Bagnola routed by Lichthart.
Lichthart assisted by Captain Cornelis Exel’s Company, march’d directly to Porto Calvo, notwithstanding he had but three hundred and twenty seven Men, with which he went along a troublesom Way, up Hill and down Hill, and coming near Porto Calvo, was inform’d by a Portuguese, That the Duke Bagnola possess’d a Church there full of Port-holes, with two hundred choice Men, besides a Company newly arriv’d there from Serinhain; and that he had a strong Fortification near the River; nevertheless Lichthart marching towards him, discover’d his Forces rank’d on a steep Mountain, whither he running with his Men, forc’d Bagnola to quit the Church, as also those that lay in Ambuscade near the High-way, whilest eighty Brasilians, some Portugueses, and a Company of Neopolitans, thought to have fall’n upon the Barques of the Hollanders, but seeing the States Flag upon the Church, and Bagnola routed, they soon Retreated. This Victory cost the Hollanders but seven Men, besides eighteen wounded; for which the Portuguese lost many more.
The Inhabitants of Camarigibi, Antonio, and about Porto Calvo, accepting of the Articles propos’d in Parayba, took the Oath of Allegiance to the Hollanders.
In the interim after Arcisseusky had taken the Fort Real, and given Command thereof to Verdoes, he set forth with ten Companies and three hundred Brasilians, to joyn with Schuppe, who Besieg’d the Fort Nazaretta near the Promontory St. Augustine; but the Governor Albuquerque fearing he should be surpris’d, fled from thence with three hundred Men, and left Peter Correa de Gamba, and Lewis Barbalho Bizerra in his stead. But Schuppe approach’d so near with his Trenches and Granado’s, that Correa inform’d of Arcisseusky’s coming, surrendred the Castle upon advantageous Articles.
Porto Calvo surpris’d by Albuquerque.
After this Success Schuppe march’d along the Shore, and Arcisseusky up into the Countrey, both with intention to fall upon the Enemy in Serinhain. Arcisseusky marching along a troublesom Way, came to Miguel de Poyaca with six Companies, where the Councellor Schotte had fortifi’d a Church; and somewhat farther he met with a brave Franciscan Cloyster, where he was inform’d, that the Governor Albuquerque had again surpris’d the Fort Porto Calvo; which prov’d too true; for Schuppe hastening to his assistance through Serinhain, Una, and Barro, staid at Furicoso, a League from Porto Calvo, for Arcisseusky, who was coming thither with seven Companies over the deep and crooked Stream Serinhain; and before Villa Foamosa, a pleasant Village, in which stood an old Jesuits Cloyster and a little Church, both their Forces joyn’d together, making up seventeen Companies of Foot, and one Troop of Horse; but they came too late: for after a long and stout Assault, and no less Resistance from the Besieged, the Place was surrendred to Albuquerque, who caus’d Domingo Calabar to be Quarter’d; a Man not inferior for Strength and Activity to that Milo Crotoniates, so famous amongst the ancient Grecians: Amongst other proofs of his Strength it is related, that he took a Stag running full speed by the Horns, and turning its Neck, pull’d the Tongue out of its Mouth. The reason why Albuquerque caus’d him to be put to that death, was because he had once joyn’d with the Hollanders, and done the Portuguese much hurt. But Schuppe and Arcisseusky marching to Porto Calvo, to Engage with Albuquerque, who was eight hundred Portuguese and a thousand Brasilians strong, found the Place ruin’d, and about a hundred Hollanders unbury’d, and Albuquerque march’d away, driving the Inhabitants about Porto Calvo before him, with three hundred Prisoners: The Hollanders following him, built a Fort at Praipuera, to prevent the Portuguese from returning to Porto Calvo. Schuppe also demanded three Companies more to supply the places of the sick and slain Men, as also those who were so miserably plagued by the Bicios, that they were not able to go. These Bicios are little Animals, which creeping in at the Pores, cause an insufferable pain. Schuppe’s Request was the sooner granted, because the Councel at Reciffa judg’d it convenient to pull down the Forts Real and Nazaretta, being already much decay’d and unserviceable, and that those who were in Garrison in them, should Encamp in the Fields. Schuppe had long before this time fall’n upon the Enemy in the Afogados, but that he wanted Provisions, and little Vessels, which were requir’d for that Expedition. But marching up into the Countrey, he left the Command to Arcisseusky, who much forwarded the building of the Fort on Paripuera.
A great Fleet of Spaniards appears before Reciffa.
The Year 1635. being almost expir’d, one Morning about Day-break thirty two Sail were seen to Steer directly towards Reciffa; two Ships of an extraordinary bigness were follow’d by nine Gallions, and these by the rest of the Fleet, consisting of Pinks, Carvels, and Barques; all which approaching, were known to be Spaniards, which struck no small amazement to the Inhabitants of Reciffa, most of their Ships being Cruising abroad before the Coast of Brasile and their Men a great distance off in the Field; onely five Ships fitted for an Engagement being at Anchor, and five more deeply laden: Mean while the Spanish Admiral approach’d within a Cannon-shot of the Fame Ketch, discharg’d one Gun, and stood off to Sea again, being inform’d that Real and Nazaretta were taken by the Hollanders. On the other side, all the Places in their possession had notice of this Fleet, which Lichthart follow’d with six Ships and two Ketches, carrying two Companies of Soldiers, besides Seamen, and keeping just within sight of them, saw them at last come to an Anchor before Paripuera (where a part of the Dutch Forces lay under the Command of Arcisseusky,) and make preparation to Land their Men: Whereupon Lichthart Landed also, with the Councellor Carpentier, and joyning with Arcisseusky, took up a valiant Resolution, to Sail close up to the Spanish Fleet with his eight Ships, whilest Arcisseusky march’d in the Night with six hundred Men to Jaragoa, to prevent the Enemy’s Landing; but having a Portuguese for his Guide, was led a wrong Way; wherefore returning, he secur’d the Way to Paripuera, whilest the Portuguese Inhabitants, contrary to their Oath, refused to carry or bring Provisions to the Dutch Forces, and joyning together combin’d with the Spanish Seamen, and kill’d all the Hollanders which they could meet either on the High-ways, or in their Houses, making use of the Negro’s to carry the Spaniards what Intelligence they could give them of the Hollanders Proceedings: Wherefore they thought it the best way to be rid of such Villains, to destroy them all that dwelt in the Countrey between Paripuera and Porto Calvo, and for the space of ten Leagues burnt all their Sugar-Canes in the Fields, their Mills and Houses. Arcisseusky caus’d Edicts to be put upon every Church Door, That all the Inhabitants should remove from Porto Calvo, where the Dutch Army was to Encamp, to keep them from the Spanish Oppression.
That Summer having been so dry, that no man ever remembred the like, had dry’d up all the Morasses, so that the Spaniards marching over them and high Mountains, got a back Way into the Countrey. In the mean time John Walbeck made a Fort with five Bulwarks on the Island Curacao, near the Haven Santa Cruz.