No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 51 



Meanwhile, every preparation was made for another 

 assault. His Majesty, made acquainted with the failure of 

 our efforts, while expressing his regret, promised to join his 

 forces to ours ; but as they did not put in an appearance, 

 Heer Hulft thought it advisable to send a messenger to 

 inquire His Majesty's intentions, whether he was disposed 

 to come or not, as things had so far advanced that no further 

 delay ought to occur in making a fresh attempt. But before 

 attacking he informed the Dessaves of Saffregam and the 

 Four Corles, requesting them also to write to His Majesty 

 and to assure him of our sincere affection, in case there 

 was still a doubt on his mind about it. 



On December 27, 1655, Lieutenant Johannes Hartman was 

 sent as Ambassador to Candia for the same purpose, with the 

 result that His Majesty wrote on January 20, 1656, in answer 

 to our letters, that he had delayed his departure solely by 

 the advice of his counsellors, but that he was determined to 

 come shortly regardless of lucky or unlucky hours as he 

 desired very much to consult with Heer Hulft. 



By a letter of February 14, His Majesty recommended 

 Heer Hulft to be on his guard against the machinations of 

 traitors and evil disposed persons, and requested that in case 

 of his meeting with any obscure or unintelligble sentences 

 in His Majesty's letters, to communicate it to him at once 

 so as to prevent all misunderstanding, as it is the sincere 

 intention of His Majesty to maintain the peace so long as 

 the sun and moon shall shine. 



On March 14, 1656, His Majesty requested that one of our 

 leading men should be sent to confer with him secretly, 

 about some important matter, whereupon Heer Hulft nomi- 

 nated the merchant Ysbrand Godskens for that purpose. He 

 returned on the 23rd of the same month, and stated that 

 His Majesty wished him to report verbally the answer to the 

 five letters previously written to him ; that he was pleased 

 to hear that the people who were confined outside the city 

 of Colombo by the Portuguese had been sent back ; that he 

 quite understood that our people must have experienced 



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