Vieraflies into the Wood.
The Council when they might easily have apprehendedViera, sent for him by aJewcall’dAbraham Coing, under pretence of Treating about some Business concerning theWest-IndiaCompany; he promis’d to come in the Evening, but suspecting he was betray’d, fled into the Woods, and gave speedy notice to all his Accomplices, who follow’d him in great numbers. The Soldiers sent to searchViera’s House, found none but old Men and Children.
The CouncellorVan Houtenwent immediately with seven Sugar-Vessels toParayba, fortifi’d the FortsMargareta,Restringa, andAntonio, and made room for theBrasiliansthat had remov’d thither from their Villages, in the Houses deserted by thePortugueseinFrederick-stadt. On the other side,Amador da Rouge, one of the Conspirators,went with a Company fromPoioucathrough the Countrey, kill’d sevenDutchSeamen, with threeJews, and erected Gibbets, on which he threatned to hang all those who did not take up Arms for the King ofPortugal. ColonelHousinform’d hereof march’d with five hundred Men toPoiucato meet thePortuguese, who were scatter’d up and down the neighboring Woods. He also publish’d an Edict, in which every one was Licens’d to return to their Habitations, with promise of pardon for their Rebellion, if they would take the Oath of Allegiance anew, onelyViera,Cavalcantelca, andDa Rouge, were excluded, and nine thousandGuilderspromis’d to those that brought them dead or alive, which made two hundred Inhabitants inReciffamarch into the Countrey under the Command of CaptainBlar, to find the fore-mention’d Traitors; and at last joyning withHous, they pursu’d the fledPortuguese.
Hoogenstraetsent to Treat withAntonio Silva, is privately tempted by him to deliver up the FortSt. Augustine.
In the mean time the Council sent the CaptainsVander VoortandHoogenstraet, toAntonio Silva, Governor of St.Salvador, to acquaint him with the treacherous Insurrection of thePortuguese, and ofCamaronandDiezcoming from St.Salvadorto their assistance, urging, that these treacherous Proceedings and breach of Oath, could not but redound to the dishonor of the Crown ofPortugal. WheretoSilvaanswer’d, “ThatCamaronandDiezwere not under any Obligation of Oath, but that he would check the Insurrection inPernambuco, and take care that the Authors thereof should make Satisfaction to theWest-IndiaCompany.” Notwithstanding which fair Pretences, he so wrought withHoogenstraet, that after a private Conference between them it was agreed, that for a certain sum of Money he should surrender him the Promontory of St.Augustine, of which he was Governor; but at his Return toReciffabeing made chief Commander of the Castle there, and being jealous what might follow his private Treating withSilva, he declar’d to the Council, thatSilvahad desir’d him to surrender the Fort St.Augustine, which he had granted, for no other end, but to catch the falsePortuguesein their own Nets, and to trapan all such as should be sent to take possession of it; and that if the Council had any suspicion of him, they might make use of his Service in some other place.
About this time a hundred and fiftyTapuyans, led by aGermanSoldier callJacob Rabbi, Sallying out of their Woods, fell upon the great VillageConyahou, under the Jurisdiction ofRio Grande, broke into the Church, murder’d all thePortuguese, and eating their raw Flesh, demolish’d the Place.
Housalso unfortunately Storm’d the MountainSantantan, where the Enemy lay Intrench’d, being forc’d to Retreat with the loss of above a hundred Men, amongst whom was CaptainLo.
Grave Mauricehis stately Palace demolish’d.
The Privy Council caus’d a part ofMaurice-stadtto be pull’d down, as also the stately PalaceFreyburgh, for which theJewsproffer’dGrave Maurice6000l.together with the stately Garden, which were thought to exceed the famous Gardens inThessalia; but on the other side they kept Men at work Night and Day in repairing the decay’d Castle atReciffa.
Bonavidesappears with a great Fleet beforeReciffa, but pretends Friendship.
About the same time the AdmiralSalvador Correo de Bonavides, brought thirty four great Sail of Ships to an Anchor beforeReciffa, the Gallion which he Commanded carrying sixty Brass Guns. The AdmiralLichthartran to meet him with five Vessels, and sent him word, that if he fell down to Leeward, since he was got to the Windward, he should soon find, that five Ships durst Engage with a Fleet six times as strong. WhereuponBonavidessent two Messengers toLichthartto tell him, that he came as a Friend to damp thePortugueseInsurrection inPernambuco; to which purpose he had already Landed some Companies atTamandera.Lichthartsending the two Messengers to the Council atReciffa, they sent two of their own Members toBonavides, desiring to know of him what call’d him thither with so great a Fleet, and without giving the least notice, contrary to the concluded Peace of ten years?
SERINHAIM.
PONTA TAMANDEREThe Names of the Ships both of theDutchandPortugueseFleet.A.ThePortugueseAdmiral.B.Their Vice-Admiral.C.The rest of their Ships.D.Three of their Barques.E.Three Carvels, which lay to watch in the Bay.F.The Enemy’s Battery.G.TheUtrecht, being theDutchAdmiral.H.TheTer Veer.I.TheZealandVice-Admiral.K.TheOver-Ysel.L.Salt-LandPink.M.TheGolden DeerFrigat.N O.TheLeydenPink, andUnicornFrigat.P Q.A Dogger and threeNetherlandBarques.
