About the same time Lichthart with two Sloops pass’d into the River Conayou, set upon seven Barques of the Portuguese, Mann’d with seventy Seamen, and ply’d them with his Brass Guns after such a manner, that few escap’d with their Lives: he took what he thought fit out of the Barques, and afterwards set them on fire.
Van Ceulen’s Expedition.
The Treasurer Matthias van Ceulen weighed Anchor with four Ships and seven Ketches, Mann’d with eight hundred Men, with which he set Sail to Rio Grande, with intention to fall upon the Fort Tres Reyes. In the River he took two Carvels, though they lay close under the Castle, Landed a Company of Soldiers, and a hundred and fifty Seamen on the Southern Shore, guarded the fresh River with Boats, march’d directly to Tres Reyes, and Encamp’d himself near the Redoubt which lay before the Castle, being follow’d by Byma, Garstman, and Cloppenburgh, who in their Way took a House built on a Hill, and considerable Booty in it. Byma getting about Noon to the Village Natall, left some of his Men there, whilest he march’d with the rest to the Castle Tres Reyes. Ceulen sending to demand the Castle, receiv’d at first a resolute denyal from the Governor Peter Mendez de Govea; but when the Besieged saw the Hollanders resolutely bent upon a Storm, they sent to desire a Treaty, and after some small Capitulation the Castle was surrendred upon Articles. Garstman being made Commander of the Castle, had a hundred and fifty Soldiers allow’d him. The Fleet set Sail again, after they had pull’d down and destroy’d all the Works which had been rais’d, and made the Inhabitants take an Oath to be faithful to Garstman, who chang’d the Name of the Castle from Tres Reyes to that of Ceulen, being the Name of the Treasurer, who bore the chiefest Command in the Siege, and when the Brasilian King Jandui came with a great Train to congratulate the Companies success, receiv’d him with great civility.
In the beginning of the Year 1634. twenty six Sail weighed Anchor from Reciffa, to Cruise up and down in Squadrons before the Inlet Todos los Sanctos, the Promontory St. Augustine, the Rivers Francisco and Parayba. Schuppe and Lichthart also set Sail with two Ships, a Ketch, two Pinnaces, and a Sloop, carrying two hundred Soldiers besides Seamen.
Lichthart drives the Portuguese out of the Puntael.
Mean while fresh Forces were sent from the Texel, the Maes and Zeland, to Reciffa, where the Council undertook another notable Design, viz. to surprize the Forts along the River Parayba: whither coming with twenty Sail, they divided themselves into two Squadrons under the Command of the Treasurer John Gyseling, Schuppe, Servaes Carpentier, and Lichthart. Having receiv’d some repulse at the Fort Nazaretta, they resolv’d upon Action in some other place, and to that purpose Steer’d towards the Point St. Augustine; by Day-break a part of the Fleet ran into the Mouth of the Haven, notwithstanding the Portuguese fir’d upon them with great Guns from the Castle, and all their Works, without doing any considerable damage, onely the Sea-knight Ketch running aground was Shatter’d all to pieces; whilest the Hollanders Commanded by Captain Lichthart Landed near Puntael, and fell upon the Portuguese in such a manner, that they forc’d them to forsake the Place, burnt above two thousand Chests of Sugar, several Store-houses, and a great Ship, besides two Barques.
They endeavor in vain to regain the Puntael.
Lichthart being Master of the Puntael, was very busie in finishing a Stone Redoubt which the Enemy had begun, and secur’d it by a Wall and Pallisado’s. Here he plac’d two Companies, and rais’d several Works, whilest the Portuguese receiving Aid from all the neighboring Places, set upon the recovery of the Puntael, being the rather encourag’d thereunto, in regard the Hollanders Forces were still in their Ships. Fifteen hundred Portugueses were divided into two Parties, the greatest of which came through behind the adjacent Morasses, and forc’d in on the side of the place near which the fifteen Ships taken by Lichthart lay at an Anchor, whilest the other Party fell upon the Out-works; where though the Hollanders defended themselves valiantly at first, yet they were forc’d to Retreat to the Redoubt, where both Parties fought with great eagerness; but the Hollanders Ketches haling near the Shore, and firing in amongst the Portuguese with their great Guns, forc’d them to flye, and contrary to their Custom, to leave their dead Bodies behind them.
Soon after, whilest Gysseling, Schuppe, and Lichthart stay’d at the Puntael, the Portuguese, designing to take Reciffa, kept the Afogados and the Fort on Antonio Vaes in continual Alarm; which made the Hollanders send most of their Militia thither, and to fortifie yet more strongly than before. The Castle De Bruin first discovering the Portuguese wading through the Water, fir’d great Guns at them, upon the hearing of which Waerdenburgh and St. George fir’d also. The Treasurer Ceulen and Lieutenant-Colonel Byma march’d with a Company of Soldiers to the Stone Redoubt, from whence they fir’d stoutly upon the Enemy; yet thirty of them got by the Pallisado’s and Stone Redoubt: wherefore Ceulen march’d in with some of his Men to assist the Citizens, and keep the woodden Battery, where the Portuguese were stopt, and with great and small Shot put to flight. The Prisoners which the Hollanders took inform’d them, That Martin Suares, chief Commander over the Portuguese that made this Attempt, had divided his Men into three Parties; the Reserve, which consisted of three hundred Men, was to march on upon the making of a sign when the other Parties were past, one along the River Bibiriba, and the other along the Shore by the Stone Redoubt into Reciffa, to burn the Place, as also all manner of Provision and Ammunition.
Byma attempts the taking of Real, but without success.