Near Moribeca, and before St. Laurenzo, the Enemy receiv’d a shrew’d Repulse by the flying Regiment, led by Stackhower; but Lieutenant Helmich obtain’d special Honor herein.
Grave Maurice after these Exploits took Shipping in Barra Grande, at a great Inlet near Porto Calvo, and Landed again at the Promontory Sergoa, from whence he pursu’d the Enemy to the River Francisco; the Inhabitants about which desir’d, and obtain’d free Conduct. Bagnola lay on the other side of the River Francisco, in the Town Openeda; wherefore Schuppe, who was sent to the Afogados to be near the Enemy, was afterwards commanded to go to Openeda to secure Grave Maurice’s Passage over thither; but he coming thither after him, Maurice cross’d to the Shore on which Openeda lay with Boats, and got great Booty; and the more, because the Natives had not secur’d any thing, Bagnola assuring them that the Castle Povacon could endure at least a Siege of four Moneths.
Openeda belong’d properly to the Lord Melchior Albes. Near the Town rose a stonie Rock out of the deep River Francisco, eighty Foot high; from which Rock there jutted out like Redoubts five Points, and it was call’d Maurice Castle. Along the Shore of the fore-mention’d Stream lay several very pleasant Isles. Bagnola escaping privately from hence, was follow’d by his Men kneeling on floating pieces of Timber, which with Sticks they Row’d over to the Northern Shore, notwithstanding the Stream glides so swift, and is so broad, that a six-pound Bullet cannot be shot over the same; at the Mouth thereof Maurice built another Castle. A League from his Camp seven hundred Tapuyans (a great salvage and strong People, whose Language the Portuguese, Brasilians, and Tapuyans that belong’d to Jandui, could not understand) had Ambuscado’d themselves, and with signs and motions of their Bodies they gave the Hollanders to understand, that they would kill the Portuguese if they offer’d to cross the Rivers.
Maurice advising Prince Frederick Henrick of his Transactions, desir’d that he would send over Planters thither, whether they were banish’d Germans or Vagabonds, out of their Houses of Correction; for without them the fruitful Countrey of Brasile would render but a slender Account to the West-India Company, nor be able to prevent the Invasions of the Spaniards.
Grave Maurice begins his Government with the making of good Laws.
The fruitfulness of this Tract of Land was not inferior to any Countrey in the whole World, Cattel grazing up and down in Herds of five, six, and seven thousand. Moreover, Maurice advis’d them about the scarcity of Provisions, without which they were not able to maintain War. He also setled the Traders in a good Order, dividing all those free People which bore no Offices, into four Companies, under Captains, Ensigns, and Lieutenants. The Customs and Tributes were Farm’d, Marriages were order’d to be perform’d by the Netherland Priests, the Jews had leave not to Watch on their Sabbath, all manner of Debosheries were strictly forbid from being acted on the Lords-Day, and Punishments ordain’d for Drunkards and other Deboshees; several Schools were also erected for Youth, and for the instruction of the Brasilians in the Christian Religion; and lastly, it was permitted to any that would, to build in the ruin’d City Olinda, or else to repair those Houses that were fall’n to ruine.
Some of the Portugueses fill’d Maurice his Ears with a Report of the Silver-Mines at Couhaou, Copaou, Terra Nova, and about Cape St. Augustine; but he not regarding them, plac’d Sheriffs over the Villages, and Overseers over the Alms-houses and Hospitals, issuing out Orders also for the delivering of the Provisions, which being very scarce, every Man had a certain Allowance, that so it might last the longer; but when in this Distribution the meaner sort began to be scanted, the Peoples Complaints were such, that an Insurrection was like to ensue, if not carefully and speedily prevented: whereupon the decay’d and deserted Sugar-Mills of the Portugueses were put to Sale, and sold some for three, others for six and seven thousand Pound, insomuch that the West-India Company got above 200000 l. for them all. Soon after they fortifi’d their Castles and other strong Holds, and broke down those that were judg’d useless. The Brasilians obtain’d liberty also to inhabit their Villages and till their Land, that they might make Provision for themselves, and not oppress the Planters that liv’d near them. The Portuguese that had submitted themselves to the Government of the Hollanders, had free leave granted them to exercise the Roman-Catholick Religion, onely they were not to send for any Priests from St. Salvador, which if they did, they should be dealt with as Plotters of Murders and Treasons; they had liberty also to re-build their Houses in Olinda, paying Tribute with the Hollanders: Moreover, they were promis’d that they should live free from all Oppressions of the Hollanders. There was also order taken about paying the tenth part of the Sugar and Farinha. The Income also of Fishing and Fowling, amounted to a considerable sum of Money. And to prevent deceit in Trade, Measures and Weights were made according to those of Amsterdam. For the Converting of Pagans, Jews, and Roman Catholicks, able Teachers were sent into the Countrey to promulgate the Gospel.
About this time there went a Report, as if the West-India Company were inclin’d to remove their Seat from Reciffa to the Island Tamarica; but Maurice advising them that it would not be so convenient for them, they chang’d their Resolution.