The Militia is distributed into all the Forts or Villages, that so they may the better procure their Provisions, watch the approach of the Spaniards, and prevent all Incroach-ments of the Enemy. In Maurice Castle are five hundred and forty Men in Garrison; in the Afogados, two hundred ninety three; in Camarigibi and Porto Calvo, four hundred and eighty; in Serinhain, seven hundred and eighty; in Pojuca, twenty five; in the Mills Panterra, ninety seven; at the Promontory Antonio, two hundred and forty; in the Castle Vander Dussen, a hundred and seventy; the like number is in Amaro and Moribeca; in the Village St. Laurence, four hundred and twenty two; in the Fort Prince William, two hundred and sixty three; in Frederick Henrick, hath two hundred and thirty; in Ernestus, two hundred and eighty; in Reciffa, two hundred and seventy seven; in the Castle Bruine, a hundred and twenty five; in Olinda, a hundred and ninety three; in Iguaraza, ninety three; in Orange, a hundred and eighty two; in Goyana, a hundred and sixty five; in Frederick-stadt, a hundred and one; in the Fort Margareta, three hundred and sixty; in the Castle Ceulen, eighty eight; in Antonio Vaes lies Grave Maurice’s Guard; Siara is defended by forty; so that the whole Power consists of six thousand one hundred and eighty Men, too weak a number to resist the Enemy both by Land and Sea; nay, had he had Courage, the West-India Companies Concerns in Brasile would long since have been in a low Condition; for the Spanish Fleet which came lately from Cadis, carry’d three thousand Men, besides seven hundred which they brought from St. Salvador; the Duke of Bagnola was also ready with two thousand Portugueses, and a thousand Brasilians, to joyn with the Seamen, and expected also as great a number from Parayba, Pernambuco, Seregippa, Itamarica, Rio Grande, and Siara, contrary to the Oath taken in Reciffa: But the Spanish Fleet keeping close to the Bay Todos los Sanctos, hath hitherto done nothing, except the sending of several Companies into the Countrey, to rob and pillage the Brasilian Villages. Moreover, the Mulatto’s and Negro’s do great mischief up and down, and so much the more, because they go and come along private Ways, through which none can follow them. Most of the Ships being badly fitted, are scarce able to keep the Sea; and the Soldiers want Clothes exceedingly. The City St. Salvador keeps the Countrey in a continual Alarm, so that five thousand Men are requir’d to conquer it: Eighteen great Ships, and as many Ketches, besides lesser Vessels, ought to be sent thither, the Sea being full of Pyrats. The common Treasury is so much behind-hand, that none can receive any Pay. The Owners of the Sugar-Mills will not deliver any Sugar without ready Money, because of the Netherlanders removal from thence.
This Relation of the Affairs of the Netherland West-India Company in Brasile, was deliver’d to them in Writing by Vander Dussen.
A Description, of the Palace Freyburgh, two Bridges, and a Banquetting-house, all built by Grave Maurice.
Grave Maurice before his coming away from Brasile, built a pleasant Palace along the River Biberibi, before the Fort Ernestus on Antonio Vaes; the outmost Work whereof was shaded by a double Row of Coco-Trees, and had a Pond full of all sorts of Fish; and not far from thence, on one side, a second encompass’d a Coney-Warren, which respected a pell-mell; near it a Garden, curiously divided into round Parterres, which led into a long Park of Bakkoven-Trees; and at the end a great Dove-house. Next the River stood a large Stable, on one side whereof was a Field to whiten Linnen in, and a Kitchin-Garden wherein was a large Spot full of Orange-Trees, a row of Vines, which bore Grapes every three Moneths, and a delightful Walk, beset on each side with Lime-Trees. On the other side of this Palace stood a Banquetting-house, near a row of Pome-granate-Trees, and another of Fig and Cittron-Trees. Behind the Palace was a Fish-pond with two Iles, for the Swans. A Dove-house also appear’d near the Fort Ernestus, where the Negro’s watch’d the Horses, and led them to Water in a Fishpond in a large Wood. Before the Palace appear’d a Stone Pallisado, which like a Half-Moon ran into the River. The Palace it self rose with two Towers, one of which serv’d for a Sea-mark.
Moreover, Grave Maurice extended his new City to the Fort Frederick Henrick, divided the Morassie Grounds by several Moats, and laid a Bridge cross the River Biberibi, between Reciffa and the City Maurice, another cross the Stream Capivaribi, between the said City Maurice and the Main Land.
In the time when Albuquerque Govern’d Brasile for the King of Spain, it was Disputed among the Portuguese, whether it were not requisite to desert the City Olinda, and causing the Inhabitants to remove to Reciffa, joyn the same with a Bridge to the Isle Antonio Vaes, because those Places are almost invincible, and much more convenient for Ships than Olinda? But the Hollanders surpris’d them on a sudden, before they could bring the Business to pass, and after a while prosecuted the same Design themselves.
Grave Maurice his stately Bridge over the River Biberibi.
Grave Maurice spent twenty four thousand Guilders in laying a Bridge over the River Biberibi, between Reciffa and Antonio Vaes. Having rais’d just fifteen Stone Columns from the Ground, they came to the deepest part of the River Antonio Vaes, when the Architect began to despair of accomplishing the same, because the Ground lay deep under Water, and the Stream ran very swift: Those which dwelt at Reciffa cry’d, That they had undertaken a Business which was not in the power of Man to effect, and that there was above ten thousand Pound already spent in vain on fifteen Pillars: In this sort they began to clamor against Grave Maurice, especially the Owners of Houses in Reciffa, who foresaw that many would remove from thence to the pleasant Isle Antonio Vaes, as soon as the Bridge was finish’d; after which the Houses in Reciffa would be at low Rates. But Grave Maurice judging that the Disgrace would fall upon him, if the Bridge should be left half finish’d, caus’d at his own proper Charge, huge pieces of lasting Timber to be cut, forty and fifty Foot long, and so ramm’d into the Ground, some streight, others sloaping, to support the rest, and in two Moneths finish’d the same. On the first day after this new Bridge was compleated, there went so many People over it, that the Toll which they paid, amounted to above 60 l. Sterl. and was after that Farm’d for twenty eight thousand Guilders yearly, a Citizen that pass’d over the same being to pay 2 d. and a Negro or Soldier 1 d. but a Horseman paid 4 d. and a Cart or Wayn 7 d.
Another over the River Capivaribi.