During the latter years of the history of the Company of Royal Adventurers the factories including 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 Verhael van Saken van Staet en Oorlogh_.) [9] See the oath taken by Holmes' men dated March 7, 1660/1, enclosed in the letter of Nassau and others to the estates of H. and W. F. (Holland and West Friesland), January 17/27, 1662.