The Names of the Ships both of theDutchandPortugueseFleet.A.ThePortugueseAdmiral.B.Their Vice-Admiral.C.The rest of their Ships.D.Three of their Barques.E.Three Carvels, which lay to watch in the Bay.F.The Enemy’s Battery.G.TheUtrecht, being theDutchAdmiral.H.TheTer Veer.I.TheZealandVice-Admiral.K.TheOver-Ysel.L.Salt-LandPink.M.TheGolden DeerFrigat.N O.TheLeydenPink, andUnicornFrigat.P Q.A Dogger and threeNetherlandBarques.
The Names of the Ships both of theDutchandPortugueseFleet.A.ThePortugueseAdmiral.B.Their Vice-Admiral.C.The rest of their Ships.D.Three of their Barques.E.Three Carvels, which lay to watch in the Bay.F.The Enemy’s Battery.G.TheUtrecht, being theDutchAdmiral.H.TheTer Veer.I.TheZealandVice-Admiral.K.TheOver-Ysel.L.Salt-LandPink.M.TheGolden DeerFrigat.N O.TheLeydenPink, andUnicornFrigat.P Q.A Dogger and threeNetherlandBarques.
Whilest the two Commissioners went with the fore-mention’d Orders to thePortugueseFleet, aNetherlandVessel endeavor’d, notwithstanding the Wind was contrary, to get out toLichthart’s assistance; whichBonavidesobserving, stood away Northerly before the Wind: butLichthartovertook a Ketch belonging to thePortugueseFleet.
Serinhaintaken byVidaland others.
Mean while thePortugueseupon Land being two thousand strong, under the Command ofVidal,Diez,Camaron, andAcoignes, Storm’d the FortSerinhain, where theFrenchCaptainMontagnecould make but little resistance, not having above forty Men, and being unprovided of Ammunition and Provision; yet he resisted nine days, and at last got two Barques to convey him toReciffa.
Soon after this thePortugueseFleet falling out amongst themselves,BonavidesSteer’d back forLisbonwith a few Ships, the rest coming to an Anchor again nearReciffa; where the Seamen whomLichtharthad taken inform’d him, that their Fleet came the first time toReciffafor no other end, but to stir up thePortuguesebytheir Presence to take up Arms, according to a private Contract, having to that purpose Landed twelve hundred Men atTamandera, besides the Army led byCamaronandDiezfrom St.SalvadortoPernambuco.
ColonelHousabout this time being sent for back toReciffa, and staying with five hundred Men for CaptainBlaek’s coming, who was sent to fetch all thePortugueseWomen within three Leagues aboutReciffa, was set upon in the Night byVidalwith two thousandPortugueses; theBrasilians, who were above half his Forces, flying into the Woods, leaving onely two hundredNetherlandersto fight withVidal, by whom being so much over-power’d, they were forc’d to submit to his mercy, and suffer themselves to be all carry’d Prisoners to St.Salvador.
By this time atReciffaall things were in a confusion, the Pits digg’d aboutMaurice-stadtafforded nothing but brackish Water, which occasion’d Sickness.
The Fort St.Augustinetreacherously surrendered byHoogenstraetto thePortuguese.
Vidalencourag’d by his Victory, march’d to St.Augustine, where without doubt he had stopt, ifHoogenstraet, who had the chief Command of the Fort, had not been Disloyal; for this Traitor thought it not enough to surrender this invincible Fort to the Enemy, but also bereav’dReciffaof Provisions and Ammunition, which he did very subtilly, sending earnestly thither for Souldiers, Bullets, Powder and Shot, in lieu whereof he sent thither two Barques full of old Men, Women and Children, that so he might depriveReciffaof stout Men, and supply their room with unable People. For this treacherous and villanous Act thePortuguesewere to give him 1800l.and make him a Colonel: Moreover, all the Soldiers in Garrison, consisting of three hundred Men, receiv’d 3l.a Man, and were sent to joyn with a Regiment of six hundred and fifty Men, over whichHoogenstraetwas made chief Commander.
Lichthartgains a noble Victory over thePortugueseFleet.
The day before this eminent Castle was to be deliver’d up to the Enemy, AdmiralLichthartobtain’d a brave Victory at Sea; for thePortugueseFleet (consisting of seventeen Sail, the rest being gone withBonavidestoPortugal) anchoring beforeTamandera, were valiantly set upon byLichthart, who Engag’d with them on the ninth ofSeptember1645. with theUtrecht, being the Admiral Ship, theZealand,Ter Veer,Over-Ysel, the PinksSalt-LandandLeyden, a Dogger and three Barques. In the Hole of the HavenTamanderathreePortugueseCarvels kept Watch, and near a Battery full of Guns lay three Barques, and the other Ships a little farther nigh the Shore. The Enemy at first shot very fiercely from the Battery, whilest the Ships drove to the Shore, and the Men leaping overboard swam ashore, onely the AdmiralJeronymo Serao de Payvamade some resistance, but at last surrendred up his Ship, theNetherlandersin their Barques killing above seven hundredPortuguesesin the Water.Lichthartburnt the whole Fleet, except the Admiral and Vice-Admiral, which he carry’d toReciffa.
