NIEUHOFP'S BilAZlL. 793 



In the mean-time our Admiral Lichthart being gone out in purfuit of the Portuguefe 

 -fleet, met with them in the bay of Tamandare, confifting of feven fhips, three fmaller 

 veffels, and four barks, the reft being fent loaden with fugar to Portugal. He was not 

 as yet joined by all the Ihips from the Receif; but being refolved not to let flip this 

 opportunity of attacking the enemy, fent the 7th of September advice to the great coun- 

 cil, that being come in fight of the enemy's fleet near the bay of Tamandare, confifting 

 in all of eleven veflels, he was refolved to attack them there, defiring them to fend as 

 many fliips as poffibly they could immediately. Hereupon it was refolved to join the 

 two fliips the Deventer and Elias, with the Unicorn and Leyden, then lying ready in 

 the road and bound for Holland, and fuch tenders as were at hand, and to fend them 

 forthwith to the Admiral Lichthart. Purfuant to thefe refolutions, the whole next fol- 

 lowine: night was fpent in manning the faid fliips, but were the next morning detained, 

 for fome time by the contrary winds. 



The fame day orders were given to all the foldiers and inhabitants of the ifl[e called 

 Antonio Vaez, to provide themfelves with bafliets filled with earth ; and palifadoes 

 were planted from the point of the Receif next to the river, to the utmoft point near 

 the fea-fide, and five great guns were planted upon a certain wreck, from whence they 

 could command the fea-fhore as far as to the fort of five baftions. 



The 8th of September, the Dutch admiral having ordered the red flag to be put up, 

 boarded the Portuguefe admiral carrying fixty guns and three hundred men : he be- 

 haved himfelf very valiantly, having polled himfelf at the entrance of his cabin with a 

 flaming fword in his hand, wherewith he killed three or four, but having received feveral 

 wounds, was at laft forced to yield. The reft of the fhips following the example of their 

 admiral, had iikewife boarded the Portuguefe fhips; but thefe feeing the flag taken 

 down from the admiral (a difmal fignal of her misfortune), they loft all hopes, and threw 

 themfelves headlong into the fea, to efcape the fury of the Are and fword ; whither be- 

 ing purfued by the Dutch in their boats, many periflied before they could reach the 

 fliore. Above feven hundred Portuguefe were killed in this action, befides a great 

 number of prifoners, among whom was the admiral himfelf: three fliips were taken 

 and fent to the Receif; the reft were fet on fire, being not in a condition to be carried 

 off, becaufe they had cut their cables and were run afliore, where the Portuguefe had 

 planted fome cannon upon. batteries, which fo annoyed our people, that fearing they 

 might run aground within the reach of the enemy's cannon, they fet fire to them, and 

 with much ado got their fliips clear from among the fhelves. After this engagement I 

 returned to the Receif to take care of my aflfairs there, and the admiral fent an exprefs 

 in a fiflier-boat, with the following letter to the council of the Dutch Brazil : 



A Letter from the Dutch Admiral to the CounclL 



-> fooner were the fhips Leyden, the yacht, and the Doe, arrived laft night, near 



of Tamandare, but purfuant to the refult of the council of war, it was refolved 



next morning within the bar, which \\ as performed in the following order : 



^e Utrecht admiral, fecond the Ter Veere, third the Zealandia, fourth the 



the Zoutlandia, followed by the Doe and Leyden, and the yacht, the 



-iers bdng ordered to be at hand as occafion fhould require. Being 



we found the enemy feven fail ftrong, befides three fmall veffels 



hat they had planted feveral pieces of cannon upon two batteries 



'^ceived a very warm falute both from their fhips and batteries, 



'' fliot J notwithftanding which, the fhip the Utrecht courage- 



■5 I ouily 



