NO. 40.— 1890.] EMBASSY TO KANDY, 1671. 367 



with me to show it ; which I did. Having walked in, I made 

 obeisance, and the Emperor asked after my health, and I, as 

 before, said that I was ready and well to serve the Honour- 

 able Company and His Majesty, as is the duty of all faithful 

 servants. The Emperor hereupon replied that he was 

 satisfied and pleased, and might God grant to all Hollanders 

 good health or such a disposition. Whereupon the chiefs all 

 together shouted in my presence, and sought to wage war 

 with the Hollanders. But the Emperor said that he would 

 not order that, and it could not be, as his trusty Hollanders 

 had come to his kingdom on his invitation and that their 

 fidelity was known to him ; when His Majesty was busy in 

 open warfare with the Portuguese, the Hollanders only were 

 and still are the protectors and defenders of his Imperial 

 person. Whereupon I answered that the Honourable Com- 

 pany was always kindly disposed towards His Majesty, and 

 ready to defend His Majesty's kingdom and life. And I urged 

 further that His Majesty ought to release our imprisoned out of 

 the hands of the traitors ; and more that our Ambassadors, 

 messengers (portedeurs ), and others were detained, which was 

 the greatest wrong and disgrace to such a generous and wise 

 Emperor; and that the detention of our people did not comport 

 with Imperial affection for the Honourable Company ; but that 

 such would fully be shown by sending them away. Where- 

 upon the Emperor said that I must write a letter to Battecaloa, 

 Jaffanapatnam, Gotjaer, and to the chiefs of those places, that 

 there was peace between the Emperor and his trusty Holland- 

 ers ; and, if I commanded and ordered in the letter, that they 

 must abandon hostilities and return to their former stations 

 and forts, he (the Emperor) said, he had no doubt that such 

 order would be obeyed. Whereupon I replied that I was not 

 come to do that but to deliver over to His Majesty the letters 

 and papers, as had been done openly, before the whole world ; 

 that the Honourable Company did not desire to desert His 

 Majesty, but was disposed to assist him against his enemies, 

 and to show His Majesty by writing and verbally how the 

 rascals and traitors have misled our people by their perfidy 