But this Victory was not comparable to the Loss which theEast-IndiaCompany sustain’d by the selling of the Promontory of St.Augustine, and the taking of the FortsPorto CalvoandRio Francisco; to the last whereof the Barques coming too late to carry the Soldiers off, they were all made Prisoners by thePortuguese, as also the Planters, in all to the number of five hundred.
Bouillouxput to Death by the Governor ofParayba.
Vidalmarching toTamarica, Storm’dSchuppen-stadt, but found such resistance fromGeorge Garstman(who supply’d the PrisonerHoushis Place) that he lost three hundred Men: After which he endeavor’d by means ofFernandes Bouilloux, to purchase the FortMargaretafor 1500 l.Sterl.of the Governor ofParayba, who immediately without any farther Examination, caus’dBouillouxthat proffer’d the Money to be put to death.
ADutchSergeant inOlindadealt very treacherously; for he sold the Fort to aPortugueseEnsign for 100l.and also most basely betray’d all his Soldiers Lives to the merciless Enemy.
The distressed Condition ofReciffa.
By these meansReciffawas round about in jeopardy, as also within; for the great Thirst of the Inhabitants under a scorching Climate, augmented by theHollanderssalt Meat, could not be quench’d with brackish Water, for fresh was not to be had; Famine also increas’d daily, insomuch that the Poor threatned to fall upon the Rich, which made the Magistrates go Arm’d from House to House, to enquire what Store every one had, which being writ down was carry’d away and put into the Store-houses, where each receiv’d alike share, without respect of Persons. Fewel also grew very scarce, which made many eat their Meat raw, or half dress’d. In the interim every one that was able, was forc’d to work at the Forts ofReciffa, which were beaten down by the Rains; and the Soldiers continually alarm’d by the Enemy, were forc’d to be Night and Day up in Arms. The People dy’d more and more daily, when two Fly-Boats arriv’d there with Provisions, and News, that a Fleet was coming to their assistance.
The CaptainsRhynbagandMontagnewent in the Night, each with a Company, to fall upon the Enemy, who being two thousand five hundred strong, drove them back, and pursu’d them within shot of theAfogados, where fortyPortugueseswere kill’d.
About the same time aTerra NeufSailor, laden with the dry’d FishBocraillo, came toReciffa.
InParaybathree hundredNetherlandersSallying out of the Forts, fell so valiantly upon nine hundredPortugueses, that they forc’d them to flye, not without a considerable loss. After which a Party ofBrasilianssurpris’d eightyPortugueses, as they were atMassinAndreas Diez de la Figuereda’s Sugar-Mills, where they spar’d none butFiguereda’s Daughter, whose Beauty so charm’d them, that they comforted her mourning for her Father’s Death, and deliver’d her undefil’d to the Governor ofParayba.
The barbarous Cruelty ofVidal.
Vidalraging for madness because now and then some of his Prisoners escap’d, caus’d several of them to be cruelly murder’d, tying some of them Back to Back, and then cutting them in pieces; others he threw with Stones ty’d about their Necks into the Rivers; others he ty’d by their Privities, and hung them upon Trees; and also knock’d out the Brains of others.
The Soldiers atReciffamutiny for want of Provision.
InReciffathe Soldiers, consisting of divers Nations, began likewise to mutiny, crying,They should be all starv’d; and saying,They had better be slain in the Field fighting against the Enemy, than die of Hunger in the City. They also complain’d,The Commissioners themselves betrayBrasile; and threatned by force to fetch the Provisions out of the publick Stores, saying,They had long enough endur’d Thirst and Hunger.
A new Fleet sent by theStatestoBrasile.
TheDutchFleet set out forBrasile.
