No. 38.— 1889.] THE DUTCH IN CEYLON, 1602-1757. 149 



" Upon the unfortunate and fatal shot fired at 7 o'clock in the evening 

 of the 10th of April, 1656, against the Honourable and valiant Heer 

 Gerard Hulft, Ordinary Councillor, Director, Captain-General, and 

 Admiral over the whole army and fleet before Colombo. In most 

 honourable memory. 



The Lord hath plucked a fair young flower, 



The friend of all, a whole world's dower, 



Rests a sainted hero, bitter tears bestow, 



Curse to the cruel curse that laid him low — 



Grant Heaven prove gracious in the future days — 



A beacon light his memory, our everlasting praise : 



A hero good at need, full ready to command, 



To us for ever lost — a corse beneath the sand : 



His body in the dust — but what boots earthly clay, 



The soul soars free to realms of endless day ! 



Come one, come all, upon him look your last, 



His worth your hearts to strengthen and hold in memory fast. 



Dura Spiro Spero. 



The loss of Hulft was a great blow to the Company. 



The Governor-General and Council of India gave vent to their 

 feelings in a Despatch to the Directors in Holland : — 



" Returning on the 9th to the Netherlander' camp before Colombo, 

 His Honour went on the following day as usual to examine the works, 

 and having reached a place under the bastion called St. J an, it appeared 

 that he exposed himself rather carelessly, and was hit in the breast 

 by a musket ball, and so fatally injured that he sank down and expired 

 immediately, the surgeon being of opinion that a vein of the heart 

 was severed. 



11 This was sad news, as the Company by that fatal accident lost a 

 loyal, zealous, and able officer and servant, who without doubt but 

 for that misfortune might have done the Company much more good 

 service. 



" The body was brought by land to Gale by day, accompanied by 

 some of the principal officers, and temporarily placed in the church 

 to be afterwards buried after the siege is over, with all the ceremonies 

 becoming his rank. To the salvation of his soul at the day of 

 resurrection." 



Letter, 18th July, 1656. 



It appears from the under-mentioned documents that the soldier 

 Henricus van Bystervelt volunteered his services and actually 

 departed for the Court on the 22nd of February, 1671. See the 

 details of his adventures in the Journals, vol. V., part I., page 3. 



Probably the copy which was at the Secretary's Office at Colombo 

 has been lost. The original was sent to Batavia, 



