Notice was now given to the inhabitants of _Pernambuco_ of the intention on the part of the Portuguese authorities to evacuate the portion of the captaincy which was situated round the capital. Such of the people as might choose to emigrate were offered protection; but the greater number preferred to submit to the Dutch. About eight thousand persons emigrated, not including Indians or slaves. Their way led past _Porto Calvo_, which was in the hands of the Hollanders. Albuquerque took precautions against an attack, and a native of the place, who had submitted to the Dutch, was allowed to go out to reconnoitre. He contrived to drop a letter in the sight of the sentinels. This was conveyed to Albuquerque, and informed him that the dreaded Calabar had entered _Porto Calvo_ on the previous evening with two hundred men. On the report of the same informer the Dutch commander was easily persuaded to attack the Portuguese. He fell into an ambuscade, and had to retreat, leaving fifty men on the field. The victors pursuing, entered the fortified place and won it after a desperate struggle, more than half of the garrison being slain. The Portuguese, too, lost heavily; they were not, however, discouraged, and secured every pass by which the enemy might send for succours. The Dutch were now deprived of water, and were closely besieged. After six days they were forced to surrender, and were offered good terms, namely, to be sent by way of Spain to Holland. _Porto Calvo_ was the native place of Calabar, and here he ended his career by being hanged. Albuquerque now razed the fortifications of _Porto Calvo_ and buried the guns which he had taken. He then conducted the emigrants to the _Lagoas_, where they dispersed, some going to _Bahia_ and others to _Rio de Janeiro_. The Portuguese military force now left at the _Lagoas_ consisted of four hundred men, besides Indians, and it was determined to fortify the southern settlement. The Dutch meanwhile were giving the court of Madrid serious cause for alarm, by building naval arsenals at _Recife_, such as made them no longer dependent on Europe for the repairs of their fleet. Cornelis Jub, with fourteen vessels, took possession of _Fernando Noronha_. He thence sailed to intercept the Mexican fleet, and came up with it at the _Bahamas_. Owing to the misconduct of some of his captains, he failed to capture it; but the danger to which it had been exposed caused the king of Spain to give orders that no efforts should be spared for the recovery of _Pernambuco_. A force was accordingly prepared for this purpose, and seventeen hundred men were sent forward in advance under _Don_ Luiz de Roxas, who was to supersede Albuquerque. Roxas was landed at the _Lagoas_ with his stores and men. [Sidenote: 1635.] [Sidenote: 1636.]