28 JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XL 



The President despatched these letters to Ceilon by the 

 hands of the junior merchant Marcelles de Boschouwer. He 

 was received at the Candian capital on March 8, 1612, by 

 His Majesty, to whom he delivered [the letters] and concluded 

 a convention with His Majesty on May 11 of the same year, 

 as detailed by Baldeus on pages 26, 27, and 28. 



After the conclusion of this contract, Boschouwer asked 

 permission to depart for the coast to acquaint the President 

 with the result of the negotiations; but this was refused 

 under various pretences, and many honourable offices were 

 given him up to the year 1615. Upon his serious re- 

 monstrances, he was then allowed to depart to Mazulipatnam to 

 render the promised assistance against the Portuguese, as men- 

 tioned in the contract, and also to arrange and conclude such 

 treaties and alliances with the kings, princes, and republics 

 as would be considered a protection to His Imperial Majesty's 

 Kingdom against the treachery of the said nation ; for which 

 purpose he was provided by His Imperial Majesty with letters 

 and credentials appointing him Plenipotentiary, and stating 

 that everything done or promised by him would be ratified. 



Boschouwer having left Ceilon on May 9 of that 

 year (1615), arrived at Mazulipatnam on June 2, where he 

 found Heer Hans de Haze at the head of affairs, who took 

 him to Bantam to hold a consultation with General Reynst. 

 But the General having died in the meantime, and the state 

 of affairs in the Mulucquos not allowing of any force being 

 taken from there to Ceilon, it was considered advisable to 

 send Boschouwer home to Europe to submit his commission 

 to Their High Mightinesses the States General of the United 

 Netherlands, His Serene Highness the Prince of Orange, and 

 the Directors of the East India Company, and to fully inform 

 them of the state of affairs in Ceilon. But he seems not to 

 have been successful, for no sooner had he arrived in Holland, 

 than, filled with an idea of his importance, he disagreed with 

 the Directors, and deserted to the Danes, with whose King he 

 made a contract. This became valueless, as Boschouwer dying 

 during his passage to Ceilon, the King entirely repudiated it. 



