In the interim, whilest these Expeditions were carry’d on as hath been related, Captain John Boon-eter (who parted from the Admiral Ita’s Fleet with eight Sail of Ships) Cruis’d to and again before Hispaniola till May Anno 1631. near Mona he took a rich Vessel coming from Porto Rico, another before the Island Vacca, and a third full of Ginger, with which he Steer’d to the Tortugas, being seven in number, resembling rather sandy Flats than Isles. Before Havana he also chased several Vessels, but lost sight of them in the Night. Mean while their Provisions growing short, the Seamen were desirous to return; which Boon-eter would no way yield to, because the time began to approach in which the Spanish Ships came from all places to Havana; but the Men mutinying forc’d him to Steer to the Texel, where they arriv’d without doing any considerable Exploit advantageous to the West-India Company.
The Fort of Tamarica assault’d by the Dutch in vain.
But at the same time fourteen Ships, three Sloops, and seven great Pinnaces, weighed Anchor from Reciffa with a thousand two hundred and sixty Men, divided into twelve Companies, under the Command of Hartman Godefrid and Stein Callenfels; who Landing on the Island Tamarica, march’d along a bad and narrow Path, partly craggy and partly sandy, to a Fort built on a high Ascent overgrown with Brambles in such a manner, that it was impossible for them to break through, whilest they in the Fort fir’d continually upon Stein Callenfels, who judg’d it convenient to draw off, and Storm the Castle on another side.
The Admiral Pater newly come from the Texel to Olinda, sent three Ketches, a Sloop, and two Pinnaces, beyond the Town Tamarica, to prevent the Enemies crossing over to the Main, and keep off their Fire-ships. They also receiv’d Information from three Portuguese and five Brasilian Prisoners, That the Castle, surrounded with Fens and Brambles, had sixteen Guns; and that Albuquerque had sent eight hundred Men to assist the three hundred that lay in Garrison there before. The Captains Le Grand and Arcisseusky found two other Ways that led to the Fort, but altogether unfit to march along with their Men and Guns. Pater also Row’d round the Island with Sloops, and fathom’d the Water, whilest Arcisseusky Sailing up the River to Garasi, suppos’d that he had found a much better place to make an Onset on the Castle in, than had been found out yet; but the Council of Olinda and Stein Callenfels look’d upon it as too great a hazard to Storm a Fort, to which the Ways lay so much to the Enemy’s advantage, a small number in the same being able to beat off a considerable Party; therefore it was judg’d best, and concluded upon, to build a Fort on a little Isle near Tamarica, at the Mouth of the River; to which purpose the Engineer Buuren contriv’d a square Castle with a long Horn-work, which was call’d Orange; in which the Captains Arcisseusky, Mellingen, and Beyer, were left in Garrison with their Companies, whilest the rest of the Regiment return’d to Reciffa.
Mean while Antonio de Oquendo brought a great Fleet to St. Salvador; and Callenfels drew four Companies of Musquetteers, and a great company of Seamen with Pick-axes and Spades out of the Fort Frederick Henrick into the Field, and marching Southward along private Ways, he found the River strongly fortifi’d near the Forts Affogados, having above and below a row of strong Pallisado’s; yet the Portuguese that guarded these Works after a small resistance fled, and left all: But because a general Alarm drew many People in Arms out of Real, and several other places, Callenfels drew off in good order, and was inform’d by a Prisoner call’d Peter Alves, that the Fort Affogados receiv’d that Denomination from the River on which it was built; that there lay generally a hundred and fifty Men in Garrison there; that about a Mile farther was the Fort Pirange. that Peter de Acunha bore the chief Command next to Albuquerque over the Militia, who us’d few Musquets but what had Fire-locks; and that they wanted no Ammunition, for six great Carvels loaden with the same had not long since stor’d them with great plenty thereof. The Netherlanders also understanding by Letters which they had taken, that the Tapuyans were very much incens’d against the Portuguese, who stood in great fear of these salvage People, it was judg’d convenient by the Council at Olinda, to invite the Tapuyans to be their Friends.
Fight between the Dutch and Spanish Fleet.
Admiral Pater drown’d.