These Transactions inBrasilewere very ill resented inHolland, the common People in theHaguebeing ready to pull down thePortugueseAmbassador’s House, in revenge of the Cruelties exercis’d upon theNetherlandersinBrasile, had they not been hindred by the Prudence of PrinceHenrick. The Ambassador pretending to be ignorant of the fore-mention’d Passages, proffer’d to make what Satisfaction theWest-IndiaCompany should require. But theStatesnot satisfi’d with Excuses, when the Actions plainly manifested what their Intentions were, Complain’d to theFrenchKing of the unthankful and malicious Dealings of thePortugueseCrown; and meeting but with small Redress, they prepar’d to right themselves by force of Arms, and to that end rais’d several Regiments of Land-Soldiers, besides Seamen, to send toBrasile. The Fleet design’d thither, consisting of twenty two Sail, after it had been frozen up beforeFlushingthree Moneths, set Sail at last in the beginningofFebruary, Anno 1646. with the LordSchonenburgh, a Member of theStates, the CouncellorGoch, and TreasurerBeaumond, Men very well experienc’d in Governing of Countreys: To these were added the eminent Merchants ofAmsterdam,HaeksandTrovire, to keep theWest-IndiaCompanies Accounts, andLe Heremietfor their Secretary.Sigismond Schuppebore the chief Command over theMilitia, and the AdmiralBankertover the Fleet, which suffer’d the greatest hardship imaginable; for being driven by tempestuous Winds into theDowns, two of them driving from their Anchors were cast away on theFlats. The Fleet getting out again, was once more forc’d by a Storm to put in at theIsle of Wight; from whence by reason of continual Gusts they could not stir in nine Weeks time. During this tedious waiting for a fair Wind, theBrasileFrigat, valu’d at 20000l.was split in pieces against a Rock of the Island, and of three hundred Men thirty onely were sav’d. A Pink, which came in two Moneths fromReciffa, brought also sad tydings to the Fleet,viz.That the Town was in such a Condition, that without doubt the Fleet would come too late to their assistance: whereupon they making the more haste, endeavor’d, not without great trouble, to weigh Anchor again, whilest the Wind rose higher and higher, and the Waves going very hollow, drove the Ships down towardsPortlandCoast, full of Rocks, to which they were so near, that they saw aScotchman split in pieces against them; and had not the Wind come about, and abated of its fury, the Fleet had undoubtedly perish’d. No sooner was this Danger past, but another succeeded; for the Soldiers in the Admirals Ship complaining of the small allowance they had of Cheese, Brandy, and Tobacco, had made themselves Masters of the Store-room, and threatned to kill the LordsGochandBeaumond; but they, assisted with Men from the other Ships, who came in at the Cabbin Windows, so order’d the Mutineers, that they ask’d forgiveness, which for many Reasons was granted, onely they were distributed by seven in a Ship throughout the whole Fleet. After a great Contest betweenGochandBeaumondabout carrying the Flag, which could not be decided,Gochwas left by the rest of the Fleet, who Steer’d another Course, and getting near theLine, lay becalm’d six days; in which time he lost very many of his Men by a strange kind ofScorbutewhich rag’d amongst them; at last Sailing along the Promontory of St.Augustine, he came to an Anchor beforeReciffa, which he found in the greatest Exigency imaginable, insomuch that it was resolv’d upon, the next day to surrender the Place up to thePortuguese, on promise of Quarter onely: which Resolution none oppos’d more than theJews; for thePortugueseswore that they would burn them alive, if ever they became Masters ofReciffa, which made them resolve to die with the Sword in their Hands, and sell their Lives at a dear rate. Six Weeks afterGochsArrival, the remaining part of the Fleet, escaping many dreadful Storms, in which, besides the two that were lost in theDowns, they lost five Ships and five hundred Men, arriv’d also atReciffa; where the Commissioners appointed Officers to distribute to every one their certain allowance of Victuals. The prime CouncellorSchonenburghalso decided the Difference betweenBeaumondandGoch, as also betweenHaeksandTrovire, about their Places in the Assembly,viz.that they should sit above one another by Turns. The old Governors,Hamel,Bassi, andBullestraet, were blam’d by every one for the decay ofBrasile; and being sent toHolland, were receiv’d with frowning Looks, and rail’d against in Pamphlets as faithless Persons, who sought nothing but their own advantage, and were threatned to be call’d to an Account. It was also laid to their charge, that they had not given a true Account of the State and Condition ofBrasile; that the State was much more decay’d than they had made known, by which means the present Power prov’d too weak to do any thing to the Enemy.
GarstmanFin’d and Disgrac’d upon KingDary’s Complaint.
Amongst other Misfortunes which befell theWest-IndiaCompany, the Revolt of theTapuyansand otherBrasilianswas not the least, which hapned upon the occasion ofGarstman’s putting to Death ofJacob Rabbi, aGerman, and indeed their chief Ringleader in all Robberies and Villanies; butDarytheir then King alledging thatRabbiwas wrongfully Executed byGarstman, and that his Tryal belong’d to him as King, prosecutedGarstmanso vigorously, that he and his EnsignJacob Boulan, his Accessory in the Fact, had their Goods and Salary confiscated, and they themselves were sent home in disgrace.
ThePortugueseInvitation prevails above theNetherlanders.
