The disasters, however, of _M._ Poncet _de_ Bretigny did not deter the company at Rouen from pursuing the enterprise in which they had embarked; and they continued for eight years after his death to maintain a fort at _Cayenne_. At this date a new company was formed, on the plea that the previous one had failed in fulfilling its conditions to the Crown. The chief of the next expedition, which consisted of seven hundred men, was the _Sieur de_ Royville. But _De_ Royville was no more fortunate than his predecessor, being murdered on the outward voyage. The twelve associates who had accompanied him lost no time upon their arrival in quarrelling amongst themselves and in beheading one of their number, whilst three others were deported to an island, where they soon fell victims to the savages. The colony was not successful; some of its members perished from disease, and others from hunger; whilst others again were brought to the _boucan_.[6] The survivors were glad to seek the protection of the English, who were by this time established at _Surinam_. [Sidenote: 1656.] [Sidenote: 1676.] A few years after this occurrence, the Dutch, finding _Cayenne_ forsaken, occupied it in the name of the West India Company. This settlement promised favourably; its commander, named Guerin Spranger, fulfilled all the conditions required for forming a profitable colony; but Louis XIV., at this period, gave to a new French company the country between the two great rivers, appointing _M._ le Hevre _de la_ Barre governor of _Cayenne_. Five vessels were sent out, having on board a thousand persons, and Spranger had no alternative but to submit. His country was not then at war with France, but high-handed proceedings were the order of the day. The French were so fortunate as to find themselves in possession of a ready-made colony. Two years later it was laid waste by the English; but it was immediately re-occupied by the French. In the war which succeeded the peace of Breda, _Cayenne_ was again taken by the Dutch; but in 1676 it was once more captured by the French under the _Comte_ d’Estrees. _Cayenne_ once more a French settlement, its guiding spirits lost no time in directing their attention towards the possessions of their neighbours. Their attempt to enter the _Amazons_ was forbidden by the captain of _Curupá_, whilst five Frenchmen were found by the Jesuits trading for slaves in the interior. [Sidenote: 1687.] About the year 1687 the province of _Ceará_ was so infested by the neighbouring savages that it was declared lawful and necessary to make war against them; and the hostilities were prosecuted with such vigour as to free the province from their presence for the future. [Sidenote: 1688.] [Sidenote: 1694.]