Parayba, or Henrick-stadt describ’d.
This City hath two great Market-places, twelve Streets, and a large Franciscan Cloyster, built near a Lake, and inclos’d within a Wall by a broad Bay, which the River Parayba makes before the City; the Countrey about which is mountainous: In other places, especially along the River, lie many fruitful Plains, abounding in some places with the Grain Mandihoca, which is ground to Meal, Potato’s, Lemmons, Cabbages, Cucumbers, Bananas, Cocoa-Nuts, Ginger, Araba, very delicious when Preserv’d with Sugar, and Cacious, somewhat like Chesnuts, of which the Natives make an intoxicating Liquor.
Whilest all things were put in good order at Parayba, Colonel Picard march’d with eight Companies to the House Validaris, if possible, there to take the Governor Antonio Albuquerque Prisoner; but he being forsaken by all the Brasilians (who came back with Picard and their Commander, the Jesuit Emanuel de Morais) absconded himself; not long before which a Proclamation had been publish’d in the Name of the States of the United Netherlands and the West-India Company, promising great Civilities and Advantages to all the Inhabitants of Parayba, whether Natives or others, that would come in and submit to their Government.
This Invitation was so well receiv’d, that many who were kept back so long as Albuquerque appear’d, as soon as they heard of his obscuring himself, came in to the Hollanders, as Duarte Gomes, and several eminent Portugueses, with a considerable number of indifferent quality; as also the Inhabitants of the Province of Rio Grande came to Frederick-Stadt, to claim the benefit of the Proclamation.
Rebellino forced to flye from place to place.
Arcisseusky and Stackhower marching to Goyana with seven hundred and fifty Men, took up their Quarters in the Village Capivaribi, lying at a River of the same Name; where all the Inhabitants of Goyana being fully satisfi’d with the Hollanders Proposals, own’d their Government, and fell off from the King of Spain. But the Spanish Captain Rebellino, animated by the Jesuits in the Village Mosuick, got three hundred Soldiers together, besides a considerable company of Brasilians, Commanded by Camaron, and burnt all the Sugar-Canes and Brasile Wood in Goyana; whither Arcisseusky marching, soon put them to flight, and burnt the Village Mosuick, with the Church and Jesuits Cloyster, from whence the Enemy ran to the strange Mountain Miritbi, which in the rainy Season, especially when great Showers fall, makes a noise like claps of Thunder, or like great Guns. The same Wonder is observ’d of the Mountain Pasayra, in a Wood behind Girgolio Barro’s Sugar-Mills; the mystery whereof we leave to Philosophers to enquire into. Arcisseusky follow’d Rebellino, who had ambuscado’d himself about half a League from Mosuick; from whence he being also driven, his Men began more and more to desert him, whilest Schuppe with a considerable number of Men came to Arcisseusky; Encamping themselves about Musarope, they sent eighty Musquetteers, Commanded by Lieutenant Metting, to an adjacent Wood, where Rebellino Quartering, Engag’d with Metting, till Schuppe coming to his assistance, he fled to Nazaretta. After which the Countrey thereabouts enjoy’d the happiness of Peace.
The Castle Real taken by Arcisseusky.
Arcisseusky staying to settle all things in good order in Parayba, took up his Quarters near the Castle Real, about a Cannon-shot from the River Afogados, and a League and a half from the Hollanders Fort so call’d; yet his Design was not to lay close Siege to the same, but to prevent all manner of Aid from coming to it, the rather, because he was inform’d, that there were not above sixty six hundred Cans of Meal, and sixty five Head of Cattel in the Fort, for three hundred Portuguese and seven hundred Brasilians; to which purpose he built several Redoubts, Batteries and Platforms: after he had lay’n before it three Moneths it was surrendred upon these following Articles, viz. “That the Besieged should march out with lighted Matches, Bullets in their Mouths, flying Colours, and with Bag and Baggage, and be Transported either to Tercera or Madera.” The Church Ornaments they had also leave to carry away with them, but the Guns and other Ammunition were to remain in the Fort. Hereupon the Governor Andreas Marini march’d out with five hundred choice Soldiers, besides a hundred and fifty which he had out of the Countrey; and two hundred Families that dwelt about Real, ransom’d their Goods for 5000 l. In the Fort the Hollanders found fifteen Brass, and five Iron Guns.
Mean while Lichthart set Sail with six Ships and five little Ketches, carrying five Companies; with which Landing on Barra Grande, he march’d two Leagues along the Shore to the Church of St. Bento, built on a high Hill, round about which he Encamp’d himself, and fortifi’d the same with Pallisado’s.
Hither the Inhabitants of Porto Calvo came in great numbers to take the Oath of Allegiance to the West-India Company.