The fleet which sailed under Oquendo’s flag, besides the ten vessels with troops for _Pernambuco_, consisted of twenty ships of war; whilst four-and-twenty merchantmen, laden with sugar, joined him for the sake of his convoy at _Bahia_, at which port he had been instructed to call. This latter instruction gave the Dutch admiral time to reach _Recife_; and, having landed his troops, he sailed out again, with sixteen ships, in quest of the enemy. When the fleets came in sight of one another Oquendo ordered his transports and merchant vessels to fall to leeward. His own ship then engaged in a desperate struggle with that of his opponent, whose vessel it grappled. Ere long the Dutch vessel was on fire, and that of Oquendo narrowly escaped the same fate. It was, however, towed away in time. The renowned admiral Patry, disdaining to attempt to save his life, determined at least to preserve his colours from falling into the hands of the enemy, and plunged with them into the sea. In this fierce action, which was splendidly fought on both sides, about three thousand men fell, the loss being pretty equally distributed. On the morrow, Oquendo, having given orders to the Count of Bagnuolo to take the succours into _Pernambuco_, proceeded on his way to the Spanish Main to convoy the homeward-bound galleons. Bagnuolo gained the port of _Barra Grande_, thirty leagues from the camp of _Bom Jesus_. The troops were safely landed, and after a difficult march joined Mathias de Albuquerque. The Dutch commander, knowing that the Portuguese had received reinforcements, thought it necessary to concentrate his troops at _Recife_, upon which he set fire to _Olinda_, the entire city being consumed. But it was not long before the Dutch discovered the impolicy of this latter measure, for, being concentrated at _Recife_, the whole Portuguese force was brought to bear on that one point. In order to make a diversion, three thousand men were despatched to attack _Paraïba_. This place was defended by a fort which commanded the bar, and the Dutch therefore determined to attack by land rather than to enter the river. There was some severe fighting; but _Paraïba_ being reinforced from the camp, the invaders were at length constrained to retire, leaving their stores behind them. The next attempt of the Dutch was upon _Rio Grande_, at the entrance of the river _Potengi_; but here too they were unsuccessful.