A great Fleet set out by the King of Spain for the recovery of St. Salvador.
The Spanish King seeming exceedingly concern’d at the loss of so eminent a Place, fitted out a great Fleet for the recovery of what had been taken from him; but the Netherland West-India Company having notice of it, put themselves into a posture of Defence, and in a short time made ready eighteen Men of War and seven Ketches, Mann’d with a thousand six hundred and ninety Seamen, and a thousand three hundred and fifty Land-Soldiers, John Dirkszoon Lam being Admiral: But news coming day after day of the extraordinary Preparations in Spain, it was judg’d convenient to strengthen the Fleet with fourteen Ships and two Ketches more, carrying a thousand four hundred and thirty Seamen, and five hundred eighty Soldiers, under the Command of General Boudewyn Henrickszoon, and Admiral Andries Veron. Moreover, the West-India Company fitted out a third Fleet, consisting of four Frigats and three Ketches, Commanded by Henry Kat, with Orders to Cruise along the Spanish Coast.
In the beginning of the Year 1625. Frederick de Toledo weighed Anchor from Cales with one and thirty Gallions, four Pinnaces, three Tartans, and a Carvel, all carrying seventy five hundred Men. The Soldiers were divided into three Regiments, Commanded by the Colonels Pedro Osorio, Juan Orellana, and the Marquess De Torreclusa.
St. Salvador re-taken by the Spaniards from the Hollanders.
Near St. Jago at the African Cape Verde, Toledo joyn’d with the Portuguese Fleet, consisting of twenty one Gallions and fourteen Carvels and Barques, Mann’d with four thousand Seamen, two Regiments of Soldiers, Commanded by Antonio Nunnez Barreio, and Francisco de Almeida; but the chief Commander of this Fleet was Emanuel Meneses. Which great Fleet being arriv’d at St. Salvador, Toledo himself Landed at the Fort Antonio, leaving the Command of the Fleet to Juan Fajardo: The first thing he did, was to set upon the Cloyster Bento; which having gain’d, he left Serjeant Troppani with two Regiments in the same, whilest he went and Storm’d the Carmelites Minster, and at last took it; but in the mean time four hundred Hollanders Sallying out, made a furious Onset upon the two Regiments, who had possession of the Cloyster Bento, where the Spaniards sustain’d considerable damage; for besides the wounding of three Captains, and the loss of a great number of Soldiers, there were slain the Commanders Emanuel Aquitara, Alonso de Gana, Pedro San Stevan, Diego Espinosa, and Colonel Pedro Osorio; But Toledo no whit dismay’d hereat, but taking fresh courage, brought twenty nine Demi-Culverins ashore, which fir’d so vehemently out of the Carmelites and Bento’s Cloysters, on the seventeen Dutch Ships that lay near the Shore, that several of them were sunk, and others shatter’d beyond hopes of ever being repair’d. After this the Spanish Army was divided into three several Parties, which continually fir’d on the City from three new rais’d Works; the chiefest Party, which was in the Carmelites Minster, had twenty three Brass Guns; the second, plac’d on the great Wall of the Cloyster Bento, fir’d Night and Day with eight Demy-Cannons on the City, in which all things were in a confusion, whilest the Governor William Schouten went unconcern’d from one Tavern to another railing at the Soldiers, who thereupon mutinying and deposing him, chose Serjeant Hans Ernst Kyf in his room, who, as he was calling a Council of War, receiv’d a Summons from Toledo to deliver up the City; at which Kyf being much surpris’d, sent a Drummer with a Letter to Toledo, desiring him to grant the Besieged three Weeks time to repair and make fit their batter’d Vessels to carry them back for Holland; and also that they might, according to Martial Custom, march out with lighted Matches, flying Colours, Bullets in their Mouths, and with Bag and Baggage. To which Toledo return’d Answer, That he was now in his own Countrey, and had gotten possession of four Fortifications about St. Salvador, on which he had planted thirty seven Cannons, and therefore saw no such necessity to grant the Besieged (who could not possibly expect any fresh Supplies) such advantageous and bold Demands; and onely promis’d them their Lives should be at his discretion. Yet at last William Stoop, Hugh Antoniszoon, and Francis du Chesne being sent to the Carmelites Cloyster, agreed with Toledo on these Conditions: That the Hollanders should surrender St. Salvador in the Condition it was then in, march out unarm’d, but with Baggage, and have a free Passage with Provisions and all things necessary allow’d them for their Transportation for Holland. Whereupon on the first of May the City was deliver’d up to the Spaniards in such disorder, that some of them had taken possession of the Gate Bento, before those on the other side of the City knew of any Agreement that was made between Toledo and Colonel Kyf. And thus the Place which had a whole year been under the Jurisdiction of the Netherlanders, fell again under the possession of the Spanish Crown, onely through the indiscreet management of the Commanders; for otherwise it was sufficiently strong, and well stor’d with Ammunition and Men, being able to make out two thousand. Moreover, the Ketch De Haes, was set out before from the Holland Fleet, and brought news of the Forces that were sent from the Netherland Havens to their assistance: But the Ships under Admiral Lam, as also those under Boudewyn Henriczoon, were stay’d a considerable time in their Harbors by contrary Winds, and at last reaching the Line were becalm’d, and through the excessive heat of the Climate many Men lost by raging and mortal Distempers, insomuch that they reach’d not the Bay Todos los Sanctos before the twenty sixth of May, on which they saw the Spanish Flag streaming from the Walls of St. Salvador, and fifty great Ships riding at an Anchor near the Shore.
The City Porto Rico surpriz’d by Henrickszoon.
Capt. Uzeel slain.
