The Peace of Breda ended the Second Anglo-Dutch War (but there would be two more). The English offered to return New Amsterdam (New York) to regain possession of the Indonesian islands of Banda, the Moluccas, and Ambon. The Netherlands refused and obtained complete control of the East Indies (nutmeg was grown on Run Island, in the Banda archipelago, and with Run the Dutch completed their monopoly on this precious spice), leaving New York to the English instead. The consequences of this agreement were enormous for future history: an English America rather than a Dutch one. Furthermore, the English, unable to gain access to Indonesia, turned to India and established it as a unitary state under their colonial rule. Nutmeg was considered extremely valuable at the time, not only for preserving and flavoring food, but also because it was thought to provide protection against the plague. Nutmeg’s distinctive odor is due to isoeugenol. Some plants, in fact, develop these compounds as natural pesticides. It is possible that isoeugenol kept fleas away.
