Houte-been taken by Dunkirkers.
Houte-been also ran with two Ketches, the Otter and Brack, to Anchor before Curacao, and from thence to the Haven St. Jago de Cuba, where the Watch made no Alarm, because he carry’d Burgundy Colours, by which also several others, both Portuguese and Spaniards were deceiv’d. Not long after he burnt one Barque with Tortoises, sunk another, and set a third a Drift; after which having refresh’d at Jamaica, he Engag’d with several Spanish Men of War and took them, besides a great number of Prizes, in one of which he found such abundance of Copper, Indigo, Money, Canaster, Tobacco, and Piece-Goods, that the two Ketches were not able to load the same; but at last Steering for Holland, he was set upon by seven Dunkirkers, Commanded by Colaert, and after long and stout resistance was taken.
Captain Abraham Roosendael setting Sail from the Texel, met with a Frigat carrying forty six Chests full of Ryals of Eight, being in number eighty six thousand, design’d to pay the Forces at Porto Rico; besides a quantity of Plate, which amounted to a considerable sum of Money; with all which he arriv’d safe in his desired Port.
Arcisseusky fortifi’d himself along the crooked River Paripuera, full of Crocodiles, which hurt none, unless provok’d. This River runs five Leagues to the Northward of Punta de Jaragoa, where the Spanish Forces Landed.
Southward from Jaragoa lie the Alagoas del Nort and Zul, distinguish’d by a high Tract of Land; where the Spanish General Lewis Rochas Borgia left his Guns and a thousand Men, under the Command of the Duke Bagnola, whilest with three times as many more he went to Porto Calvo to be there before the time which the Hollanders had in their Edicts set the Inhabitants for their removal.
Borgia’s Army defeated by Arcisseusky and himself slain.
Arcisseusky had by this time built on the North part of the Mouth of Paripuera a Redoubt like a Castle, out of the middle whereof rose a woodden Tower, fill’d with Earth, and secur’d by a Half-Moon; on one side whereof he lay Encamp’d with fifteen Companies. On the South side of the River stood also two strong Forts. Arcisseusky having not the least thought that Borgia would come over the Mountains, and through inaccessible Woods and Morasses, a back Way into Porto Calvo, receiv’d news on the thirteenth of January 1636. by a Renegade Negro, that the Spanish Army, consisting of three thousand Men, were come to Rodrigo de Barros his Sugar-Mills, about five Leagues from Paripuera, and was suddenly expected to fall upon Colonel Schuppe in Porto Calvo; whereupon Arcisseusky immediately set forth with twelve hundred Men and two Field-pieces, burnt all the Houses, Sugar-Mills and Canes he could meet with. Mean while Borgia (upon whose Approach Schuppe had left Porto Calvo) observing by the Smoak in the Countrey, that Arcisseusky had put his Edicts in Execution, leaving a considerable Garrison in Porto Calvo, went to meet Arcisseusky with the choicest Men. Arcisseusky being got between Camarigibi and Porto Calvo, without having any notice of the Enemy’s being so near, and his Forlorn being unawares Engag’d, and running back in great disorder, drew up his Men into a posture of Defence about a Musquet-shot from the Enemy; but the darkness of the Night made a great confusion in both Armies, being as it were mingled pell-mell one with another. Arcisseusky was much inferior in number to the Spaniards, but considering it was impossible to march back, in regard the Enemy was as well behind them as before, and that thousands of Brasilians lay watching for them in the Woods, in case they should be dispers’d, he saw there was no way but to stand to the hazard of Battel. About Day-break both Armies stood an hour looking upon one another; the place where they stood being surrounded with Woods and deep Valleys. Borgia drew out his Men on a Hill, overgrown with Bushes. Arcisseusky had drawn out his Men on somewhat a lower Ground. Borgia at last sent some of his Musquetteers down the Hill, who fir’d with a full Volley upon the Dutch, whilest Arcisseusky onely discharg’d a Field-piece at a Tree, under which Borgia stood to take a view of the Hollanders Forces; upon the firing of which Gun Borgia began to come down the Hill with all his Army, against whom Arcisseusky drew out his first and second Division, whilest Captain Vanden Brande led his Companies within two Pikes length from the Enemy, before he discharg’d, which was no sooner done, but contrary to Order they broke into the left Wing of Borgia’s Army, and put his Musquetteers to flight, who were soon follow’d by the whole Spanish Army, some running into the Woods, others into the Morasses, but most of them along the narrow Way which leads to Porto Calvo. Among the Slain was Borgia himself, who was Descended from the greatest Families of the Dukes of Lerma and Borgia; he was about forty eight years of Age, and had serv’d the Spanish King a considerable time in the Netherlands. This Victory cost the Hollanders about forty Men, besides as many more wounded. Amongst the Spanish Prisoners was a Neapolitan Gentleman, call’d Hector de la Calce, who upon Examination inform’d the Hollanders, That with the last Spanish Fleet there Landed two thousand four hundred Men in Alagoa, with twenty Brass Field-pieces, abundance of Wheelbarrows, Spades and Pick-axes, which cost in Portugal eight hundred thousand Crusado’s; with which great warlike Preparations Borgia made no doubt to have got fast footing in the Countrey, and to have cut off all manner of Assistance from the Hollanders; That the Spanish King rais’d a great many Men both in Spain, Italy, and Germany, that with the first opportunity he might fit out a Fleet, which was to be conducted by four thousand two hundred Seamen, to whom the Castilians were to add eight thousand five hundred Soldiers and two hundred Seamen, and the Portuguese the like number, to serve ashore, and to drive all Strangers out of Brasile; That this Design had long since been put in Execution, had not the Albuquerquers continually deceiv’d the King of Spain, under pretence that Brasile was in no danger; That Albuquerque would be forc’d to resign up the Interest which he had in Brasile, for which the King would give him a Dukedom in Portugal in exchange.
Schuppe and Arcisseusky judging it no way convenient to fall upon the Enemy in Porto Calvo, Garrison’d Paripuera with four hundred Men, under the Command of the Captains Day and Philip Andrews, whom they furnish’d with Provisions for five Moneths, and left Order to defend the Countrey against the Incursions of the Enemy; which done, they went aboard with eleven hundred Men, and took in two Companies of Brasilians at Barra Grande; with whom Landing behind the Isle Alexio, they came to Serinhain before Day-light, and found all the Inhabitants fled into the Woods, fearing they would take Revenge on them for murdering of their Sick which they had left there. They were no sooner Encamp’d here, but they receiv’d Information from John Talibon, that the Spanish Army intended to Besiege the Redoubt in Barra Grande, which therefore, as lying on an ill place, and not able to resist long, they flighted: After which being furnish’d with Provisions out of some Ketches Commanded by the Admiral Lichthart, they return’d, with Intentions to take up their Quarters in Serinhain during the Winter Season, whilest the Enemy lay in Cockau, on one side of Una and Serinhain, and kept private Correspondence with some of the Portuguese that had taken the Oath of Allegiance to the Hollanders; but Arcisseusky fell so fiercely upon them, that they all fled to Porto Calvo, and took three Monks Prisoners, who had been the chief Authors of this private Correspondence.
Soon after twenty eight Ships arriving at Reciffa, brought fresh Supplies of Men thither from the Maes and Zealand, with Ammunition and Provisions, which was much wanted; also two Councellors, Henrick Schild and Paulus Serooskerken.