8 13 nieuhoff's brazil. 



pitch upon any perfon fitly qualified for this undertaking. At laft, Ifaac Zweers, by 

 vaft promifes of reward, prevailed fo far upon a Dutch trumpeter, called Martin 

 Stomp, that he undertook to carry this piece of news in perfon to the council, and at 

 the fame time to requefl the releafmg of the Dutch prifoners flill remaining at St. An- 

 tonio. Every thing being agreed upon betwixt them, the trumpeter took his leave of 

 Mr. Zweers, and fet out on his journey to the Receif about midnight, leaving his 

 wife and children behind him. Mr. Zweers and Mr. Broekhufen appeared very well 

 fatisfied, but neverthelefs were in their hearts not a little concerned for the ifTue of this 

 enterprife. 



They would often call upon the trumpeter's wife to enjoin her filence, and ordered 

 her, that if any enquired after him, to tell them he was run away from her, in order 

 to take fervice in the camp in the Vergea. 



Some days after they met with one Peter Ritfau, formerly baker to the garrifon of 

 the cape of St. Auflin ; Broekhufen having a mind to feel his pulfe, and finding him 

 not averfe to fuch a tafk, he at laft with fair words prevailed upon him to undertake 

 the fame journey the trumpeter had done before ; that in cafe he fliould mifcarry, 

 which they much feared he might, the council might neverthelefs be advertifed of the 

 enemy's intended expedition againll Itamarika. The baker having defired a certificate 

 from them, teflifying, that he never had taken fervice among the Portuguefe, prepared 

 himfelf for his journey, which he intended to begin with the firft dark night. 



The fame night they were forewarned of a defign againll their lives, by a certain 

 Italian called Jacomo da Perugalho, fo that Zweers and Broekhufen gueffing, not with- 

 out reafon, that fome of the Portuguefe had got fcent of their fending away the 

 trumpeter and baker, thought it not advifeable to ftay longer in this place, but to afk 

 leave from Colonel Pedro Marinho Falkaho, to go to the Algodais, where they could 

 not want conveniency to go along with the reft of the prifoners, that were intended to 

 be fent to the Bahia, which was readily granted. 



In the meanwhile the baker having taken the firfl opportunity to fet out on his 

 journey, was met by two Portuguefe in the fugar-mill Trapicha, who having found 

 the before-mentioned certificate about him, carried him prifoner to St. Antonio de 

 Cabo, where being put to the torture, it made fuch a noife among the inhabitants, that 

 they all rofe up in arms, proteding, they would not be fatisfied till they had fetched 

 Zweers and Broekhufen from the Algodais, and cut them to pieces ; for which pur- 

 pofe they alfo obtained feven foldiers from Pedro Marinho, and had certainly put it in 

 execution if Captain Ley had not oppofed it ; for, as good luck would have it, they 

 happened at that time to be in his fugar-mill, and the baker had fi:ood it out bravely, 

 without difcovering the matter. The next morning Captain Ley gave them a vifit, 

 telling them what had happened ; and fays he to Broekhufen, " What is your mean- 

 ing by this?" But he having no great confidence in Ley, denied every thing to the 

 utmoft. 



But the 2d of Odober, the whole defign was likely to have been difcovered by the 

 imprudence of the before-mentioned trumpeter's wife, who being got drunk, told 

 fome of her acquaintance, that her hufband was gone to the Receif. She was carried 

 a prifoner to the cape of St. Auflin, where fhe was miferably tortured, but being a 

 refolute woman, would not confefs any thing : it was however Major Hoogftraten's 

 advice, that the Portuguefe ought not to keep the Dutch any longer in Pernambuko, 

 but that all fuch as refufed to take fervice among them, ought to be fent to the Bahia. 

 Accordingly, all the_ Dutch prifoners then about the cape and St. Anthony, were fent 

 to the Algodais, where every one was alked- by Colonel Peter Marinho, whether they 



7* would 



