cluding Cape Corse fell into great decay,
on account of the failure of the company to send out ships and
supplies. Nearly all the English trade was carried on in the vessels
of private traders, who in return for their licenses, agreed to take
one-tenth of their cargoes free of all freight charges, which goods
were to be used for the maintenance of the company's factories,
especially Cape Corse.[167] Even this provision was not sufficient,
and in the latter part of November, 1670, it was found necessary to
send some additional supplies for the immediate relief of Cape
Corse.[168] The king, who was still indebted to the company for his
subscription to the stock, was induced to pay a part of it, with which
money two ships were despatched for the relief of Cape Corse[169]
which had been in great distress.[170]

FOOTNOTES:

[1] John II of Portugal had assumed the title of Lord of Guinea in
1485.

[2] Dumont, _Corps Universel Diplomatique_, VI, part 2, p. 367.

[3] As for instance, in 1659, the seizure of a Dutch ship called the
Vrede by a French captain under the pretense of a Swedish commission.
Lias, West Indien, 1658 tot 1665, Zeeland chamber to the Amsterdam
chamber of W. I. C. (West India Company), March 1, 1660 (N. S.). Also,
in the same year, the Dutch confiscated a Courland ship called the
Pietas for trespassing on Dutch territory. _Ibid._, Amsterdam chamber
of W. I. C. to S. G. (States General), June 23, 1661 (N. S.). Louis
XIV also complained about the disturbance of French commerce on the
Gambia by the Dutch. _Lettres, Memoires et Negociations de Monsieur le
Compte d'Estrades_, I, 185, Louis XIV to d'Estrades, August 13, 1661
(N. S.).

[4] Diederichs, pp. 20, 21. (Diederichs, H., _Herzog Jacobs von
Kurland Kolonien an der Westkuste von Afrika_.)

[5] The West India Company was subdivided into the chambers of
Amsterdam, Groeningen, Zeeland, North Holland and Friesland, and the
Maas. The Amsterdam chamber was much the most important; it was known
therefore as the "presidiale" chamber.

[6] C. O. 1: 16, f. 191, February 4, 1659 (N. S.). At the same time
Momber advised Steele, the Courland commander at Fort St. Andre, to
pay no attention to the contract if he was in a position to defend
himself, but Steele was unable to resist. Diederichs, pp. 45, 46.

[7] Diederichs, pp. 46-8; C. O. 1: 16, ff. 193, 195-7.

[8] Resolution of S. G., July 28, 1661 (N. S.); Aitzema, X, 76.
(Aitzema, Lieuwe van, _Historie of