On the eleventh of September Anno 1631. Admiral Pater and Vice-Admiral Martin Thyszoon, whose joint Forces were fifteen Men of War and three Ketches, carrying nine Companies of Foot, Commanded by Captain Engelbert Schutte, descrying the Spanish Fleet about an hour before Sun-set, animated all the Officers and Captains to regard their Honor and Oath which they had taken; telling them, That on this Engagement would depend the Welfare or Ruine of the West-India Company. But his Men were not so much heartned by his Speech, as daunted at the sight of the Spanish Fleet, which consisted of twelve Castilian and five Portuguese Gallions, and twenty six other Vessels, as Pinks, Fly-boats and Carvels, all well Mann’d and full of Guns, the Gallions carrying whole and Demi-Cannons; the Admiral, call’d Antonio de Oquendo, carrying forty eight great Guns in his Gallion, call’d St. Jago; whereas they had receiv’d Information but of four Gallions and eighteen lesser Vessels; nevertheless Pater no whit discourag’d, boarded him about ten a Clock the next Morning, whilest Captain John Mast boarded him on the other side, which occasion’d a bloody Engagement; and it would have prov’d fatal to the Spaniard, had not Pater’s Stern taken fire, which he endeavoring in vain to put out, and none coming to his assistance, after he had hung a good while by a Rope at the Spanish Admiral’s Bowe, he was forc’d through faintness to let go and fall into the Water, whilest his Ship was blown up, a few of his Men onely being sav’d by Oquendo. In the mean time Martin Thyszoon boarded the Gallion Antonio de Padua, Commanded by the Vice-Admiral Francisco de Vallezilla on one side, and the Utrecht Frigat on the other, which after half an hours Engagement lost her Main-mast, and after a sharp Fight of four hours the Fire took hold of her Sails; which the Netherlanders not being able to quench, leap’d desperately over into the Spanish Vice-Admiral; but he having two hundred and sixty Men aboard, beat them off, forcing them to leap into the Water, or sell their Lives at a dear rate. But Captain Thyszoon had better success, for he not onely sunk the Vice-Admiral, but took the Bonaventura Gallion, and likewise gave the Gallion John Baptista so many shot under Water, that she sunk likewise. The Night approaching ended this bloody Engagement; and the Netherlanders Fleet much damnifi’d stood Northwards, with intention to return to Reciffa. The next Morning Oquendo had lost sight of them, but descry’d them again on the fifteenth of September, and kept in view of them the six following days, five Leagues from him to the East, or East South-East, Martin Thyszoon coming to an Anchor before Reciffa on the twenty second of September.
About the same time the Amsterdam Frigat set Sail from thence for St. Salvador, with intention to joyn with Pater’s Fleet there, but not finding the Admiral, return’d, and near Cape St. Augustine discover’d the Spanish Fleet; wherefore running close behind them she receiv’d four Guns from Oquendo, which she answer’d, and kept at a distance from them the whole Night, in hopes to meet with one single Vessel or other belonging to the Fleet; but the Spanish Vice-Admiral bearing little Sail, guarded the Rere, and fir’d continually at the Amsterdam Frigat, who fearing an unlucky Bullet, made all the Sail she could possible, and brought news of the approach of the Spanish Fleet to Reciffa. Soon after which the Elephant came from the Dutch Fleet thither, with a full Account of the fore-mention’d Engagement, viz. That besides the Admiral Pater, there were slain Captain Thomas Sickes, Cormillion, and Lieutenant Steenbergen, also that two Ships, the Prince William and the Province of Utrecht, were sunk: In lieu of which they had taken the Gallion call’d The Bonaventura, with twenty six Brass Guns, weighing above sixty four thousand Pound, two hundred and forty Castilians, and a great parcel of Sugar and Tobacco; Amongst the Prisoners was one call’d Francisco de Fuentes, who being Examin’d, gave this Information, viz. That the Fleet carry’d two Regiments of Spaniards and one of Italians; in which three Regiments were four thousand Men, under the Command of Conde del Bangniola; and that upon the setting out of Ferdinand, the King’s Brother, to the Netherlands, all the chiefest Gallions and Dunkirk Ships were sent for, and English Vessels hir’d, to convey him safe to the Flemmish Coast, which made Oquenda set Sail with so much the lesser number to St. Salvador; that the sunk Gallion, call’d Antonio de Padua, had fourteen Brass Guns in her Hold, besides twenty six that were mounted.
Two Tapuyan Kings offer their Service to the Hollanders.