Mean while the Council seeing that there was not much good to be done by force of Arms, endeavor’d by mild ways to invite the revoltedPortugueses, who were all promis’d Pardon for their Insurrection in an Edict which was publish’d in all places, onelyViera,Almado,De Rouche,Antonio Calvantelca, andHoogenstraet, for whom great sums of Money were offer’d, were excepted. ThePortugueseon the contrary publish’d, That they would receive all thoseNetherlandersinto favor that would come over to them, and pay the Debts which they ow’d to theWest-IndiaCompany, and also Transport them whither they pleas’d. These Promises, written inEnglish,Dutch,French, andPortuguese, and hung every where on the Boughs of Trees, and other publick Places, operated much more than the Privy-Councils Edicts; for in stead of onePortuguesethat came to them, several ran to thePortuguesefromReciffa, notwithstanding a strict Guard was kept to prevent them, besides the great mortality amongst the Soldiers and Inhabitants through several raging Distempers, and want of fresh Provisions: Which general Calamity, it seems, very much cow’d the Spirits of those that were left; for in a Sally meeting with five hundredPortugueses, notwithstanding they were equal in number, yet they made a shameful Retreat; yea, thoughSchuppecame with eight hundred Men to their assistance, yet he could not prevail with them to face about either by fair means or foul, for with his own hand he Ran-through an Ensign, Sergeant, and two Soldiers, who ran away first. Yet notwithstanding this base and cowardly Retreat, it was resolv’d on to set uponOlindaand the Promontory St.Augustine; and at the same timeHindersonwas sent to make himself Master ofRio Franciscowith fifteen hundred Men, and to harrase all the Countrey thereabouts with Fire and Sword, that so he might force thePortugueseto leaveReciffa.
Revolt of theTapuyans.
ThoughJohn Dary, King of theTapuyans, seem’d well enough contented with the punishment ofGarstman, yet a great Party of his Subjects were not satisfi’d, but went and joyn’d with thePortuguese, becauseGarstmanhad not been deliver’d to them inSiara, where they kill’d all theNetherlandersthey could meet with, and sent Presents to their KingDary, if possible, to oblige him to joyn with thePortuguese: But he reply’d,That he had more reason to punish them for their ill usage of the Inhabitants inSiara,than to have any thing to do with thePortuguese.
The Council inform’d hereof, sent the InterpreterRalph Baron, who had a long time Convers’d with theTapuyans, with a Present of Axes, Knives, Looking-glasses, Shirts, Combs, and the like Trifles, to KingDary, desiring him to continue his former kindness towards theHollanders; whichDarypromis’d, provided he might receive Assistance fromReciffaagainst those whom he had made his Enemies for theNetherlanderssake; whichBaronpromis’d should be done as soon as the fresh Forces which were daily expected from theTexel,Maes, andZealand, came toBrasile.
The Fort ofRio Grandetaken byHinderson.
Capt.Montagneoverpower’d by the Enemy, and slain.
HindersonLanding atRio Grande, took the Fort without firing a Gun, thePortugueseat his first coming flying into the Woods. He found here abundance of Cattel; for no place in the World breeds more than this, several Husbandmen having fifteen thousand Head of Beasts, of which many were taken to supply the want of ProvisionsatReciffa. As soon as he had taken the Fort, he caus’d it to be pull’d down to the Ground, because it stood in an inconvenient place, and immediately rais’d another, which was much better to be defended, by reason of the rising Ground; but he could neither bring that Work, nor any other Design to any perfection, because of the treachery of his Soldiers, who being most of themRoman-Catholicks, were so inclin’d to thePortugueseInterest, that they daily more and more deserted the Companies Service, and gave Intelligence to the Enemy of their Transactions. Amongst others, anAntwerperwas apprehended for an Intelligencer, and being Hang’d on a Gibbet, fell three times one after another on his Feet, the Halter breaking like a burnt Thred, which gave him so many times of respit and opportunity of supplicating for Life; but his Crime was too hainous to admit of Pardon. Mean while the fledPortuguesesbeing supply’d with fresh Supplies from all Places, especially from St.Salvador, to the number of twelve hundred Men, they kill’d the Out-watches, consisting of twenty Men: The next Sentinel being warn’d by the noise, alarm’d the new Fort, which was scarce finish’d, because a mighty Shower of Rain had wash’d away the Walls.Hindersonbeing wounded in the Leg, sent CaptainMontagneagainst the Enemy, of whose Power he was sensible; yet going to the place where the Watch that was kill’d had kept their Station, he met with two hundredPortugueses, divided into three Companies, and drawn out for Battel, who running away were pursu’d byMontagne, till coming up to their Regiment, which consisted in all of a thousand Men, divided into five Companies, they fell on all sides uponMontagne, who fighting valiantly, was overpower’d and kill’d, with three hundred of his Men, and almost as many more taken Prisoners; amongst whom was the MinisterAstette, four hundred onely escaping into the Fort, whereHindersonstay’d expecting the event ofMontagne’s Exploits.
This Defeat spoil’dSchuppe’s Design, who by his marching toRio Franciscothought to draw the Enemy fromReciffa; but now being forc’d to think of some other way, he thought it convenient to invade St.Salvadorby Sea, as the Enemy had doneReciffaby Land. WhereforeHindersonreceiv’d order to stay with six hundred Men (being all that were left of fifteen hundred,) onRio Grande, whither a Barque with Provisions being sent, was taken, and the Men in cool Blood kill’d by thePortuguese.
Schuppe’s Victory on the IslandTaperica.
Lichthart’s Death.
