary. There were men in England who realized that Downing was
slowly but surely leading the two countries into war. Clarendon
reproved him for overzealousness; and Lord Hollis, the English
ambassador in France, informed him that he saw no "causam belli, onely
litigandi," and asked him if he could not temper his speech "by
pouring in oyle & not vinegar," and thus prevent a war if
possible.[139] In Downing's behalf it may be said, however, that his
attitude was the same as that of the mercantile interests in England
which he so well represented. The increasing importance of the
mercantile element, both in England and Holland, and their desire to
encroach on the trade of one another in all parts of the world,
especially in Guinea, was responsible for the war.[140] When the war
was inevitable, representatives of the English commercial interests
assured the government of their loyal support and assistance.[141] As
for the Dutch they, too, entered the conflict with high hopes for they
did not fear Charles II as they had feared Cromwell.

Sir Robert Holmes who had been so largely responsible for the
difficulties which resulted in the Anglo-Dutch war arrived in England
early in January, 1665