This determined man, whose experience in the East Indies was of long date, and who had already served as director-general, came into his new office with an intense prejudice against the English, and with a firm resolve to put an end to what he described as their treachery and intrigues.

"Were they masters," he wrote home, "the Dutch would quickly be out of the Indies, but praise be to the Lord, who has provided otherwise.

They are an unendurable nation." With this object he strongly fortified the factory near Jacatra, thereby arousing the hostility of the _Pangeran_, as the native ruler was styled.

The English in their neighbouring post also began to erect defences and to encourage the _Pangeran_ in his hostile attitude.

Koen thereupon fell upon the English and destroyed and burnt their factory, and finding that there was a strong English fleet under Sir Thomas Dale in the neighbourhood, he sailed to the Moluccas in search of reinforcements, leaving Pieter van der Broeck in command at the factory.