At the same time it was given out, thatSchuppewas going with the AdmiralBankerttoHinderson’s assistance; and to delude thePortuguesethe more,Schuppewent with two thousand five hundred Men toRio Francisco, where he lay some days at an Anchor; upon which the Governor of St.Salvadorsending several Companies thither,SchuppeSail’d with all speed to St.Salvador, and Landing on the IslandTaperica, four Leagues in circumference, he got a rich Booty, and spar’d none whome’re he met with, insomuch that two thousand were destroy’d, some by the Sword upon the place, others by their haste to get over to St.Salvador; for most of the Vessels being too full, sunk with them. Amongst the Prisoners that were taken and sent toReciffa, were two Monks, who were design’d the same Entertainment as the MinisterAstetteshould receive in St.Salvador; whereupon they immediately wrote to their Fraternity, to take care thatAstetteshould not be burnt alive, as thePortuguesehad threatned, because they were to expect the same usage: whereuponAstettewas set at liberty, and had leave to walk up and down the Streets of St.Salvador.Schuppefortifi’d himself onTaperica, near an Inlet under the new Works, and together withLichthartwatch’d for allPortugueseVessels: ButLichthartdying here, was carry’d toReciffa, and there bury’d. On the other side, the Governor of St.Salvadorsent fifteen hundred Men in the Night to the other side ofTaperica,where with all speed they Intrench’d themselves, and Sally’d daily out of their Works uponSchuppe, so that many Men were lost on both sides; butSchuppewas in the worst Condition, in regard his Soldiers ran over in great numbers to St.Salvador, where they were well Entertain’d; of which he advertis’d the Privy-Council, who were the less able to give him Redress, as having the same cause of Complaint.
A pitiful Example of a young Soldiers Execution.
Amongst others there hapned a sad Accident of a young Soldier, scarce sixteen years old, and born atRoan, who having robb’d his Father’s Cash, went in a Ship toHolland; where he lavishly spending the Money, was forc’d at last to List himself in theWest-IndiaCompanies Service, and coming with the fore-mention’d Fleet toReciffa, endeavor’d with two Companies to run to thePortuguese; but overtaken, was Try’d for the Fact, and Condemn’d to be Hang’d, for none of his Excuses which he made, of going over the River onely to fetch some Oranges and Lemmons to refresh himself, would save him, nor his protesting that he had no intention of going to the Enemy, nor the Promise that his Father should release him for ten thousand Crowns, nor his Minority, which ought chiefly to have been consider’d, but that Necessity stopt the Ears of the Compassionate; so that his Execution drew pity from the Beholders a few Weeks after.
A notable Passage of aPortuguese, Executed for Treason.
A very astonishing Passage hapned atReciffaupon another Sentence of Death pronounc’d against aPortuguese, who after the publication of the Act of Pardon came toReciffa, and there hir’d a Seaman for two hundred Crowns, to carry a Letter, made up in a Leaden Box, to the Governor of the Promontory of St.Augustine, with order that if he was set upon any where, he should throw the Box into the Water. The Letter written in strange Characters, contain’d a Declaration of the small number of Men inReciffa, most of theNetherlandersForces lying on the IslandTaperica, so that ifReciffawere Storm’d along the Bank, and fromMaurice-stadt, it might easily be taken. This Letter being intercepted, thePortuguesewas taken and Condemn’d, and as he was carrying to the Place of Execution cry’d aloud,You People take delight in my Death, but you shall be interrupted; and indeed it hapned accordingly:for when the Executioner began to scorch the half-strangled Criminal with Straw, there sprung up a strange Spirit of Contention amongst the Spectators, who began to justle and strike one another; and soon after a Whirlwind rose in the midst of the Market-place, which in a moment caus’d them all to stagger like drunken People, their Hats and Caps were blown up into the Air, the whole multitude tumbling confusedly on the Ground, the Arm’d Soldiers flying to the next Houses, and the Executioner falling down in a Trance from the Scaffold: A full quarter of an hour this Confusion had lasted, when the People came to themselves again, and the Hangman return’d to his Business, cutting off thePortuguese’s Nose, Ears, Privy-Members, and tearing out his Heart, which he threw to two Dogs, who devour’d the same; then dividing the Body into Quarters, which were set up at the four Corners of the City for an Example.
The same Punishment receiv’d aMulatto, who endeavor’d to fire two of theHollandersbest Ships in the Haven.
Notwithstanding these Punishments, the Soldiers ran away daily; the blame whereof might justly be laid on the Magistrates, who took no notice of the Soldiers just Complaints of their Officers, cheating them of a third part of their Provision, and inflicting severe Punishments upon them as Mutineers, when they had real cause of Complaint.
Schuppewas at the same time shrewdly put to it for want of Men, who either dy’d of the then reigning Disease, or ran away to the Enemy; so that he was forced to leave the IslandTaperica, and inclose himself within his new rais’d Sconce.
AdmiralBankertgains a great Victory over thePortugueseFleet.
