When news reached _Recife_ that Camaram and Enrique Diaz had passed the _San Francisco_, both parties felt that the time for action had arrived. An attempt made by Dutch troops on the eve of St. Antonio’s Day, to surprise Fernandes in his house failed. They found the place deserted. Nor were the Dutch more successful in their endeavours to secure the other leaders of the conspiracy. Fernandes took up his position on an eminence in the woods from which a good look-out could be observed, and he was there joined by his retainers and by slaves from his various estates. Thence he issued a proclamation to the people, summoning them to arms, and offering pay and freedom to all slaves who should join in the cause. Many obeyed the call, and fell upon such Dutchmen and Jews as happened to be within their reach. But it is not to be supposed that the spirit of patriotism pervaded the whole population. Many persons looked upon the insurgents’ cause as hopeless, and, wishing to be allowed merely to live in peace, only prayed for its speedy collapse. The measures which the Dutch Council at this time adopted served only to extend the limits of the insurrection. Not being able to lay hands on the actual rebels, they commenced a system of general arrests amongst the inhabitants of the provinces who had stayed at home. These had given the best possible proof of their being peaceable and inoffensive subjects; but it suited the authorities--or at least their subordinates--to pretend to suspect them; and, in order to obtain their liberty, they were required to pay for it. Another source of extortion was found in compelling all Portuguese to take the oath of allegiance and to provide themselves with a pass; for which, of course, fees were exacted. The authorities, after having in vain tried, by means of an enormous bribe, to induce Fernandes to return into the paths of peace, now offered the sum of four thousand _florins_ for his person, dead or alive,--a compliment which was reciprocated on his part by an offer of twice that amount for the head of any member of the Council. Hostilities first broke out at _Ipojuca_, a small town near Cape _St. Augustine_. A free mulatto, named Fagundes, took advantage of a passing affray to fall upon the Dutch; their garrison took to flight, leaving their arms to the insurgents. Fagundes next attacked three vessels laden with sugar, and massacred the Dutch on board. On this the whole neighbourhood took to arms, and the land communication between the Dutch at Cape _St. Augustine_ and all to the south was cut off. This news arrived at _Recife_, together with the intelligence that _St. Antonio_, a town to the north-west of _Ipojuca_, was besieged, and that Camaram and Diaz were devastating the neighbourhood of the _Lagoas_, the garrison of which place had now to be withdrawn. On the appearance of a force of two hundred Dutch and four hundred natives at _Ipojuca_, Fagundes and his men retreated to the woods.