[2] It was at this time that the new Captain-Donee of the Azores, the Infante D. Fernando, established contacts with his aunt Isabella, wife of Duke Philip the Good and mother of Charles the Bold.

He developed a friendship with the young nobleman, and quickly promoted the advantages of exploration in the "new" islands of the Azores.

It was at this time that many of his compatriots became disenchanted[8] with De Hurtere and angered by the lack of return on their investments: finding none of the promised precious metals.

Things escalated and De Hurtere nearly escaped to Flanders, abandoning some on the island, and returning hastily to the court of the Duchess of Burgundy.

[2] The Duchess would send a two-year supply of the equipment, foodstuffs, animals and materials to support the fledgling colony made up of Flemish nationals[9] looking for a new life following the Hundred Years War.

[2] One of them, Willem De Kersemakere, brought administrators, tradesmen, settlers and other compatriots to settle on the island.

He was married to D. Beatriz de Macedo,[2] daughter of Jerónimo Fernandes, the governess of the Infanta Beatrice, who bore him two children.

De Hurtere died in 1495 in Horta, and along with his wife (in 1531) would be buried in the Chapel of Santa Cruz, where today the Church of Nossa Senhora das Angústias is located.