These successful Expeditions still adding to the Hollanders fresh Courage, they follow’d the career of their Successes, and placing three Companies in the Works of the Afogados, drew their Army into three Divisions; Colonel Rembach was to Command the Forlorn; Schuppe, the main Body; and Byma, the Reserve; in which Order they waded through the River Capivaribi, placing some Musquetteers in a House built near the High-way, to secure their Return that way, and came without any resistance to the Arryal; where they found a long Street, with Shops on each side full of all sorts of Goods, which they pillag’d, notwithstanding the Enemy fir’d furiously from the Castle upon them, and wounded Colonel Rembach and Captain Redburgh. To the Northward before the Castle lay a Redoubt with two Guns, which Schuppe mastering, kill’d all that were in the same; but being too weak to carry away the Guns, he nail’d up the Touch-holes, and march’d off with his Men, but in such disorder, that the Portuguese Sallying out of their Garrison, fell in amongst them in that manner, that they were not able to bring away their wounded Men, amongst whom was Captain Redburgh; and it had been worse, had not Rembach (who though he was shot in at the Shoulder, under the Blade-bone whereof lay the Bullet) kept them off till such time as the Hollanders were got over the River Capivaribi, near the fore-mention’d House, guarded by a Company of Musquetteers, who kill’d above fifty of the Portugueses, besides fifty that had been slain in the former Skirmishes; the Hollanders themselves also had lost a hundred and thirty Men: yet notwithstanding they ceased not, but march’d in Parties through all parts of Verga, where they met with no opposition, but found the Sugar-Mills full of Sugar, left to be kept by a few Negro’s. Rembach also sent a Drummer to Real, to demand the Wounded, especially Colonel Redburgh, with a Letter from the Prisoner Antonio Mendoza, requesting the Governor Albuquerque and Duke of Bagnola, that they would be pleas’d to release the Hollanders on Exchange, or else upon Ransom. The Drummer being civilly Entertain’d by Albuquerque, brought back with him a strange Oyl call’d Aury, for the wounded Mendoza; with which a Wound made by a Bullet being anointed about three fingers breadth, it draws out the same. Bagnola afterwards sent it to Rembach, in requital for his kindness in sending Mendoza in a Hammock to Real. Mean while the Hollanders still fortifi’d their Works at the Afogados with Pallisado’s and Platforms, on which they put five Guns. They likewise work’d daily on the fore-mention’d Castle, whilest Schuppe march’d with four hundred Men in the Night over the River Jangada to Moribeca; which approaching, he perceiv’d the Way stopt up with fell’d Trees; wherefore he march’d about to the Village, which he found forsaken by the Inhabitants, and all the Houses left empty, onely five hundred Chests of Sugar that had been brought thither from Verga which Schuppe Commanded to be set on fire with the Village, leaving onely the Church, and at his Return burnt also a Sugar-Mill.
Articles between the West-India Company and the King of Spain.
The Governor Albuquerque having formerly never spar’d any Hollanders which fell into his hands, began now to be better advis’d; and it was also Agreed upon between the King of Spain and States of the United Netherlands, That they should burn no Church, unless the one, or the other Party made resistance in the same; That the Victor should be oblig’d, upon request of Quarter, to spare his Enemies, and release the Prisoners for an indifferent sum of Money; That both Parties should forbear to use chew’d or poyson’d Bullets.
Schuppe being chosen Chief over the Militia in Rembach’s Place (who dy’d of his Wound,) lay not long still, but setting Sail with eleven Ships to the Isle Tamarica, Landed seven Companies before the Castle Nostra Sennora de Conception; which, though well provided and fortifi’d, the Governor Pignioro surrendred, on Condition that he might depart with all his Men and the Church Ornaments.
Matthias Van Ceulen and Schuppe Rowing up the Stream Goiana with Sloops and Boats, put to flight Laurence Cavalcanti, burnt divers Sugar-Mills, and took abundance of rich Merchandize: Ten days they made havock in the middle of their Enemies Countreys without any resistance; for all of them fled to the Aldas, (so they call the Brasilian Villages): At last they return’d home with great Booty, especially of Sugar and Brasile Wood; whilest those at Reciffa were not idle, doing the Portuguese great mischief by their continual Sallies, Tourlong burning a Fishers Village, and Bongarson a stately Banquetting-house belonging to Cavalcant near Arryal; as also Pedro Acunha de Andada’s Sugar-Mill, from whence he took great Booty.
The Portuguese begin to fall off to the Hollanders.
Jacob Huigen slain.
About the same time the Portuguese of several Parts, terrifi’d by continual Alarms and Losses, began to incline to the West-India Company, believing that they should utterly be ruin’d, if they continu’d to joyn with Albuquerque’s Party (who claim’d Pernambuco wholly to himself) and therefore car’d not whether he or the Hollanders were Masters, so they might live peaceably. Mean while the Hollanders march’d from the Afogados to Arryal: Schuppe marching before with two hundred and fifty Seamen, was follow’d by the Lieutenant-Colonel De Vries, and he by a Company of Negro’s that carry’d Provisions; next Byma march’d with the Reserve. The Treasurer John Gyseling also accompanied the Army, which Encamp’d near Francisco Brito Machado’s Wind-Mill, and Garrison’d the half-finish’d Fort near the Sugar-Mill belonging to Marcus Andre, whilest three Companies Commanded by Captain De Vries march’d to Monteroos-Mills to take the same; but the Portuguese lying in an Ambuscade had given them a shrewd Rebuke, had not Schuppe, hearing the Guns, sent away the Captains Picard and Garstman, who coming out from amongst the Sugar-Canes, put the Enemy to flight; yet the Portuguese to increase daily, insomuch that they got above two thousand Men together at Arryal, whilest the Dutch Army began to want Provisions, wherefore Jacob Huigen was order’d to fetch a Supply from Reciffa; but as he was coming up the River with the Exeter Ketch, and a Boat hung about with Hides to secure his Men from the Bullets, and being within Musquet-shot from the Works where Captain Schuppe lay, the Enemy’s whole Power shot so vehemently upon him from the top of a Hill, that both the Ketch and Boat were sunk; Huigen himself receiv’d two mortal Wounds, and most of his Men were kill’d, a few wounded onely escaping with Life. Schuppe therefore was forc’d to return for want of Provisions, and the rather, because he was inform’d that Bagnola was coming with a Supply of seven hundred Men.
Mean while the two Captains, Smient and Dunkirken perform’d a valiant Exploit, viz. they went with a few Men in a Boat, and took a great Portuguese Vessel richly laden, having no more than four Blunderbusses and their Swords in the Boat with them.
A notable Victory of Byma over Francisco Almeda.