The AdmiralBankerthad better success; for Cruising up and down before the InletTodos los Sanctos, after the taking and sinking of several Ships as they came in his way, he at last set upon thePortugueseFleet, consisting of seven great Ships, of which one got to St.Salvador, another was sunk, and the other five were taken, being valu’d at twenty Tuns of Gold, or 200000 l.Sterl.In this Engagement were kill’d above four hundredPortugueses, besides two hundred and fifty who were taken Prisoners, and sent Shackled toReciffa. Amongst them was the new Vice-Roy ofBrasile, the Admiral, Vice-Admiral, three Monks, and several other Persons of note.
MarshalHousarrives atReciffawith a fresh Supply.
This Victory began to give some Breath toReciffa, when at the same time MarshalHousarriv’d there with seven Ships, Mann’d with five hundred Soldiers. ThisHouson the seventeenth ofAugust, Anno 1645. had been taken Prisoner at theEngenhohaving fought so long till all his Powder was spent, so that he was forc’d to surrender himself upon promise of Quarter toVidal, who after he had taken an Oath upon theBible, to spare the Lives of all theHollandersandBrasiliansfell upon theBrasiliansand slew them, being a hundred in all, in Cold-blood, who yet sold their Lives at no easie rate. Being carry’d Prisoner, together with CaptainBristow,Listry,Wildschut,Blar, and two hundred more, byVieratoCasa de Prugar, he was thence sent toPortugal, where being releas’d, he brought News to theStatesof the mean Condition of theWest-IndiaCompany, and that all things must needs be lost, if they did not speedily take the Business into Consideration: Whereupon he was furnish’d with a Supply of Ships and Men, with which he set Sail forBrasile; where being arriv’d, most part of the Soldiers he brought with him were Transported toTaperica, to assistSchuppe; who as soon as they came to him, march’d into the Countrey; where being set upon by a thousandPortugueses, he lost sixty Men.
Soon afterHoogenstraetreceiving Orders from the Governor of St.Salvador, who was inform’d by some Prisoners, thatSchuppehad not above twelve hundred fighting Men, to fall upon him with three thousand, made a furious Assault upon theSconce in two places, and Storming the same for two hours together, lost four hundred Men, which made him draw off a little before Day-break.
In the interim nine Privateers, fitted out by several Merchants ofHollandandZealand, came to Cruise up and down before the Coast ofBrasile; which theStatesthe rather allow’d of, because theWest-IndiaCompany was not able to send any more Supplies thither: Nor was it long ere they took fivePortuguesePrizes, and afterwards (joyning withBankert) four more laden full of Sugar, in the HavenTodos los Sanctos, where they threw a hundred and twentyPortuguese, and fifty revoltedHollandersoverboard.
The Council ofReciffasend over Messengers to represent the sad condition of the Place.
Bankert’s Death and Character.
Reciffabeing at that time reduc’d to very great straits, earnestly implor’d Aid from theStates, but to little purpose, by reason of the Differences amongst themselves, which hapned upon this occasion: TheSpanishKing by his Agent in theHaguemade Overtures of Peace, and proffer’d to fall upon thePortugueseinBrasile: to which Proposition, whenas the rest of theStatesseem’d inclinable, those ofZealandwould no ways hearken, being resolv’d to have nothing to do withSpain. The news of this Dissention exceedingly perplex’d the Council atReciffa, especially when to that news was added, thatBankert, the onely terror to the Enemy at Sea, was Commanded home by theStatesofZealand, which yet theGeneral Statesstrictly forbad. Whereupon they thought fit to send one of their Assembly to theHague, to make theStatesacquainted with the miserable Condition ofBrasile, and to Expostulate with them for their insensibility of their Condition, and to let them understand, that ten thousand Men would not restoreBrasileto its former Condition: Every one strove to be the Messenger of these sad tydings, but especially their PresidentSchonenberghwish’d it might be his lot to leave the unhappy Countrey ofBrasile; but because his departure would not have been without great murmuring of the People,Haekswas sent in his stead. Together with him wentHinderson(who was in no esteem since the Destruction onRio Grande;) they both Embarqu’d onBankert’s Ship and five others, which in stead of being laden with rich Commodities, and ballasted with Sugar, as heretofore, were fraught with discontented Seamen, decrepid and sick Soldiers, unserviceableJews, poor Travellers,PortuguesePrisoners, and onely ten Weeks Provisions; whereas all other Vessels at their Return fromBrasileus’d to have Provision for three Moneths, which at this time could not be spar’d. The Council also made Orders what Persons should go with the fore-mention’d Ships,viz.None but those whose Names were written in the Lists which had stuck six Weeks at every Church Door, that by that means no Creditor might suffer by his Debtors going away, nor any Criminal escape his deserved punishment.Bankerthad scarce been a Week at Sea, when he dy’d of the Palsie: he was a Man, who for his valiant Exploits was from a Fore-mast Man preferred to be Captain; which Office he perform’d with great Prudence and Valor; but that which first made him most eminently taken notice of, was his Engaging with thirteenDunkirkers, of which he sunk three, and being boarded by three more, and fir’d at by the rest, he refus’d to surrender his Ship on promise of Quarter, but plac’d his eldest Son with a lighted Match in the Powder-room, commanding him on pain of Death to blow up the Ship with the threeDunkirkersas soon as he gave the Word; which valorous Resolution so amaz’d the Enemy, that they let him go. He also behav’d himself bravely in theDownsagainst theSpanishAdmiralOquendo. His two Sons that were present when he gave up the Ghost, would not have his Body thrown overboard, notwithstanding it stunk so intolerably, that all the Provisions in the Ship were tainted by it; therefore taking out his Entrails, they Salted the Body, wrapt it up in four Sail-cloths, and nailing the same up in a pitchyChest, bury’d it under the Ballast. Mean while the Fleet approaching theFlemmishIsles, was surpris’d by a terrible Storm, in which the Vice-Admiral’s old Ship split asunder, but most of the People were sav’d. BetweenCaliceandDoverthey met with eightOstenders, against whom they made themselves ready to Fight; but they, according to the King ofSpain’s Order, instead of Hostility shew’d them Friendship. All their Provisions were spent, when they happily Anchor’d beforeFlushing, whereBankert’s Body was Interr’d with great Solemnity.
