764 



nieuhoff's brazil. 



plied, both with ammunition and provisions ; and that confequently we muft foon he 

 reduced to great extremity, if they were mailers of the field : they knew alfo, that all 

 our fhips, except two, were ready to fail with the firft fair wind, being already fallen 

 down to-the Red Land ; thus being fenfibleof our weaknefs, the Portuguefe propofed to 

 themfelves no lefs than the conqueft of the whole Dutch Brazil at one ftroke. But 

 the whole defign being difcovered before Midfummer-day, it vanifhed mto fmoke, both 

 fides betaking themfelves to decide the matter by arms. 



The Portuguefe pretended not fo much the allegiance due to their King, as liberty 

 of confcience ; notwithftanding which, we have all the reafon in the world to imagine, 

 that this infurreftion was undertaken not only with the knowledge, but alfo at the 

 inftigation of the court of Portugal, and of thofe of the Bahia ; it being very improbable 

 that Kamaron, Henry Dias, and the reft of the ring-leaders, ftiould, without the 

 approbation of the King of Portugal, have attempted to attack us by open force. 

 Befides this, Mucheron declares to have read, in a Portuguefe commiflion, thefe words : 

 ** This revolt and war, undertaken for the honour of God, the propagating of the 

 Roman Catholic faith, for the fervice of the King, and common liberty.'* He further 

 adds, that he has heard feveral Portuguefe fay, that if they mifcarried in their defign of 

 chafing us out of Brazil, to deftroy all with fire and fword, thereby to bereave us of all 

 future profpedt of receiving any benefit from thofe lands ; which done, they would re- 

 tire with their wives and children to the Bahia, or fettle in fome more remote place, 

 where they might be fecure againft any attempts of the Dutch. There have indeed 

 teen fome who, confidering the unfettled eftate of the King of Portugal, and the odd 

 fancy of his reign, have thought it very improbable he (hould involve himfelf in a war 

 with us, or have given his confent to this infinuation ; but the event has fufficiently con- 

 tradicted that opinion. 



The 2 2d of June a letter was delivered to the great council, figned by John Fernan- 

 des Vieira, Antonio Kavalkanti, John Pefcoa, Manuel Kavalkanti, Antonio Bezerra, 

 and Cofmo de Crafto Pafos, in which they complained, that they being a confiderable 

 time ago accufed by the Jews of a treacherous defign againft the government, had been 

 great lufFerers upon that fcore ; that now they being informed by the fame Jews that 

 they were in danger of lofing all their mills and lands, to be given to certain Hollanders, 

 who were fent for for that purpofe, they defired that the time of five days appointed in 

 the laft pardon might be prolonged, as being too fhort for a bufinefs of fuch moment, 

 and that the faid pardon might be granted without exception ; which they refufing to 

 grant, they did hereby proteft before God and all the Roman Catholic Princes, that 

 they thought themfelves innocent, and not in the leaft guilty of all thofe miferies which 

 might enfue from this refufal hereafter. 



The 23d, in the morning, the council was affembled to confider of the faid letter ; 

 where, after feveral harangues upon the prefent ftate of our affairs, and the enemy's 

 defign againft us, they were divided in their opinions, fome being for granting a gene- 

 ral pardon, without the leaft exception, as the cafe ftood with us at prefent, when we 

 were deftitute of fufficient provifion, ammunition, and men ; others maintained, that a 

 letter which contained fo many notorious untruths deferved not the leaft anfwer j others 

 were of another opinion. Whilft they were thus debating the matter, letters were 

 brought to the council, written by Lieutenant-colonel Haus, from St. Antonio, that 

 he was ready to attack the rebels of Pojuka the next day, not without hopes of good 

 fuccefs, fo that the council, confidering of what moment the event of thK action was to 

 their affairs, refolved to adjourn the faid debate till the next day, when they hoped to 

 know the iffue of the whole enterprize. 



The 



