About this time the Treasurer Ceulen viewing the Isle Mayo, found the same to be surrounded with steep Rocks, abounding with Horses, Asses, Partridges and Goats, besides two Salt-pans. The Inhabitants, which go Arm’d with Half-pikes and rusty Hangers, are said to be a sort of out-law’d Portugueses, to the number of thirty, amongst whom was one Woman. They had a Governor, call’d Amaro, to whom they gave yearly eight thousand Goat-skins.
Ceulen Sailing from hence Steer’d by the Island Del Fogo, known by a great Mountain, whose high top vomits Fire. Not far from which he took the Ship St. Peter laden with Wine, with which he return’d safe to Reciffa, where a while after Gysselling arriv’d also, and was no sooner Landed, but four Ships, two Sloops, six Cock-boats, a Barque and a Hoy, set Sail under the Conduct of John Mast with four or five Companies of choice Musquetteers, Commanded by Colonel Schuppe, who Landed behind the stonie Bank of the River Alexio, surpris’d some Portuguese and Negro’s in their Houses, and march’d in the Night so fast, that by Day-break they were got to the Shore of the River Formosa, where they took two rich laden Fly-boats and a Carvel; and afterwards Landing in the Road Camarigibi, they took fifty Portuguese in a Village, as also a Store-house full of Chests with Sugar and Tobacco, burnt all the Buildings thereabouts, and amongst others a brave Sugar-Mill: Captain Byma burnt also an eminent Sugar-Mill near the Brook Maria Farinha. Martin Thyszoon lay a long time under the Line; but at last getting to the Isle Vacca he gave each Captain his Orders, and divided the Fleet, which joyn’d again before Havana, pass’d through the Straights Bahama (where he met with great Storms, and many other Inconveniences) to Holland. But Galeyn van Stapels, who parted with a Frigat from Thyszoons Fleet near Bonaire, Steer’d by the Promontory Cotoche to Sisal; which Village having plunder’d, he set it on fire, fetch’d a Barque in the Night from the Road of Campeche (whose City is seen at a great distance off at Sea, by the white Cloyster Francisco) and so set Sail for Zealand. Houte-been arriv’d also about the middle of June with a rich Booty in the Texel.
Schuppe and Lichthart take the Fort Formosa.
Not long after Houte-been weighing Anchor with the Otter Frigat, return’d to Reciffa, and in his Way thither took a Ship laden with Wine. Colonel Schuppe immediately upon his arrival had a Command given him of five hundred Men, and John Lichthart of three Sail of Ships, a Pinnace and five Sloops; with which they set Sail to the River Formosa. Schuppe Landing his Men there, march’d up to the Fort Formosa, fortifi’d with Moats, steep high Walls, and four Guns, Storm’d and took the same, killing all those that were in the Garrison, except the Governor Peter Albuquerque: In which Victory nevertheless the Hollanders lost the valiant Captain Philbert du Basson, who being shot in at the Throat with a Bullet, which came out behind the Ear, dy’d of the same, the Wound immediately festering, to which all Wounds are very subject in Brasile. The Hollanders also burnt four laden Barques, a Store-house full of Sugar, and pull’d down the Fort they had taken.
Setting Sail again, they Landed to the Northward of the River Antonio Grande, where they gain’d a Platform with five Guns, destroy’d six Ships, and took two more in the Haven Camarigibi; from whence they return’d to Reciffa, after having spoil’d and taken thirteen of the Portuguese Ships, several Sugar-Mills, Store-houses, and a Castle.
The Swol Frigat came also in a shatter’d condition to Reciffa, having been Engag’d with a Spanish Gallion carrying twenty eight great Guns, and full of Men, which nevertheless she would have master’d, had not an unfortunate Shot spoil’d all her Rigging.
About the same time the Captains Byma, Everwyn, and Rinking, set Sail with their Companies in three Ships to Porto Francisco, where Landing, they burnt three Sugar-Mills, besides several other brave Buildings, and brought away a rich Carvel, whilest Laurence van Rembach was made Colonel in Waerdenberg’s place, and Sigismond Schuppe Lieutenant-Colonel.
The Proffers which the Tapuyan Agent made to the Hollanders had been very advantageous, had not the Summer Season been too far spent: for he had promis’d, That if they would Land a considerable Party of Men two Leagues Southward from the River Grande, all the Tapuyans should joyn with them, and assist them in driving the Portuguese out of Brasile.
After this Schuppe and Lichthart went with thirteen Companies of Soldiers, and two hundred Seamen, to fall upon the Enemy’s Camp at the Afogados, where Albuquerque had rais’d several Works, partly for the securing of Verga, the best Spot of Land in all Pernambuco, where there are likewise more Sugar-Mills than in the whole Countrey, and partly to keep an open Way between Arryal and the Promontory St. Augustine: To which purpose they march’d by the Fort Æmilia along the plain Countrey, to the Stream Capivaribi, which they had cross’d before the Portuguese knew any thing of their approach, who being but a hundred and thirty, forsook their Works and ran into the Woods; but assisted with four Companies of Italians, they Sally’d out of Real and fell with great eagerness on the Seamen, who being guarded by forty Musquetteers were raising of Works in the Road which leads to Real, and put them to flight; but being rally’d, and seconded by Colonel Redburgh, they drove the Enemy into a By-way, guarded by Byma and Bongarson; where being stopt, and Captain Cloppenburgh from another side falling in amongst them with his Musquetteers, they became encompass’d, and had been all slain, had not Le Grande, by making way for Cloppenburgh, given them an opportunity of getting away between them.
The Council at Reciffa, to secure the footing which they had got on the other side of the River Capavaribi, took order about the building of a Fort, which requir’d the greater Labor, because the Earth was very stonie: not far from whence Captain John Smith walking, was shot by a Party of Portuguese lying behind some Chests of Sugar; the Blow whereof giving notice to his Ensign, he speedily march’d thither, and surprising the Portuguese, kill’d most part of them. The like success had Le Grande, Cloppenburgh, and Bongarson, who marching out upon a Design, surpris’d unawares in John de Mendoza’s Sugar-Mill, two Companies of Portuguese, who having watch’d there the whole Night, and composing themselves in the Morning to sleep, were set upon, and most of them kill’d, and the old Commander Antonio Ortizo de Mendoza taken, who not long before came thither with a Regiment of Portugueses; the Sugar-Mill was also set on fire.