Overtures of Peace from thePortugueserefus’d by theNetherlands.
In the interim theUnited Netherlandshad fitted out another Fleet to assistReciffa, theWest-IndiaCompany having first demanded of the King ofPortugaltwo hundred and eighty Tuns of Gold, to the value of which they affirm’d themselves to have been damag’d by the Insurrection of thePortuguese. On the other side, the King ofPortugalwas in a quandary about the Business ofBrasile; for first, he had no other thoughts but thatBrasilewould have fall’n into his hands within the space of three Moneths, because the Plot there was so subtilly laid; neither did he think theStateswould have concern’d themselves with theWest-IndiaCompanies Business, which now it was manifest they did. Besides this, there was a third Inconvenience,viz.that theSpanishCrown endeavor’d to conclude a Peace with theUnited Netherlands; wherefore that he might put a stop to the sending of the Fleet toBrasile, he dealt with theFrenchAmbassador to make very advantageous Proffers in his behalf,viz.That he would surrender all the conquer’d Places, and make good all the Damages that had been sustain’d thereby. The Fleet appointed to go toBrasilewas hereupon stopt, till theStateshad Consulted about an Answer on the fore-mention’d Propositions; but whenHaeksbrought news of the falshood of thePortuguese, the Scale was immediately turn’d, insomuch that thePortugueseAmbassador went in danger of his Life, till the Mutineers were put into Custody. Moreover the Fleet was order’d to Sail with all speed possible toReciffa, with promise that another Fleet should soon follow with six thousand Men; but the many disconsolate tydings that had been brought of late, of the hardships and sufferings of those that went before, through the unwholsomness of the Climate, the want of Provisions, the Strength and Cruelty of the Enemy, made the Seamen and Soldiers very unwilling to go so fatal a Voyage, insomuch that as many as could, made their escape: yet at last, on the last day ofDecember, Anno 1647. the Fleet set Sail under the Command ofCorneliszoon de Wit; some Weeks before whichSchuppewas forc’d to desert the IslandTaperica, to go and aidReciffa, which thePortuguesefrom a rais’d Battery on the other side of the RiverBiberibishot at so incessantly, that none were safe either in their Houses or in the Streets.
Mean while thePortugueseAgent,Francisco de Sousa Continho, proffer’d theStatesto go toBrasilehimself, and cause to be restor’d all those Places which had been taken from theWest-IndiaCompany, particularly the City St.SalvadorandTercera, besides Reparation for all other Damages.
Grave Mauricehis high Demands.
At the same timeGrave Mauricewas Treated with to go toBrasileagain, but his Demands were so high, that it came to nothing; for he requir’d 4000l.yearly to spend at his Table, and 5000l.besides during his Life; also 2000l.to set him out, and twelve thousand Men to Besiege St.Salvador, which was always guarded by four thousand, and thirty Carvels lay ready beforeLisbonto carry four thousand more thither.
AngolaandLoandotaken by thePortuguese.
All things went very ill on theHollandersside at this present; for besides that the fore-mention’d Fleet had not its wish’d success, most of the Men being destroy’d by the immoderate Heat of the Climate,AngolaandLoandowere also taken by thePortuguese.
These Misfortunes made theWest-IndiaCompany begin to be very forward to come to a Treaty with thePortugueseAgent, who before seem’d rather to court them, having offer’d to Engage for the restoration of whatever they possess’d at that time, when the ten years Peace was concluded; but when they came to insist upon that Point, he answer’d, That he must expect new Orders fromLisbonconcerningLoando, because the taking of that Place caus’d an alteration in the state of Affairs. But theStatesno way satisfi’d with Delays, that were like to prove both hurtful and disgraceful, resolv’d to put into Execution what they had before agreed upon,viz.TheEast-IndiaCompany was impower’d to make Prize of allPortugueseShips towards the payment of the fifteen Tuns of Gold ordain’d for theWest-IndiaCompany, to help them against thePortugueseOppression. TheWest-IndiaCompany also receiv’d Commissions to Cruise forPortugueseVessels beforeBrasile.