8lO NIfiUHOFF*S BRAZIL. 



were pofted In this^Jioufe for the better fecurlty of the bridge acrofs the river. Dieterick 

 Hamel, and the counfellors of juftice, took care to look after the Receif. Imme-* 

 diately after, word being brought to the council that Colonel Haus had been overthrown, 

 and was retired to the houfe of De Wit belonging to the fugar-mill, it was confulted, 

 whether by any means they might be able to relieve him j and, though by reafon of 

 the weaknefs of the garrifon, it was no eafy matter to do it, neverthelefs, it was re- 

 folved, with one hundred volunteers of the inhabitants, and one hundred and fifty 

 foldiers, to attempt his relief. But before this could be put in execution, a certain 

 Brazilian that had been prefent at the whole adion, and having, by changing his 

 clothes with a Portuguefe, found means to efcape the Receif, brought the unwelcome 

 news, that Colonel Haus, with the forces under his command, had furrendered the 

 houfe belonging to the fugar-mill, and themfelves, upon promife of quarters, at 

 difcretion. 



It was generally believed, that this misfortune was chiefly occafioned by Colonel 

 Haus's own negled, who did not, till it wals too late, jput the foldiers into a poflure of 

 defence, which was afterwards confirmed by the depofition of William Jacobfon, late 

 captain-lieutenant of Colonel Haus's own company, made before the great council the 

 6th of July, 1 646. 



It was not till the night before our defeat, that Colonel Haus received the firft in- 

 telligences from a prifoner, a negro, that the enemy, with a ftrong body, were broken 

 up from Moribeca. The next morning, one of our fafe-guards brought word to the 

 colonel, that the enemy was paffing the river; and foon after, the colonel's groom, 

 who had been to water his mafter's horfe in the faid river, came in a full gallop, telling 

 him likewife, that the rebels were paffing the river, fo that we foon after heard them 

 fire upon our advanced guard, who retired immediately to the main body. Colonel- 

 Haus did not call the foldiers to their arms, or caufed the alarm to be given, until the 

 enemy came within fight of us, and charging our out-guard, when we firft began to 

 ikirmifli with them : but they charging us with their more numerous forces in the front, 

 whilft Kamaron with his troops endeavoured to cut off our retreat to the Receif, which 

 we were not able to prevent, by reafon of the fmallnefs of our number, HauS afked Cap- 

 tain Wiltfchut, Blaar and Liftry, *' What was bed to be done ?" Wiltfchut anfwered, 

 '* You never alked our advice before, do what you think beft.'' Whereupon Haus 

 ordered to retreat to the houfe of Mr. de Wit : Captain Blaar, who expeded no quar- 

 ter, being on the other hand for fighting our way through to the Receif. The houfe 

 was bravely defended for four hours, but at laft powder and ball beginning to fail, be- 

 canfe half a barrel of gunpowder (which was all they had left) blew up by accident, 

 they furrendered at difcretion to Andrew Vidal, under condition to have their lives 

 faved, as well for themfelves as the Brazilians among them ; which agreement being 

 figned by Vidal, and two or three more of the chief commanders of the Portuguefe, 

 was delivered to Colonel Haus. Notwithftanding which, the Brazilians were cut to 

 pieces by the inhabitants, with the confent of the Portuguefe commanders, as foon as 

 we had quitted our pofl in the houfe. The Brazilian women feeing their hufbands 

 murdered before their faces, dafhed moft of their children's brains againft the walls, 

 for fear they fiiould fall alive into the hands of the Portuguefe. All the Dutch, about 

 two hundred and fifty ftrong, among whom were Colonel Haus, Captain Blaar and 

 Liftry, were made prifoners of war, and were for the firft four or five days kept in the 

 liigar-mill of Hacq, when John Fernandes Vieira, and many of the inhabitants folicited 

 Andrew Vidal, to deliver the faid prifoners up into their hands, with an intention to kill 

 them, but Vidal refufed to grant their requeft, and caufed them forthwith to be fent by 



8 land 



