Isleos taken by Lichthart.
Whilest Lichthart Cruis’d a considerable time before the Haven Todos los Sanctos, he Crain’d his Ship in the Bay of Camaniu, took the Town Isleos, with a hundred and fifty Men. In the Town, which is built on a Promontory, he took but little Booty, and sav’d the Houses, which were built most of Stone, as also the four Churches and Jesuits Cloyster, and return’d to Reciffa.
Colonel Latan slain.
About this time the invincible Castle Mina, afterwards call’d St. Joris, was taken by the Hollanders, upon the Advice of Nicholas van Yperen, Commander of Guinee, who sent word to Grave Maurice, that the said Castle might easily be conquer’d, if any Forces could be sent him from Reciffa: Whereupon Maurice immediately sent John Coin thither with nine Ships, which set Sail on the twenty fifth of June, Anno 1637. who in the Road Commendo joining with Yperen, soon after he was set down before it, and was preparing to Storm, had it surrendred to him upon Terms no less advantageous to the Hollanders, than dishonorable to the Besieged, yet not without the loss of many Men; for in their March thither they were fiercely set upon by the Negro’s inhabiting the Village near the Castle; in which Conflict Colonel Latan amongst others was slain. The Fort might very well have endur’d a longer Siege, it being surrounded with double Moats, each twenty five Foot deep, and high Bulwarks, which could not be undermin’d because of the Rocky Ground on which they were built; and to make it yet more stronger, Coin after he had taken it rais’d a Fort on the Hill, from whence he had fir’d on the Castle, in which he found thirty Brass Demi-Culverins; and leaving Walraeven Malburg as Governor, he return’d to Reciffa.
During these Proceedings of the Dutch in Guinee, the Duke of Bagnola ransack’d the Countrey about Seregippa del Rey; Maurice not able to go himself, having had a Feaver three Moneths, sent Schuppe and Gyseling with two thousand three hundred Soldiers, four hundred Brasilians, and two hundred and fifty Seamen, whilest Lichthart Steer’d to Todos los Sanctos, that so he might draw the Enemy down to the Sea-Coast. Bagnola flying to Terra Gracia d’ Avila, Schuppe demolish’d the Town Seregippa, the Sugar-Mills, and all manner of Fruit-Trees, and march’d with incredible speed to the Stream Francisco; where Encamping on the Southern Shore, he drove three thousand Head of Cattel before him, that so he might starve the Enemy.
The Brasilians offer their assistance to the Dutch for the taking the Fort Siara.
In the interim the Brasilians in Siara desir’d Aid against the Portuguese, offering, That if the Hollanders could conquer the Fort there, they would soon destroy all the Portuguese; that the Charges of the Siege might easily be made good, the Countrey producing abundance of Amber-greece, Crystal, Cotton, Pearls, Salt, and other Merchandise. In confirmation of this their Resolution, the Brasilians left two eminent Persons Children of Siara in Reciffa: Whereupon George Garstman being sent thither, was no sooner Landed, but he made his Arrival known to the Brasilian Governor Algodoi; who came to meet him with two hundred Men, bearing white Flags in token of Peace: Thus assisted, he set upon Siara, which is a square Fort, built at the foot of a Hill, hath within its Walls six Houses, two Redoubts full of Port-holes, one on the North, and the other on the South, jutting half way out from the Wall; as also two Gates, secur’d with large Portcullises: without the Fort appears the Governor’s House, about which were several Huts for Portugueses.
This Lordship, already spoken of, is reckon’d amongst the Northern parts of Brasile, and hath onely twelve Leagues in circumference. The Haven before the Castle, which the River Hacu makes, is of little consequence: The Ground in some places rises with high Mountains, in others, especially on one side, it is overgrown with Wood: hath also several brave Pastures, especially along the River.
The Fort taken by Garstman.
Garstman approaching the Castle Siara, found little resistance, so that he took it with small expence of Blood, most of the Portuguese being taken Prisoners, a few onely escaping by flight.