The ambassador, however, although he had tricked the States, was perfectly open in his communications with his own Government; and he suggested to his sovereign to order his own disgrace or punishment should it be necessary to disavow the act which, according to his knowledge of the existing circumstances, he had judged best for the public interests. His action was secretly approved; but the Portuguese Government had sufficient decency to refrain from any open commendation of the ambassador’s conduct, nor did they confer upon him any reward. The King now assured the States that the insurgents in _Pernambuco_ disregarded his authority, and that, therefore, they were justified in making war upon them. The Dutch naval preparations were therefore resumed; but they had been delayed for several months. It was November 1645 before the fleet was ready to sail; the frost delayed it at Flushing three months longer, and six months were consumed upon the voyage. Had the insurgents possessed the means of pressing the siege of _Recife_ with vigour, the convoy would have arrived to find that place in the possession of the Portuguese. As it was, the arrival of the fleet had the effect of prolonging this lingering war for years still to come. With the fleet arrived five new members of the Council, with six thousand troops, besides seamen and volunteers, all under the command of the experienced Schoppe. The first attempt of the new general was to regain possession of _Olinda_; but in this he was defeated. As, however, he had now a superior force in the field, the insurgents thought it advisable to evacuate _Paraïba_, and accordingly sent orders to Camaram to withdraw from that captaincy. The Dutch leader next made a descent upon the northern captaincies, in which he made preparations for the future supplies of provisions for _Recife_. He sent also a considerable force to the river _San Francisco_ for the purpose of cutting off the source from which the Portuguese were nourished; but in this latter attempt he was not so successful, and lost a hundred and fifty men. He next secretly fitted out a naval expedition with which he set sail to surprise _Bahia_. Landing upon the island of _Itaparica_, he established himself upon a commanding position, which he fortified. The Governor-General, being taken completely unawares, thought only of protecting the city; and meanwhile the invaders devastated the _Reconcave_ unopposed. On this the Governor-General determined to attack the Dutch position--an unsuccessful enterprise--in which six hundred men were sacrificed. After this, Schoppe, who had only meant to effect a diversion in favour of _Recife_, returned to that place.