The Names of the Ships both of the Dutch and Portuguese Fleet.
A. The Portuguese Admiral.
B. Their Vice-Admiral.
C. The rest of their Ships.
D. Three of their Barques.
E. Three Carvels, which lay to watch in the Bay.
F. The Enemy’s Battery.
G. The Utrecht, being the Dutch Admiral.
H. The Ter Veer.
I. The Zealand Vice-Admiral.
K. The Over-Ysel.
L. Salt-Land Pink.
M. The Golden Deer Frigat.
N O. The Leyden Pink, and Unicorn Frigat.
P Q. A Dogger and three Netherland Barques.
Whilest the two Commissioners went with the fore-mention’d Orders to the Portuguese Fleet, a Netherland Vessel endeavor’d, notwithstanding the Wind was contrary, to get out to Lichthart’s assistance; which Bonavides observing, stood away Northerly before the Wind: but Lichthart overtook a Ketch belonging to the Portuguese Fleet.
Serinhain taken by Vidal and others.
Mean while the Portuguese upon Land being two thousand strong, under the Command of Vidal, Diez, Camaron, and Acoignes, Storm’d the Fort Serinhain, where the French Captain Montagne could make but little resistance, not having above forty Men, and being unprovided of Ammunition and Provision; yet he resisted nine days, and at last got two Barques to convey him to Reciffa.
Soon after this the Portuguese Fleet falling out amongst themselves, Bonavides Steer’d back for Lisbon with a few Ships, the rest coming to an Anchor again near Reciffa; where the Seamen whom Lichthart had taken inform’d him, that their Fleet came the first time to Reciffa for no other end, but to stir up the Portuguese by their Presence to take up Arms, according to a private Contract, having to that purpose Landed twelve hundred Men at Tamandera, besides the Army led by Camaron and Diez from St. Salvador to Pernambuco.
Colonel Hous about this time being sent for back to Reciffa, and staying with five hundred Men for Captain Blaek’s coming, who was sent to fetch all the Portuguese Women within three Leagues about Reciffa, was set upon in the Night by Vidal with two thousand Portugueses; the Brasilians, who were above half his Forces, flying into the Woods, leaving onely two hundred Netherlanders to fight with Vidal, by whom being so much over-power’d, they were forc’d to submit to his mercy, and suffer themselves to be all carry’d Prisoners to St. Salvador.
By this time at Reciffa all things were in a confusion, the Pits digg’d about Maurice-stadt afforded nothing but brackish Water, which occasion’d Sickness.
The Fort St. Augustine treacherously surrendered by Hoogenstraet to the Portuguese.
Vidal encourag’d by his Victory, march’d to St. Augustine, where without doubt he had stopt, if Hoogenstraet, who had the chief Command of the Fort, had not been Disloyal; for this Traitor thought it not enough to surrender this invincible Fort to the Enemy, but also bereav’d Reciffa of Provisions and Ammunition, which he did very subtilly, sending earnestly thither for Souldiers, Bullets, Powder and Shot, in lieu whereof he sent thither two Barques full of old Men, Women and Children, that so he might deprive Reciffa of stout Men, and supply their room with unable People. For this treacherous and villanous Act the Portuguese were to give him 1800 l. and make him a Colonel: Moreover, all the Soldiers in Garrison, consisting of three hundred Men, receiv’d 3 l. a Man, and were sent to joyn with a Regiment of six hundred and fifty Men, over which Hoogenstraet was made chief Commander.
Lichthart gains a noble Victory over the Portuguese Fleet.