No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 35 



informed the King, who then gave Heer Coster permission 

 to depart without the usual honours being shown him. 



He was thus obliged to depart without having effected 

 anything. He took his way to Batticaloa, but before he 

 reached there, was murdered by some Singalese, who had 

 gone with him under pretence of bearing him company 

 — an ill return for all Heer Coster's great services to the 

 Candian King. For not only did he bring over to the King's 

 side the inhabitants of Trinconomale and Batticaloa, but also 

 effected the surrender of the territories of Gale and Mature 

 with all their taxes ; although there was no obligation on his 

 part, either verbally or by contract, the only object being to 

 secure His Majesty's affection. In return the King had in 

 no manner been grateful for such services, but on the con- 

 trary showed how little he cared for the Netherlanders : 

 otherwise we could, with his assistance, have taken Colombo 

 with very little trouble ; for the enemy in order to protect 

 Gale had concentrated their forces in its neighbourhood, and 

 Colombo was only defended by priests, citizens, and a few 

 soldiers, who hardly dared show their faces beyond the walls. 



But the King rejoicing at the sight of two European powers 

 cutting one another's throats in his territories, allowed the 

 Portuguese time to recover themselves ; and the Netherlanders 

 not only lost this splendid opportunity, but had the misfortune 

 even to lose the stronghold of Nigombo (which had been 

 captured as above stated on February 9, 1640, by the Director- 

 General, Philip Lucaszoon), the Portuguese having in the 

 meantime received some reinforcements from Goa. 



Gale was also besieged so closely that Heer Jan 

 Thyssen, who was then in command of that place, was com- 

 pelled to make sorties from time to time to prevent by 

 .■all possible means the nearer approach of the enemy. 

 During the whole of this time the Netherlanders had no 

 help from the King, who looked on complacently, leaving his 

 lowlands in the hands of the enemy till the year 1644. 



On January 9 (or, according to others, February 9) 

 Nigombo was retaken by storm by Heer Francis Caron, 



d2 



