Description ofMaurice-stadt.
Maurice-stadtlies pleasantly along the RiverBiberibi, and is wash’d behind by the RiverCapivaribi; It hath a large Wharf, a brave Magazine, aFrenchChurch, and a Guild-hall: The Buildings are not altogether so high as those inReciffa, where they are commonly three Stories, because the Ground is very dear.
Grave Maurice’s Court lying opposite toReciffa, on the Shore ofBiberibi, rises from the middle of a Garden with two high Towers.
Not far from the CastleErnestusis a Potters Kiln, and on the other side, near the FortFrederick Henrickseven Wells, and some Morasses, and towards the Water-side, a Stone Battery.
Forts ofBrasile.
The FortOrangeat the Southern Mouth of the Haven, hath, by reason of its dry Moats, a strong Pallisado, four Bulwarks, and twelve Guns. The Bulwarks about the Church, and the Battery before the Haven, also securesSchuppen-stadtagainst thePortuguese. On the Battery stand nine Iron and two Brass Guns. At the Northern Entrance of the Haven appears a Tower with three Guns.
The FortMargaretahath two Brass and forty Iron Guns.
Restringa, surrounded with Pallisado’s, rises near a sandy Point in the middle of the River.
The CastleAntonio, wash’d by the Sea, hath onely one Tower, but that sufficiently strong to defend it against an Enemy.
TheFranciscanCloyster, strengthned by a Wall and Earthen Works, serve in stead of a Castle toFrederick-stadt, and is the more secure by reason of a Half-Moon, Moats, Rails, and a Battery at the Mouth of the Haven.
The stonie Fortification ofCeulenlies near the Sea. All these are the Fortresses of the NorthernBrasile.
To the Southward ofReciffaappears the PromontorySt. Augustine, where the Haven is secur’d by the FortsVander Dussen,Domburgh, and a Stone Battery.
Porto Calvois fortifi’d by a Castle, built on a steep Hill forty Foot high.
The FortMauriceCommands the Ferry ofRio Francisco, and is built on a high and steep Hill, with five Bulwarks; the lowermost Plain is overflow’d by the River in the Summer Season. The Store-houses hereabouts are ill furnish’d, and if not suddenly supply’d, ’tis to be fear’d, that a great Famine will follow, as already it is begun, and we may thank the faint-heartedness of the Enemy that it hath increas’d no more.
MAURITIOPOLIS
CASTRUM MAURITIJ AD RIPAM FLUMINIS S. FRANCISCI
ARX PRINCIPIS GUILJELMI
TheMilitiais distributed into all the Forts or Villages, that so they may the better procure their Provisions, watch the approach of theSpaniards, and prevent all Incroach-ments of the Enemy. InMauriceCastle are five hundred and forty Men in Garrison; in theAfogados, two hundred ninety three; inCamarigibiandPorto Calvo, four hundred and eighty; inSerinhain, seven hundred and eighty; inPojuca, twenty five; in the MillsPanterra, ninety seven; at the PromontoryAntonio, two hundred and forty; in the CastleVander Dussen, a hundred and seventy; the like number is inAmaroandMoribeca; in the VillageSt. Laurence, four hundred and twenty two; in the FortPrince William, two hundred and sixty three; inFrederick Henrick, hath two hundred and thirty; inErnestus, two hundred and eighty; inReciffa, two hundred and seventy seven; in the CastleBruine, a hundred and twenty five; inOlinda, a hundred and ninety three; inIguaraza, ninety three; inOrange, a hundred and eighty two; inGoyana, a hundred and sixty five; inFrederick-stadt, a hundred and one; in the FortMargareta, three hundred and sixty; in the CastleCeulen, eighty eight; inAntonio VaesliesGrave Maurice’s Guard;Siarais defended by forty; so that the whole Power consists of six thousand one hundred and eighty Men, too weak a number to resist the Enemy both by Land and Sea; nay, had he had Courage, theWest-IndiaCompanies Concerns inBrasilewould long since have been in a low Condition; for theSpanishFleet which came lately fromCadis, carry’d three thousand Men, besides seven hundred which they brought fromSt. Salvador; the Duke ofBagnolawas also ready with two thousandPortugueses, and a thousandBrasilians, to joyn with the Seamen, and expected also as great a number fromParayba,Pernambuco,Seregippa,Itamarica,Rio Grande, andSiara, contrary to the Oath taken inReciffa: But theSpanishFleet keeping close to the BayTodos los Sanctos, hath hitherto done nothing, except the sending of several Companies into the Countrey, to rob and pillage theBrasilianVillages. Moreover, theMulatto’s andNegro’s do great mischief up and down, and so much the more, because they go and come along private Ways, through which none can follow them. Most of the Ships being badly fitted, are scarce able to keep the Sea; and the Soldiers want Clothes exceedingly. The CitySt. Salvadorkeeps the Countrey in a continual Alarm, so that five thousand Men are requir’d to conquer it: Eighteen great Ships, and as many Ketches, besides lesser Vessels, ought to be sent thither, the Sea being full of Pyrats. The common Treasury is so much behind-hand, that none can receive any Pay. The Owners of the Sugar-Mills will not deliver any Sugar without ready Money, because of theNetherlandersremoval from thence.
