8i8 nieuhoff's brazil. 



cerning the government or punifhment of the fubjeds of the States-General, no more 

 than the King of Portugal is anfwerable to us for what is tranfaded upon that account 

 in his kingdom or other dominions. 



" Notwithftanding which, we would have you not in the leafl lay the before-mentioned 

 crimes and violences at our door ; we are fo far from having encouraged or commanded 

 the Tapoyers to kill the Portuguefe inhabitants in Kunhao, that for thefe feveral years 

 laft paft we have endeavoured to prevent it ; for having, by the ill treatment they had 

 received from the Portuguefe, been exafperated againft them, they were for killing moft 

 of the inhabitants of that captainfliip, and had aftually put it in execution, had we not 

 interpofed our authority, and ordered our, garrifons to take them into their particular 

 protedtion. What you fay of ravifhing of women, is not only beyond our knowledge, but 

 even beyond whatever we heard of before, having taken all imaginable care to prevent 

 fuch violences by our proclamation, publifhed for that purpofe. It is known to all the 

 world that we afforded our peculiar protection to the women of De Ingenio, of St. Ar- 

 nout d'Orlanda, and what concerns the taking of the ladies by Captain John Blaar, was,- 

 as we are informed, done with no other intention, than to exchange them for his wife, 

 or at leafl to keep them as hoftages for her, he having received intelligence that fhe was 

 very ill treated by you at Serinham. The rebels themrelves made the firft flep towards 

 thofe robberies and rapines that have been committed by our foldiers fmce, which, how- 

 ever, cannot come into balance with thofe cheats, frauds, and rapines, wherewith thofe 

 rebels have defrauded and robbed their creditors of their debts and goods ; notwith- 

 ftanding which, we have, by granting fafeguards and otherwife, done all what in us lay 

 to prevent the fame. 



" The late murder upon the perfon of the Salinhas was committed the 17th of 

 Auguft, without our knowledge, to our great diffatisfadion, by the flying Brazilians, 

 who, being enraged at the killing of their men, women, and children at Serinham, 

 without any diftindion of age or fex, took this opportunity of revenging themfelves. 

 You may eafily guefs that the papers difperfed by Antonio Kavalcanti at Iguaracu have 

 alfo contributed not a little to this enterprife. 



" Of the bullets mentioned by you to have been ufed in the laft encounter, we have 

 more reafon to complain than you, it being our conftant order not to recede from what 

 is the cuftom of war in thefe cafes. 



" The courtefy ftiewed in faving and receiving our foldiers we are ready to acknow- 

 ledge, and to return upon the like occafion, defiring you would fend us back your refo- 

 lution upon this point by the fame drummer. , 



" It being evident from what has been alledged, that all the paft misfortunes ought 

 to be imputed to the rebels, unto whom we endeavoured by all requifite means to re- 

 ftore tranquillity and peace ; but they, perfifting in their' rebellious defigns, deferve 

 rather condign puniftiment than the leaft excufe at your hands. For which reafon it is 

 that we proteft before God and the whole world, againft the proceedings of His Ex- 

 cellency Antonio Telles de Sylva, and what elfe has been committed by yourfelf con- 

 trary to the treaty concluded betwixt His Majefty of Portugal and the ftates-general of 

 the United Provinces ; not queftioning but that upon the receipt of thefe prefents, you 

 will retire with your forces to the Bahia, and thereby put an fend to the further violation 

 of the faid treaty. Thus, expeding yoijr anfwer, we reft, 



" Receif, Aug. 20, 1645. Sir, yours, &c." 



The fame night word being brought that fome of the enemy's troops were advanced 

 to Olinda, notice was given to all the circumjacent forts to prepare for a vigorous de- 



II fence. 



