Mean while the Council seeing that there was not much good to be done by force of Arms, endeavor’d by mild ways to invite the revolted Portugueses, who were all promis’d Pardon for their Insurrection in an Edict which was publish’d in all places, onely Viera, Almado, De Rouche, Antonio Calvantelca, and Hoogenstraet, for whom great sums of Money were offer’d, were excepted. The Portuguese on the contrary publish’d, That they would receive all those Netherlanders into favor that would come over to them, and pay the Debts which they ow’d to the West-India Company, and also Transport them whither they pleas’d. These Promises, written in English, Dutch, French, and Portuguese, and hung every where on the Boughs of Trees, and other publick Places, operated much more than the Privy-Councils Edicts; for in stead of one Portuguese that came to them, several ran to the Portuguese from Reciffa, notwithstanding a strict Guard was kept to prevent them, besides the great mortality amongst the Soldiers and Inhabitants through several raging Distempers, and want of fresh Provisions: Which general Calamity, it seems, very much cow’d the Spirits of those that were left; for in a Sally meeting with five hundred Portugueses, notwithstanding they were equal in number, yet they made a shameful Retreat; yea, though Schuppe came with eight hundred Men to their assistance, yet he could not prevail with them to face about either by fair means or foul, for with his own hand he Ran-through an Ensign, Sergeant, and two Soldiers, who ran away first. Yet notwithstanding this base and cowardly Retreat, it was resolv’d on to set upon Olinda and the Promontory St. Augustine; and at the same time Hinderson was sent to make himself Master of Rio Francisco with fifteen hundred Men, and to harrase all the Countrey thereabouts with Fire and Sword, that so he might force the Portuguese to leave Reciffa.
Revolt of the Tapuyans.
Though John Dary, King of the Tapuyans, seem’d well enough contented with the punishment of Garstman, yet a great Party of his Subjects were not satisfi’d, but went and joyn’d with the Portuguese, because Garstman had not been deliver’d to them in Siara, where they kill’d all the Netherlanders they could meet with, and sent Presents to their King Dary, if possible, to oblige him to joyn with the Portuguese: But he reply’d, That he had more reason to punish them for their ill usage of the Inhabitants in Siara, than to have any thing to do with the Portuguese.
The Council inform’d hereof, sent the Interpreter Ralph Baron, who had a long time Convers’d with the Tapuyans, with a Present of Axes, Knives, Looking-glasses, Shirts, Combs, and the like Trifles, to King Dary, desiring him to continue his former kindness towards the Hollanders; which Dary promis’d, provided he might receive Assistance from Reciffa against those whom he had made his Enemies for the Netherlanders sake; which Baron promis’d should be done as soon as the fresh Forces which were daily expected from the Texel, Maes, and Zealand, came to Brasile.
The Fort of Rio Grande taken by Hinderson.
Capt. Montagne overpower’d by the Enemy, and slain.
Hinderson Landing at Rio Grande, took the Fort without firing a Gun, the Portuguese at his first coming flying into the Woods. He found here abundance of Cattel; for no place in the World breeds more than this, several Husbandmen having fifteen thousand Head of Beasts, of which many were taken to supply the want of Provisions at Reciffa. As soon as he had taken the Fort, he caus’d it to be pull’d down to the Ground, because it stood in an inconvenient place, and immediately rais’d another, which was much better to be defended, by reason of the rising Ground; but he could neither bring that Work, nor any other Design to any perfection, because of the treachery of his Soldiers, who being most of them Roman-Catholicks, were so inclin’d to the Portuguese Interest, that they daily more and more deserted the Companies Service, and gave Intelligence to the Enemy of their Transactions. Amongst others, an Antwerper was apprehended for an Intelligencer, and being Hang’d on a Gibbet, fell three times one after another on his Feet, the Halter breaking like a burnt Thred, which gave him so many times of respit and opportunity of supplicating for Life; but his Crime was too hainous to admit of Pardon. Mean while the fled Portugueses being supply’d with fresh Supplies from all Places, especially from St. Salvador, to the number of twelve hundred Men, they kill’d the Out-watches, consisting of twenty Men: The next Sentinel being warn’d by the noise, alarm’d the new Fort, which was scarce finish’d, because a mighty Shower of Rain had wash’d away the Walls. Hinderson being wounded in the Leg, sent Captain Montagne against the Enemy, of whose Power he was sensible; yet going to the place where the Watch that was kill’d had kept their Station, he met with two hundred Portugueses, divided into three Companies, and drawn out for Battel, who running away were pursu’d by Montagne, till coming up to their Regiment, which consisted in all of a thousand Men, divided into five Companies, they fell on all sides upon Montagne, who fighting valiantly, was overpower’d and kill’d, with three hundred of his Men, and almost as many more taken Prisoners; amongst whom was the Minister Astette, four hundred onely escaping into the Fort, where Hinderson stay’d expecting the event of Montagne’s Exploits.
This Defeat spoil’d Schuppe’s Design, who by his marching to Rio Francisco thought to draw the Enemy from Reciffa; but now being forc’d to think of some other way, he thought it convenient to invade St. Salvador by Sea, as the Enemy had done Reciffa by Land. Wherefore Hinderson receiv’d order to stay with six hundred Men (being all that were left of fifteen hundred,) on Rio Grande, whither a Barque with Provisions being sent, was taken, and the Men in cool Blood kill’d by the Portuguese.
Schuppe’s Victory on the Island Taperica.
Lichthart’s Death.