^48 NIEUHOFP'S BRAZIL. 



anfwer : " That he fhould always endeavour to cultivate a good underflanding and 

 correfpondency with us, purfuant to the ftricl and reiterated orders he had received for 

 that purpofe from the King his mafter. And that concerning the propofitions made by 

 them to him, he would aflemble his council of war and juftice, and afterwards impart 

 to them his anfwer." Then they were, by Domingo Delgados, reconduded to his 

 own houfe, where they were very well entertained the fame day at dinner, and the 

 next by the governor himfelf. 



The 17th they had another audience from the governor, who told them, in very 

 obliging terms, " that he had confulted the matter with his council, and could give 

 them no other anfwer but what was contained in this letter," which he delivered to 

 them, and told .them the contents thereof; whereupon our envoys told him, that 

 fince thereby a door was left open for rogues and vagabonds, they hoped he would at 

 lead order that the names of fuch as fled to the Bahia might be taken notice of, that 

 the great council of the Dutch Brazil might not remain quite unfatisfied, whither they 

 were fled ; which he promifed to do. After fome further compliments, and mutual 

 aflurance of friendfliip, they parted for this time. 



The 2 2d they took their leave of the bifliop, and feveral other perfons of note, unto 

 whom they owed any obligations, and laft of all of the governor himfelf, being con- 

 duced thither by many perfons of quality and officers ; they returned him thanks for 

 the civilities and refpect he had been pleafed to fliew them, wifhing both him and 

 His Portuguefe Majefty a long and happy reign, and victory againft the Callilians. 

 The governor returned their compliments, and conducted them out of the room, 

 ordering feveral negroes to attend them down the precipice of the hill, upon which 

 the city is built, with chairs ; but the envoys choofing rather to go on foot, they were, 

 in the fame chaloop they came in alhore, carried back under the found of mufic on 

 board their yacht. The Portuguefe officers, after having taken their leave, returned to 

 the city, and ours made the befl of their way to the Receif, where they arrived fafely 

 not long after. 



The letter delivered to them by the governor was as follows : 



The Governor*s Letter. 



" Gilbert de Wit counfellor of your court of juftice, and Dirk Hoogftraten com- 

 mander-in-chief on the Cape of St. Auftin, Your Lordlhips depudes, whom I received 

 according to their quality and merits, have delivered your letter to me, and propofed 

 fuch other matters as they were empowered to treat with me about. Though I endea- 

 vour nothing fo much as to cultivate and maintain in the ftritleft manner, our neigh- 

 bourly good correfpondency, yet am I conftrained at this time frankly to acknowledge, 

 that it is not in my power to give your lordftiips any more fatisfadlory anfwer than this, 

 in hopes that the many proofs you have had of my fmcere inclinations, will ferve as 

 a plea with Your Lordlhips, to aflure you, that I fhall always be ready in all points 

 depending on my government, to give the fame proofs both of obedience and fidelity 

 to the King my mafter, whofe pleafure is, that the truce fliould be obferved inviolably ; 

 and of my fmcere intentions, and the efteem I have for Your Lordftiips friendftiip, de- 

 firing nothing more than that you furnifti me with an opportunity of giving real 

 demonftrations of my readinefs to ferve you ; whom I recommend to the pretention of 

 God Almighty. 



"Bahia, Feb. 14th, 1645. (Signed) Antonio Telles de Sylva.'* 



Concerning 



