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



But some time after the messages and lies I was, by 

 my repeated requests, about three months after the gift 

 of the stinking beast, allowed to appear before the 

 Emperor, in another place, in the same Court ; which 

 place appeared inpregnable and quite fortified to resist 

 with his little bodyguard all the forces of his kingdom. 

 He had girded his Imperial loins with a great heavy 

 sword mounted with gold, and in his right hand he had a 

 small halberd. On the same side stood two rare field-pieces, 

 curiously wrought, and on the left, and behind the Emperor, 

 were many Cingalese weapons, such as javelins and bows. 



For some time the Emperor hid them a little behind 

 his Imperial chair, and caused inquiry to be made after my 

 health, and said further that the cause of my having to 

 remain so long had been because the Hollanders do not await 

 his Imperial commands and orders ; which, if they had done, 

 the Honourable Company would long have had what it wanted. 

 He also showed some displeasure at the closing of his ports, 

 and taking away of his subjects. But his Imperial heart, as 

 he said, could not yet be roused against his trusty Hollanders. 

 Whereupon I said that although it appeared that the Hollan- 

 ders had done this on the orders of your Excellency, it never- 

 theless so happened for the sake of revenge, in return for what 

 the rascals and traitors, with their lies and treachery, had done 

 at Arandore and Ruanelle; and His Majesty's honourable and 

 trusty Admiral, thus sought nothing save punishing the 

 traitors in this manner to save His Majesty, his kingdom, and 

 his life. Whereupon the Emperor said that he had called 

 me to write a letter to Your Excellency, as we were all 

 mortals before God, wherever we were, and whether I served 

 in Gandia or Colombo, it was a service for the Honourable 

 Company. Whereupon I remarked that His Majesty was 

 right and I congratulated myself that the king had sought my 

 services, — yea, that I was always ready to serve His Majesty 

 and the Honourable Company in everything. The Emperor 

 then said that he expected it from me, for that I knew how the 

 Emperor was and is still in every way disposed towards his 



