Several Prizes taken by Houte-been after his Releasement.
An unlucky Accident.
Houte-been being releas’d from his Imprisonment in Dunkirk, set Sail from Holland with three Ships, and took ten Iron Guns out of one Ship, and several Pipes of Wine out of another before Matanca; after that a Tartan from Havana, two Frigats with Meal, one full of Wood with two Guns, two Barques carrying Bananas, a rich laden Pink, two Ships with Hides, and one with Sugar. Near the Island Baru he heard several great Guns shoot off, whereupon making thither, he found the Zealand Privateer Martman Engag’d with a Ketch carrying ten Brass and six Iron Guns, which was run ashore; whereupon Houte-been went to his assistance with a well Mann’d Boat; which the Spaniards seeing, set fire on their Ketch and fled; but the Flame having onely hurt the Stern, fifty Men were order’d to get her afloat, who having begun to unlade the Tobacco, and to take out the Brass Guns, the Gun-Room took fire, and blew up both Men and Goods; of which twenty four being sadly hurt, dy’d, the rest escaping miraculously. Not long after Houte-been took a Ship with Hides, fraighted the Alcmaer Pink with his Prizes for the Texel, ran close by Carthagena, and kept a considerable time in sight of the Plate-Fleet, of which he carry’d one of the heaviest Sailers away with him; Being thus enrich’d, he return’d home.
Grave Maurice sent by the United States to govern Brasile.
Whilest Businesses were carry’d on after this manner both by Land and Sea in Brasile, the West-India Company resolv’d to send some Person of Quality thither as President or supream Governor; and after no long Consultation who should be the Person, Grave Maurice of Nassaw was pitch’d upon, as being not only eminent for his Noble Alliance by Marriage to Emperors and Kings, but also for his excellent skill in Martial Affairs, the proofs whereof were known to all Men, as his marching to the Paltz against Spinola, his being in the great Siege of Grol, Hertogen-Bosch, Maestricht, Venlo, Rhynberk, and Schenkenschans, at all which he receiv’d great Honor; all which consider’d, they made him chief Governor of Brasile, giving him a Commission Sign’d by the States of the United Netherlands and West-India Company, to Govern with absolute Power, as well in Civil as Martial Affairs, to the best advantage of that State. At first they resolv’d to send a Fleet of thirty two Sail thither, but they afterwards reduc’d that number to twelve, which they Mann’d with two thousand seven hundred Men. Grave Maurice set Sail on the twenty fifth of October 1636. onely with four Sail, whereof the Admiral Ship call’d The Zutfen, carry’d but three hundred and fifty Men: about the Sorlings they met with blustering Weather, insomuch that the Fleet was forc’d to put in at Falmouth, and after forty days stay there, weigh’d Anchor, and Steer’d for Cape Verd, and refresh’d at the Isle of May, famous for Salt-pans, and inhabited by a few Negro’s, and banish’d Portugueses.
He is joyfully receiv’d at Reciffa.
On the twenty third of January 1637. Grave Maurice arriving at Reciffa, was by every one receiv’d with great joy; as also Adriaen vander Dussen: and soon after Matthias van Ceulen, Servaes Carpentier, and John Gysseling, were chosen to be of his Privy Council; whose first Work was exactly to know their Forces, which were either Inhabitants that were to guard Towns and Fortresses, or Soldiers that march’d into the Field, two thousand six hundred whereof were appointed to defend Reciffa, the Afogados, the Promontory St. Augustine, Tamarica, and Parayba: the greatest Party, which lay in the Field, consisted of two thousand nine hundred Men, and another lesser Party of six hundred; which last flying Regiment was to be continually employ’d to make work for the Enemy. They also took an Account of what Provision and Ammunition they had in store, and found that there was want of both, especially of Match. Next he enquir’d after the Enemy’s Condition and Power.
He marches against the Portugueses.
Povacon taken by the Hollanders.
From Porto Calvo the Portuguese made continual Sallies out into the Countrey, which they spoil’d and pillag’d, insomuch that the Brasilians being oppress’d by them, deserted their Villages, and came for refuge to the Hollanders. The Garrison in Serinhain was also much too weak to withstand the Incursions of the Enemy, the rather, because the Portuguese came along private, and to the Hollanders unknown Ways. All which Grave Maurice considering, caus’d a Fast-day to be proclaim’d, on which they desir’d Gods assistance in the carrying on of their Designs. After which he march’d with the Army to Serinhain, from thence cross the River Una to Barra Grande, and thence to meet with Bagnola, who though he was four thousand Men strong, besides Negro’s and Brasilians, had stopt up all the Ways with fell’d Trees, and fortifi’d others. On a Mountain, a League from Porto Calvo, Bagnola kept his Station. At the foot of the Mountain flow’d a Brook, whose Shore was overgrown with Rice and young Trees, before which lay a high Bank; opposite to which Grave Maurice Encamp’d himself towards the Evening, with intentions to fall upon him the next Morning, notwithstanding his Army consisted not of above fifteen hundred Men, of which there were six hundred Brasilians. Grave Maurice’s Guard marching before were follow’d by Schuppe and Arcisseusky, and they by Lichthart, whose Men were all Seamen; all of them firing their Guns amaz’d the Enemy, whilest two Companies of Brasilians, and three of Hollanders crept through the overgrown part on the right-hand of the Mountain, and as many more on the left, fell unawares upon him; but Maurice’s Guard Engaging with a thousand Portugueses, ran through the Water up against the Works with such undaunted Courage, that Bagnola Retreated, leaving four hundred Men slain, besides three Brass Guns, and a great number of Prisoners; those which escap’d fled to Porto Calvo: But Bagnola fearing to be Besieged there, left Povacon, which Castle, built on one side of Porto Calvo, lies twenty five Leagues from Reciffa, on a Plain, partly surrounded with Mountains and Pastures. The River Porto Calvo runs so crooked, that it almost surrounds the Castle and Town. The Countrey hereabouts is full of Pools. Two Forts, each built on a Hill near Povacon, Bagnola had caus’d to be undermin’d and fill’d up with Gun-powder; but they taking fire, were blown up before the Hollanders came thither, who found them smoaking, and lying like a heap of Rubbish. Maurice marching forward, Besieg’d Povacon; and Encamping himself below the Hill where one of the Forts had stood, he rais’d a Redoubt, and with a Trench approach’d the Moat. Whilest Schuppe lay along the Town from the Church, Lichthart made a Battery to the North, and somewhat farther Arcisseusky another; then firing from four Batteries on Povacon, the Besieged answer’d them again from their Walls, and on the thirteenth day the Governor Michael Giberton surrendred the Castle upon honorable Articles: for those in Garrison being Italians, Portugueses, and Castilians, to the number of five hundred, besides the Wounded and Sick, were to be Transported to Tercera. Maurice entring the Castle, took two and twenty Brass, and five Iron Guns, four Mortar-pieces, a great many Bullets, Matches, Gun-powder, and other Ammunition, this being the King of Spain’s Magazine.