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



on board, who, after despatching the necessary reports and 

 merchandise by the yacht " Valk " to Batavia on January 

 23, 1638, was directed by Heer Westerwold and his Privy 

 Council to proceed to Ceilon with the ships " Texel," " Ams- 

 terdam," and " Dolfyn," manned by 110 sailors and 

 70 soldiers, to communicate to His Majesty that 

 further reinforcements would be sent by next May : 

 his duty was not only to besiege one or other of the 

 Portuguese forts, but to deliver a letter to His Majesty 

 mentioning : — 



1. That their Excellencies had received His Majesty's 

 letter, dated September 9, 1636, whilst actively engaged 

 at the Indian headquarters in preparing sixteen well 

 appointed ships for the Indian coasts in order to blockade 

 the Portuguese outside the port of Goa ; 



2. That the letter had acquainted them with the treachery 

 and atrocities committed by the Portuguese in His 

 Majesty's dominions, and that His Majesty earnestly implored 

 our assistance, at the same time permitting us to build a fort 

 either at Batticaloa or Coetiaar, and offering to defray the 

 expenses of the vessels required for His Majesty's service ; 



3. That the offer having been taken into consideration 

 by the Governor-General and his Councillors, their Excel- 

 lencies could not refrain from acceding entirely to His 

 Majesty's wishes ; 



4. That as Heer Westerwold learnt from a letter received 

 later from His Majesty, dated November 21, 1637, that His 

 Majesty still persevered in his request, he had sent a ship 

 and two yachts, to tell His Majesty to expect our arrival ; 



5. That with them the Vice-Commandeur Willem 

 Jacobsz. Coster, Vice-President of the Council, was coming 

 over to negotiate about the questions pending; also about the 

 condition of the Portuguese forts, and the best manner in 

 which they should be attacked ; 



6. That His Majesty should muster his army at Batti- 

 caloa or elsewhere, against Heer Westerwold's arrival, and 

 should have some bamboo ladders and other necessaries 



