Hogstraten now repeated his offer to deliver _Nazareth_ into the power of the governor, a proposal which he said he had already imparted to Joam Fernandes. His offer was accepted; and as he was somewhat afraid lest his conference with the Portuguese authorities might excite suspicion in the breast of his fellow-deputy, he had the audacity to tell him that they were tampering with him for the betrayal of his fort, and that he pretended to listen to them in order the better to thwart them. On his return to _Recife_ he repeated the same tale, adding that the governor merely awaited some ships from _Rio de Janeiro_ before attacking the Dutch possessions. Two regiments were now embarked at _Bahia_, and were to be landed at _Tamandare_. They were to be escorted by the homeward-bound fleet of thirty-seven ships. It was arranged that, on the two regiments being landed at _Tamandare_, their commander, _Payva_, should proceed to _Recife_ with letters for the Council, in which the Governor-General should state that he had sent two officers to remonstrate with the insurgents, and that, should remonstrances fail, he would compel them to return to their duty. Whilst this farce was being enacted, the Dutch commandant at _Serinhaem_ had received instructions to disarm the Portuguese in that district. The Portuguese, however, declined to be disarmed, and the fort being surrounded and its water cut off, was compelled to surrender, the Indian allies of the Dutch being given up to the Portuguese. Joam Fernandes had remained for seven days upon the scene of his victory at the _Monte das Tabocas_, when he was informed of the arrival of the troops from _Bahia_. Camaran and Diaz, the two partisan leaders, likewise reached the _Monte das Tabocas_ about the same time. On meeting the troops from _Bahia_, after some formal words, Fernandes was joined by the whole Portuguese force; after which his first act was to send a detachment to reduce the fort of _Nazareth_. Blaar was now sent to take possession of all the Portuguese women who might be found in the _Varzea_ or open country behind _Olinda_, to hold as hostages. A number were taken, and were conveyed to the headquarters of Haus. This intelligence was speedily conveyed by a chaplain to Fernandes, and the army, being naturally roused by a desire to rescue the women, was put in motion for this purpose. By midnight they reached some sugar-works. Remaining there for three hours, they were roused by Fernandes, who announced that the wonderful _St. Anthony_ had appeared to him, and had reproved him for his ill-timed delay. Once more being put in motion, the troops at daybreak reached the _Capivaribe_, which they crossed with considerable difficulty.