Page 239 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

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leading part in the trade of the Eastern islands. From
this time forward the history of the English factories in
the Archipelago is one long series of disappointments.
Driven from one spot after another by their remorseless
rivals, the English sunk lower and lower in the scale of
influence until they were ousted entirely from the region.
There was a flicker of hope for them in 1658 when, under
the Treaty of Westminster, Poolo Roon, the island which
Courthope had defended so gallantly, was retroceded,
but at the end of 1665 the Dutch re-occupied the position
and gave the final blow to English claims in that quarter.
At last in 1667 the sole remaining English factory in Ban­
tam was closed by Dutch action, and with this culminating
blow ended a phase of the East India Company’s activities
from which so much was once expected.