This Relation of the Affairs of theNetherland West-IndiaCompanyin Brasile, was deliver’d to them in Writing byVander Dussen.
Grave Mauricebefore his coming away fromBrasile, built a pleasant Palace along the RiverBiberibi, before the FortErnestusonAntonio Vaes; the outmost Work whereof was shaded by a double Row ofCoco-Trees, and had a Pond full of all sorts of Fish; and not far from thence, on one side, a second encompass’d a Coney-Warren, which respected a pell-mell; near it a Garden, curiously divided into roundParterres, which led into a long Park ofBakkoven-Trees; and at the end a great Dove-house. Next the River stood a large Stable, on one side whereof was a Field to whiten Linnen in, and a Kitchin-Garden wherein was a large Spot full of Orange-Trees, a row of Vines, which bore Grapes every three Moneths, and a delightful Walk, beset on each side with Lime-Trees. On the other side of this Palace stood a Banquetting-house, near a row of Pome-granate-Trees, and another of Fig and Cittron-Trees. Behind the Palace was a Fish-pond with two Iles, for the Swans. A Dove-house also appear’d near the FortErnestus, where theNegro’s watch’d the Horses, and led them to Water in a Fishpond in a large Wood. Before the Palace appear’d a Stone Pallisado, which like a Half-Moon ran into the River. The Palace it self rose with two Towers, one of which serv’d for a Sea-mark.
Moreover,Grave Mauriceextended his new City to the FortFrederick Henrick, divided the Morassie Grounds by several Moats, and laid a Bridge cross the RiverBiberibi, betweenReciffaand the CityMaurice, another cross the StreamCapivaribi, between the said CityMauriceand the Main Land.
In the time whenAlbuquerqueGovern’dBrasilefor the King ofSpain, it was Disputed among thePortuguese, whether it were not requisite to desert the CityOlinda, and causing the Inhabitants to remove toReciffa, joyn the same with a Bridge to the IsleAntonio Vaes, because those Places are almost invincible, and much more convenient for Ships thanOlinda? But theHollanderssurpris’d them on a sudden, before they could bring the Business to pass, and after a while prosecuted the same Design themselves.
Grave Mauricehis stately Bridge over the RiverBiberibi.
Grave Mauricespent twenty four thousandGuildersin laying a Bridge over the RiverBiberibi, betweenReciffaandAntonio Vaes. Having rais’d just fifteen Stone Columns from the Ground, they came to the deepest part of the RiverAntonio Vaes, when the Architect began to despair of accomplishing the same, because the Ground lay deep under Water, and the Stream ran very swift: Those which dwelt atReciffacry’d,That they had undertaken a Business which was not in the power of Man to effect, and that there was above ten thousand Pound already spent in vain on fifteen Pillars: In this sort they began to clamor againstGrave Maurice, especially the Owners of Houses inReciffa, who foresaw that many would remove from thence to the pleasant IsleAntonio Vaes, as soon as the Bridge was finish’d; after which the Houses inReciffawould be at low Rates. ButGrave Mauricejudging that the Disgrace would fall upon him, if the Bridge should be left half finish’d, caus’d at his own proper Charge, huge pieces of lasting Timber to be cut, forty and fifty Foot long, and so ramm’d into the Ground, some streight, others sloaping, to support the rest, and in two Moneths finish’d the same. On the first day after this new Bridge was compleated, there went so many People over it, that the Toll which they paid, amounted to above 60 l.Sterl.and was after that Farm’d for twenty eight thousandGuildersyearly, a Citizen that pass’d over the same being to pay 2d.and a Negro or Soldier 1d.but a Horseman paid 4d.and a Cart or Wayn 7d.
Another over the RiverCapivaribi.
Since thisGrave Mauricebuilt a second Bridge cross the RiverCapivaribi, which joyn’dAntonio Vaezto the Main Continent. This Bridge being eighty six Rods long of durable Timber, was finish’d in seven Weeks.
His Pleasure-houseBonavista.
MoreoverGrave Mauricebuilt a pleasant Banquetting-house, call’dBonavista, at his own Charge before the said Bridge, from whence he could see the PalaceFreyburgh,Olinda, the FortErnestus,Maurice-stadt,Reciffa, theFrenchChurch, the Ships in the Harbors, and also the CastleFrederick Henrick. This Banquetting-house hath at each corner a Turret, and in the middle thereof a spacious Room, crown’d with a fair Terrace.
BOAVISTA
GVIANA siue AMAZONVM REGIO.