The West India Company lost no time in preparing fresh enterprises against _Brazil_. This time their efforts were directed on _Pernambuco_, from which province they estimated that one hundred and fifty vessels might annually be freighted with sugar; whilst its harbours were conveniently situated as points of departure whence their cruisers might sail to intercept more rich prizes from the Spanish Main. In order to ensure secrecy as far as possible, the preparations for their fleet were distributed over several ports, and the ships were to rendezvous at the _Cape de Verds_. Nevertheless, information of what was going on was brought to Lisbon, and the court of Madrid was duly warned. The governor of _Brazil_ was accordingly instructed to place both _Bahia_ and _Olinda_ in a state of defence; whilst Mathias de Albuquerque was sent out from Madrid, with some men and stores, to the assistance of his brother, the captain of _Pernambuco_. [Sidenote: 1630.] On his arrival at _Olinda_, Mathias found the place almost utterly undefended; nor did he himself do much to make things better. He had brought out the news of the birth of a prince and heir of Spain; and whilst _Olinda_ was occupied in merry-making over this joyous event, a pinnace arrived from the _Cape de Verds_ announcing the assemblage there of the Dutch fleet and its departure for _Brazil_. That fleet consisted of fifty sail, under Henrik Loncq as general and Peter Adrian as admiral. Eight of these had driven off the Spanish fleet near _Teneriffe_. On the 15th of February they appeared before _Olinda_, having on board about seven thousand men. The whole force of the town, such as it was, was collected to oppose them, and the summons which Loncq sent in was answered by a discharge of musketry. The entrance to the harbour had been blocked by sunken vessels, and the sea was so rough that the Dutch could not use their guns with effect. But whilst a harmless cannonade was being carried on, Colonel Wardenburg, taking sixteen ships some miles to the north of the town, was able to land without opposition. Retaining only a few gunboats with eleven pieces of artillery, he divided his troops into three divisions, and on the following morning began his march towards _Olinda_. The news of his landing had already produced a panic, and all were anxious that their families and portable property should be placed in security in the country. Under these circumstances, Wardenburg advanced without any serious opposition, although it would have been easy in a wooded country to impede his progress. Indeed, the river _Doce_ was itself an obstacle, and the Dutch had to delay its passage until low tide, when they forded it breast-high. At this point some shots from the gunboats caused a general stampede. The redoubt at the entrance of _Olinda_ checked the invaders for a moment; but it was soon overcome, and the town was given up to be plundered.