Ill management of Affairs after Maurice his departure.
Viera’s Treachery.
After Grave Maurice’s departure, Hamel, Bassi, and Bullestraet, bore the chief Command in Brasile: The Charges made by the War were mitigated, and the number of the Soldiers in Garrison reduc’d to sixteen hundred; some Forts lay without a Man in them, whilest the King of Portugal watch’d for such an opportunity; for he seem’d to be as much concern’d for that Countrey, as for his Kingdom of Portugal, and the rather, because his Predecessor Sebastian receiv’d above forty hundred thousand Ducats yearly out of the same, besides the Presents and other Gains made by the Portuguese; wherefore he gave order to the Governor of St. Salvador to be very vigilant, and assur’d him, that in a short time he would send him both Men and Provisions. A Mulatto call’d John Fernandes Viera, did not a little assist the Portuguese in their Design; for he having liv’d a considerable time in a Councellors House in Reciffa, had narrowly observ’d all Passages, and insinuated himself into several Statesmens Affairs, by Presenting them now and then with some Rarities, insomuch that he came in time to Farm the Rents which the West-India Company receiv’d from the Sugar-Mills; but at length being discontented because the Council would not make any abatement upon the same, when he complain’d that he lost by Farming the fore-mention’d Tax, he held private Correspondence with Andreas Vidal, that when a convenient opportunity presented it self for the Portuguese to fall on the Hollanders, he might be assisting; to which end he had gotten several Arms and Ammunition together.
In this Plot a Jew nam’d Moses Accoignes, living in Viera’s House, a League from Reciffa, to keep him from Arrests, was perswaded to joyn, which he seemingly promis’d to do; but went away by Day-break, and discover’d the Design to the Privy-Council, who being rock’d asleep by the Portugueses fair Pretences, gave no credit to the Relation.
A Plot against the Netherlanders to be carry’d on by a Wedding.
The Plot discover’d by some of the Conspirators.
For the better carrying on of this Design, Cavalcantelca, Provost-Marshal in Maurice-stadt made a great Wedding for his Daughter in Viera’s House, to which the chiefest Persons of Quality, both of the Portuguese, and also all the Privy-Councellors and Military Officers belonging to the West-India Company were invited: and the Plot was so contriv’d, that whilest they were all at Dinner, the Portuguese were suddenly to fall upon the Netherlanders and kill them, both Servants and Masters; this done, some were to go to Reciffa or Maurice-stadt, with news that the Wedding People were coming; whereupon part were to press into the City, others to keep the Gates, till all their Forces were come thither, which then might easily secure and seize upon the Magazine: some Barques also under pretence of loading Sugar, were in the mean time to set upon the Haven and Fort near the Shore. All things were accordingly prepar’d for the Wedding, nothing being wanting that could be purchas’d with Money, and near the Forts of Rio Grande and Parayba were Stage-plays to be Acted in publick, it being concluded that the Soldiers in Garrison would certainly be there to see them; the Actors being privately Arm’d with Pistols and Ponyards. And to oblige one another the more for the carrying on of this bloody Design, Viera had caus’d the chief Conspirators to take an Oath before the high Altar. The twenty fourth of June 1645. was the Day on which this Tragedy was to be acted; but a few days before two Portugueses and five Jews, who had been sworn Confederates, their Consciences checking them for so villanous an Undertaking, made an ingenuous Discovery of the Plot. The Councellor Moucheron was also inform’d, that the Portuguese Colonel Camaron and Diez were coming with great Forces from St. Salvador.
Viera flies into the Wood.
The Council when they might easily have apprehended Viera, sent for him by a Jew call’d Abraham Coing, under pretence of Treating about some Business concerning the West-India Company; he promis’d to come in the Evening, but suspecting he was betray’d, fled into the Woods, and gave speedy notice to all his Accomplices, who follow’d him in great numbers. The Soldiers sent to search Viera’s House, found none but old Men and Children.
The Councellor Van Houten went immediately with seven Sugar-Vessels to Parayba, fortifi’d the Forts Margareta, Restringa, and Antonio, and made room for the Brasilians that had remov’d thither from their Villages, in the Houses deserted by the Portuguese in Frederick-stadt. On the other side, Amador da Rouge, one of the Conspirators, went with a Company from Poiouca through the Countrey, kill’d seven Dutch Seamen, with three Jews, and erected Gibbets, on which he threatned to hang all those who did not take up Arms for the King of Portugal. Colonel Hous inform’d hereof march’d with five hundred Men to Poiuca to meet the Portuguese, who were scatter’d up and down the neighboring Woods. He also publish’d an Edict, in which every one was Licens’d to return to their Habitations, with promise of pardon for their Rebellion, if they would take the Oath of Allegiance anew, onely Viera, Cavalcantelca, and Da Rouge, were excluded, and nine thousand Guilders promis’d to those that brought them dead or alive, which made two hundred Inhabitants in Reciffa march into the Countrey under the Command of Captain Blar, to find the fore-mention’d Traitors; and at last joyning with Hous, they pursu’d the fled Portuguese.