Whilest this Design of the Portuguese fell out so unfortunately, being discover’d to Ceulen by a Renegado, the Hollanders at Reciffa receiv’d two Companies from their Regiment at the Puntael, and a considerable number of Men rais’d in Holland by the West India Company. Ceulen and Byma thus supply’d, went continually out in Parties, burnt in view of the Garrison in Arryal the Sugar-Mills belonging to Francisco Montero and Lewis Ramires, and were inform’d by five Italian Renegado’s, That there were not three hundred Men in Garrison in Arryal; which so encourag’d Byma, that he resolving to fall upon the same, march’d thither in the Night with a thousand Men from Reciffa, and by Day-break shot sixteen Granado’s from a neighboring Hill, of which seven fell into Arryal, but did little Execution; besides, the Strength of the Place was such, and the number of Men so considerable, that his Design had no other success, than that a Hand-granado falling short amongst the Houses before the Fort, set fire on them, and in a short time burnt a whole Street with rich Shops, and the Habitations of the Italians.
The Portuguese at the Puntael being inform’d, that Byma had Besieg’d Arryal with a thousand Men, judg’d that most of the Hollanders were gone thither from the Puntael; which they were the apter to believe, because the Hollanders coming but little abroad stay’d within their Redoubts, which Lichthart had joyn’d to a Battery; wherefore they made another Attempt with a hundred and twenty Men on the Puntael; but a Carvel with two Brass Guns, and a Company of Soldiers lying at Anchor near the Place by which the Portuguese were to pass, and they not expecting to meet with any resistance there, they were, as soon as they approached the Carvel, fir’d upon by the Hollanders, who killing several of their Men, so affrighted them, that they return’d without making any farther Attempt.
Overtures of Peace from the Portuguese.
Whilest every day more and more Prizes were taken by the Hollanders, and brought into Reciffa, and fresh Supplies sent them from Holland, there began to be some Overtures of Peace from the Portuguese; wherein also the King of Spain, by reason of the several Damages he had sustain’d from the Dutch, began to concern himself, and to menace them with the great Forces he was able to raise, by reason of the late safe arrival of two rich Plate-Fleets, if they came not to reasonable Terms. But answer was return’d from Byma, “That if they were minded to Treat about giving of Quarter, or any such like Point in difference between them, they should find him ready; but that the West-India Company would never resign those Places taken in Brasile with the Sword, either for Money or Goods, but would defend them to the utmost of their Power.”
The Hollanders also chang’d the Names of several Places taken from the Portuguese; for the Castle near the Promontory St. Augustine was call’d Gysseling; the Town on Tamarica, Schuppen-stadt; the Fort at the Afogados, Prince William; and the Puntael, The Fortress Vander Dussen.
Ceulen and Gysseling return home.
Jandur’s great service to the Netherlanders.
Notwithstanding the Requests of the States of the Netherlands and West-India Company, to the Commissioners Ceulen and Gysseling, to stay longer in the West-Indies, yet they prepar’d for their Voyage home, and the speedier, because they expected great scarcity of Provisions, unless a sudden Supply came from Holland. During their two years Government here, they had taken five thousand five hundred and nineteen Chests of Sugar, a hundred fifty nine thousand nine hundred thirty and nine Pound of Brasile Wood, one and thirty Ships laden with several Goods, which amounted to 230000 l. besides the value of the Ships and Guns, the taken Forts, destroy’d Sugar-Mills, and other Buildings. They left at their going away above four thousand Soldiers, divided into thirty two Companies, to guard Brasile, under the Command of Schuppe and Arcisseusky, and carry’d with them a hundred Soldiers, besides one and fifty sick and maimed: Moreover, thirty two Sail of Ships, Mann’d with a thousand and eighty seven Seamen, were order’d to Cruise up and down before the Coast of Brasile, besides four Ketches before the Promontory of St. Augustine, and six Ships in the Haven of Pernambuco.
After Ceulen and Gysseling had set Sail for Holland, divers Prizes were brought into Reciffa, as also several Ships arriv’d there from the Texel and the Maes. The Hollanders went out continually in Parties, whilest Schuppe and Lichthart set Sail also with eight Ships, Mann’d with six Companies of Soldiers, besides Seamen, to plunder and pillage all the Havens to the South, where several Portuguese Vessels lay laden with Sugar. But Janduy, who with his Subjects the Tapuyans, joyn’d with the Governor Garstman, kill’d at one time thirty seven Portugueses, and not long after two hundred and sixty more; taking his leave of Garstman, went home with six Hollanders, leaving his Son, the young Janduy, and his Brother Caracara, together with his Nephew Copun, to his care.
Janduy made it his Business to perswade the adjacent Tapuyans to joyn their Forces with his, and so by the Hollanders assistance to fall upon the Portuguese. Mean while the young Janduy and Copun went to Reciffa, which was the rather permitted, that they might be able to damp the Reports which the Portuguese had spread amongst the Tapuyans, viz. That the Hollanders were very ill provided, and therefore made all possible Preparations to defend Reciffa, and consequently the whole Countrey of Brasile, and so leave those Tapuyans that joyn’d with them to the mercy of the Spaniards.