The Netherland Fleet, divided into four Squadrons, consisted of thirty four Sail, amongst which Lam carry’d the Flag on the Main-top, the Vice-Admiral Adrian Cheszoon on the Fore-top, the Rere-Admiral Andries Veron on the Main-mast, and the Commander of the fourth Squadron on the Mizne-top: All of them seeing the Spaniards absolute Masters, judg’d it most convenient to put to Sea; but standing a pretty while to the South, they found that the strong Current drove them to the Shelves on the West-side of the Inlet; wherefore Tacking about, they made towards the Enemy, who at first seem’d to meet them with twenty eight great Ships, but returning towards the City, the Hollanders also stood to Sea again, Steering Southerly, though without making much advantage in their Way, the Sea going very hollow, and the strong Current setting them towards the Shore, by which means they were in no small danger before the River Francisco, where many of the Men dy’d for want of fresh Provisions, and the number of the Sick increas’d daily, insomuch that some of the Ships were like to perish for want of Men to guide them: It was also judg’d dangerous to lie longer with such a great Fleet near a Lea-Shore, therefore they put into the Inlet Trayciaon, which lies a League to the Northward of the River Monguapigape, from whence a ridge of Rocks extends to Trayciaon, and being overflow’d at High-water, hath three Openings or Entrances, two for great Ships, and one, the most Northern, for small Vessels to pass through: The Sea also breaking against this Cliff never molests the Ships whatever Winds blow. The Countrey is overgrown with Brambles, and hath a Lake two Leagues long, and a quarter broad, on the opposite Shore of which stood a Village, inhabited by Portugueses and Brasilians; but the Portugueses flying from thence left the Brasilians in absolute possession: The Hollanders going thither found thirty Chests of Sugar in one Hut; after which the Admiral Lam caus’d his sick Men to be brought ashore, whilest the Captains Boshuisen, Swart, Dyke, Stapels, and Uzeel, march’d up into the Countrey, where they got plenty of Oranges and Cattel. In the mean time the Ketch Vosken, Mann’d with thirty six Seamen, Cruising along the Sea-Coast of Brasile, took three Ships, one out of the Inlet Todos los Sanctos, laden with Sugar and Tobacco, another with the same Merchandise from Pernambuco, and the third laden with Wines from Madera. On the first of August the Fleet set Sail again, to the great sorrow of the Brasilians, who out of hopes of being protected by them against the Portuguese, had joyn’d their Forces with theirs; but now being forsaken, they expected nothing but utter Ruine; which to escape, many of them desir’d to be admitted to go along with the Fleet, which had been granted them, had not the Hollanders wanted Provisions for themselves. The Fleet getting off at Sea, the Admiral Veron ran with twelve Sail to the Coast of Africa; and Boudewyn Henrickszoon kept eighteen Ships under his Command, the rest returning home with Admiral Lam: and thus the Fleet left the unfortunate Haven Trayciaon, where above seven hundred Dutch Seamen were bury’d. Boudewyn Henrickszoon refreshing at Cape St. Vincent, steer’d Westerly, when a Storm (which in twenty four hours blew from all Points of the Compass) surprising him, broke his Main-mast, separated the whole Fleet, and sunk the Flushing Frigat; at last getting beyond the Isle Virgin Gorda, the Fleet meeting again, got to Juan de Porto Rico about the latter end of September; into whose Haven Henrickszoon Sail’d with great courage, notwithstanding the narrow Mouth thereof was guarded by a strong Fort full of Brass Guns, which fir’d very fiercely upon him, who on the other side was not idle in discharging his Guns on the Fort; and had not the shallow Water before the City prevented his Landing that day, he had gotten a far greater Booty than afterwards he met with; for the Inhabitants had, during the Low-water, remov’d all their best Goods: but the next Morning before Sun-rising, the Admiral Landed with eight hundred Men, march’d into the City without any resistance, pitch’d the States Flag on the Governor’s House, guarded all Avenues, unhoop’d all the Wine-Casks which he found there, for fear his Men should make themselves Drunk therewith, and so neglect their Duty, fir’d from the Land-side towards the Castle with three Brass Guns, gain’d the Redoubt, built for the security of the Bridge, which unites the small Isle on which Porto Rico is built with the great, rais’d a Platform, from whence he fir’d Day and Night with six Cannons, guarded by Captain Thyene, whilest the Commander Uzeel kept Watch near the Fort; but his Men being most of them sick, he could not do any great Exploits, especially since the Spaniards Sallying out, as they did daily, kill’d many of the Hollanders, and amongst them Captain Uzeel, after he had shot down two Turrets from the Castle, which damage the Enemy repair’d by taking several of the Hollanders Boats; by which means they could not prevent fresh Supplies from going to the Castle; the Besiegers in the mean time beginning daily to be in greater want for Ammunition and Provisions: whereupon Henrickszoon judg’d it convenient to sound a Retreat, after he had set the Ships belonging to the City Porto Rico on fire in four places. In which Retreat he receiv’d so many farewel Shots from the Fort, that they were forc’d to go to the Leeward to stop their Leaks, and leave one of their Ships to the Enemy, in lieu whereof the West-Capel Frigat took a Barque with four Brass Guns, in the little Haven Sierra Gorda; from whence the Fleet ran into the Western Bay of the Island Porto Rico, where whilest they repair’d and took in fresh Provisions, Henrickszoon sent the Ships Hester and Jonas richly laden for Holland; the remaining part of the Fleet meeting with strong contrary Tydes at Porto Rico, were necessitated to put into the Inlet Francisco, where they made several Marches up into the Countrey, to the loss of many of their Men, which were kill’d by the Spaniards, lying in Ambuscade amongst the Brambles that grew along by the Ways.
The Fort of Margarita taken by Henrickszoon.
Henrickszoon dying, is succeeded by Adrian Cheszoon.