The Portuguese were now, in turn, considerably straitened for supplies; and Vidal had to proceed on foraging expeditions to _Paraïba_ and to the _Potengi_. The insurgent leaders, however, were buoyed up by the hope which they entertained of assistance from Portugal. So strongly indeed did they entertain this hope that they concerted measures for the co-operation with them of the fleet which was to arrive; and a battery which was now erected caused much trouble to _Recife_. As it commanded the harbour as well as the streets, the Dutch were compelled to remove their vessels. In one of the sallies made by the Portuguese, the palace built by Count Nassau was sacked. [Sidenote: 1647.] The convenient pretence that Portugal and the States were still at peace was abandoned, in so far as South America was concerned, after the attack by the Dutch on _Bahia_. The order of the Jesuits in _Rio de Janeiro_ contributed to the insurgent cause a ship-load of supplies. A new Governor-General now arrived at _Bahia_ in the person of the Count of Villa Pouca, who brought out with him reinforcements in twelve ships, three of which were unsuccessful in a conflict with the Dutch. The arrival of this fleet without any considerable succours for _Pernambuco_ was a sore trial to the patriots of that province. The fleet brought them, however, a new commander, Francisco Barreto, with the rank of Campmaster-General. He had with him an escort of three hundred men, together with arms and ammunition. The Dutch, having information of his sailing, intercepted his ships off _Paraïba_, and Barreto was carried prisoner into _Recife_. After nine months’ captivity he effected his escape and joined the insurgents. It certainly seemed a measure little calculated for insuring success to supersede at this juncture two such capable and efficient commanders as Fernandes and Vidal, who had hitherto headed the insurrection with such vigour, and who were so thoroughly acquainted with the country in which they had to operate. Such, however, was their thorough loyalty, and such the good sense of Barreto in conforming to their advice, that no ill effects resulted from this change in the command. In the course of the insurrection, Vidal and Vernandes had overrun one hundred and eighty leagues of country, from _Ceará_ to the _San Francisco_; they had captured eighty pieces of cannon; and they now delivered up to the new commander two months’ provisions for the army, twenty-four _contos_[2] in specie, and the value of eighteen thousand _cruzados_.[3] [Sidenote: 1648.]