At the same time it was given out, that Schuppe was going with the Admiral Bankert to Hinderson’s assistance; and to delude the Portuguese the more, Schuppe went with two thousand five hundred Men to Rio Francisco, where he lay some days at an Anchor; upon which the Governor of St. Salvador sending several Companies thither, Schuppe Sail’d with all speed to St. Salvador, and Landing on the Island Taperica, four Leagues in circumference, he got a rich Booty, and spar’d none whome’re he met with, insomuch that two thousand were destroy’d, some by the Sword upon the place, others by their haste to get over to St. Salvador; for most of the Vessels being too full, sunk with them. Amongst the Prisoners that were taken and sent to Reciffa, were two Monks, who were design’d the same Entertainment as the Minister Astette should receive in St. Salvador; whereupon they immediately wrote to their Fraternity, to take care that Astette should not be burnt alive, as the Portuguese had threatned, because they were to expect the same usage: whereupon Astette was set at liberty, and had leave to walk up and down the Streets of St. Salvador. Schuppe fortifi’d himself on Taperica, near an Inlet under the new Works, and together with Lichthart watch’d for all Portuguese Vessels: But Lichthart dying here, was carry’d to Reciffa, and there bury’d. On the other side, the Governor of St. Salvador sent fifteen hundred Men in the Night to the other side of Taperica, where with all speed they Intrench’d themselves, and Sally’d daily out of their Works upon Schuppe, so that many Men were lost on both sides; but Schuppe was in the worst Condition, in regard his Soldiers ran over in great numbers to St. Salvador, where they were well Entertain’d; of which he advertis’d the Privy-Council, who were the less able to give him Redress, as having the same cause of Complaint.
A pitiful Example of a young Soldiers Execution.
Amongst others there hapned a sad Accident of a young Soldier, scarce sixteen years old, and born at Roan, who having robb’d his Father’s Cash, went in a Ship to Holland; where he lavishly spending the Money, was forc’d at last to List himself in the West-India Companies Service, and coming with the fore-mention’d Fleet to Reciffa, endeavor’d with two Companies to run to the Portuguese; but overtaken, was Try’d for the Fact, and Condemn’d to be Hang’d, for none of his Excuses which he made, of going over the River onely to fetch some Oranges and Lemmons to refresh himself, would save him, nor his protesting that he had no intention of going to the Enemy, nor the Promise that his Father should release him for ten thousand Crowns, nor his Minority, which ought chiefly to have been consider’d, but that Necessity stopt the Ears of the Compassionate; so that his Execution drew pity from the Beholders a few Weeks after.
A notable Passage of a Portuguese, Executed for Treason.
A very astonishing Passage hapned at Reciffa upon another Sentence of Death pronounc’d against a Portuguese, who after the publication of the Act of Pardon came to Reciffa, and there hir’d a Seaman for two hundred Crowns, to carry a Letter, made up in a Leaden Box, to the Governor of the Promontory of St. Augustine, with order that if he was set upon any where, he should throw the Box into the Water. The Letter written in strange Characters, contain’d a Declaration of the small number of Men in Reciffa, most of the Netherlanders Forces lying on the Island Taperica, so that if Reciffa were Storm’d along the Bank, and from Maurice-stadt, it might easily be taken. This Letter being intercepted, the Portuguese was taken and Condemn’d, and as he was carrying to the Place of Execution cry’d aloud, You People take delight in my Death, but you shall be interrupted; and indeed it hapned accordingly: for when the Executioner began to scorch the half-strangled Criminal with Straw, there sprung up a strange Spirit of Contention amongst the Spectators, who began to justle and strike one another; and soon after a Whirlwind rose in the midst of the Market-place, which in a moment caus’d them all to stagger like drunken People, their Hats and Caps were blown up into the Air, the whole multitude tumbling confusedly on the Ground, the Arm’d Soldiers flying to the next Houses, and the Executioner falling down in a Trance from the Scaffold: A full quarter of an hour this Confusion had lasted, when the People came to themselves again, and the Hangman return’d to his Business, cutting off the Portuguese’s Nose, Ears, Privy-Members, and tearing out his Heart, which he threw to two Dogs, who devour’d the same; then dividing the Body into Quarters, which were set up at the four Corners of the City for an Example.
The same Punishment receiv’d a Mulatto, who endeavor’d to fire two of the Hollanders best Ships in the Haven.
Notwithstanding these Punishments, the Soldiers ran away daily; the blame whereof might justly be laid on the Magistrates, who took no notice of the Soldiers just Complaints of their Officers, cheating them of a third part of their Provision, and inflicting severe Punishments upon them as Mutineers, when they had real cause of Complaint.
Schuppe was at the same time shrewdly put to it for want of Men, who either dy’d of the then reigning Disease, or ran away to the Enemy; so that he was forced to leave the Island Taperica, and inclose himself within his new rais’d Sconce.
Admiral Bankert gains a great Victory over the Portuguese Fleet.