A Colony of French sent over into the Island of Maragnan.
Driven out by the Portuguese.
The French Captain Riffaut, upon the Advice of Ouyrapive, who bore a great sway amongst his Maragnan Subjects, fitted out three Ships; but because of a Contention between the Sea-men, and the loss of his chiefest Vessel, he was forc’d to Sail to France, and leave some of his Men on Maragnan, under the Command of a young Gentleman call’d De Vaux, who carry’d himself so discreetly amongst the Islanders, that they promis’d to embrace the Christian Religion, if new Supplies came from France to assist them against their Enemies; of which De Vaux advis’d the French King Henry the Fourth, who approv’d of it, and sent Monsieur De la Ravardiere to Maragnan, to make a farther Enquiry into the whole Matter, where he spent six Moneths; after which returning he found the King murder’d, wherefore the Business lay dead for a while; but at length Ravardiere took with him the Lord Rosilly, and the Baron of Sansi, desiring some Capuchins of the Queen-Mother, for the promulgating of the Christian Religion in Maragnan; which being granted, they set Sail with three Ships Anno 1612. with which arriving safely there, and Landing, he built next the chiefest Haven the Fort St. Lewis on a Hill, by whose foot two Rivers glide into the Ocean. After which this new Plantation went on for a considerable time, till the Portuguese overpowering them, drove them out of this their new Field, making themselves absolute Masters of the Fort, and also of the great Mountain Ibouyapap, four Leagues high, plain on the top, twenty four Leagues long, and little less in breadth. No Champain under the Sun is more pleasant and fruitful than this; for in some places it is shaded with Trees, in others hath brave Pastures, lies under a wholsom Climate, and abounds with fresh Springs, from whence are deriv’d store of Brooks, and Rivulets full of Fish.
Sect. XI.
The Lordships Tamarica, Rio Grande, Siara, and Para.
Description of the Lordship of Tamarica.
The Præfecture of Tamarica, not above three Leagues in length and two in breadth, so call’d from a little Island lying before it, and part of its Precinct, is counted the first, that is, the most ancient Lordship of Brasile, having otherwise nothing in it that is very considerable, save onely a good Haven or Port, with a Castle for the Security or Command of it, held to be impregnable, and so found by the Dutch, who under Peter Heyn and Stein Callenfels in vain attempted the taking of it, as shall be mention’d hereafter more particularly, but made it useless to the Portuguese, by making a Bulwark at the Mouth of the Haven, and so blocking it up.
This Capatania yielded formerly a Rent of thirty thousand Ducats to the Earls of Montesanto, whose Right it was.