NIEUHOFF*S BRAZIL. yr^ 



father-in-law, and Antonio Kavalkanti ; and in fliort, all the chiefeft of the Vergeas, 

 and other places. 



(Signed) « A. Verdade. 

 " Plus Ultra." 



Hereupon the great council called Paul de Linge, prefident of the council of juftice. 

 Vice-admiral Cornelius Lichthart, and Lieutenant-colonel Garftman, into their aflembly, 

 to confult unanimoully what were beft to be done at this juncture, for the prefervation 

 of the Dutch Brazil ; when by this, as well as feveral other letters and intelligences, 

 they were forewarned of the approaching danger ; and notwithftanding they were much 

 in doubt, whether they ought to make any certain account upon a letter written without 

 a name ; yet confidering all the circumflances of this, as well as feveral other informa- 

 tions, it was judged abfolutely neceffary to provide for the fafety of the Dutch Brazil, 

 againft any attempts of an enemy. 



1. By providing all the forts with meal for two months. 



2. By giving immediate notice to all commanders of forts to be conftantly upon their 

 guard. 



3. To write to John Liftry, chief commander of the Brazilians, to keep his people 

 in readinefs with their arms in the villages, to be ready to march upon the firft orders 

 from the council, we being not in a condition to take the field without them. 



4. To fend abroad their fpies in all corners, even into the woods, to get intelligence 

 whereabouts the enemy's troops are, and to give timely notice of what they are able to 

 learn to the council. 



5. It was agreed, to fummon John Fernandes Vieira, the chief ring-leader of the 

 intended rebellion, and his fecurities, Francifco Beringel, Vieira's father-in-law, and Ber- 

 nardin Karvalho, unto the Receif, under pretence of making a fecond agreement with 

 him, which he earneftly delired ; by which means they fhould fecure his perfon, know 

 the whole bottom of the Portuguefe defign, and confequently be the better able to pre- 

 vent it. A certain broker, called Koin, who folicited this agreement for Vieira, was 

 prevailed upon to undertake this talk, which he might do without the leaft fufpicion ; 

 but the Whitfuntide holidays put fome ftop to it for the prefent. With the fame care 

 the great council employed all poflible means to get the other perfons of the Vergea, 

 fufpeded to have a hand in this rebellious defign, into their hands, under fome pretence 

 or other, they being not likely to be taken by force, becaufe they did not lodge in their 

 mills and houfes in the night-time, and by day were fo ftriftly upon their guard, that 

 they could not poflibly be furprized. 



The 31(1 of May, Vice-admiral Lichthart, and Henry Haus, a lieutenant, offered to 

 undertake the delivering of John Fernandes Vieira to the council, which they intended 

 to eflfedt, under pretence of giving him a vifit, and going a fifhing with him in the lake 

 Lewis Bras Biferra. 



The 9th of July the great council received advice by a letter from Mr. Koin, go- 

 vernor of Rio St.Francifco, dated the ift of June, that Kamaron, with a fmall body^ 

 was pafTed the river St. Francis j therefore he defired fome alTiflance of men, with fuit- 

 able ammunition. 



The fame was confirmed by another letter, dated the 27th of June, with advice, that 

 as yet no enemy had appeared within fight of the fort. 



Frequent intelligence being likewife fent to the council, that in the Matta of St. Law- 

 rence, and fome other diftant places, confiderable numbers of foldiers from the Bahia, 

 of mulats and negroes, were gathering in a body, they fent feveral fmall bodies thither, 



5 D 2 under 



