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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). 



[Vol. XI. 



conquered them, but now weakened by the greed and 

 covetousness which governed the lives of the greatest and 

 most powerful in the land ; although there were still some 

 who kept up the old custom of supporting many soldiers at 

 their own expense, so to keep them under obligations for 

 service when needed,Jand who served without any further 

 payment from His Majesty. It thus came about that service 

 in India was for noblemen of spirit the most costly and 

 expensive in the monarchy, and one full of adventure. 



This truth confirms the celebrated saying of Don Anton 

 de Norona, once^Viceroy of India, who said that this State 

 could not be kept up with any degree of prosperity if it 

 were not for the mad Captains it contained, who, leaving its 

 fortresses rich, returned to waste and squander with the 

 soldiers all they had gained : and if under these considerations 

 they had the despatches, they never had so many complaints 

 of the ministers, who being always about the Court took little 

 notice of the expenses of such soldiery. With such contempt 

 did they look upon them that what they stole out of the rewards 

 of the poor soldier they added not to the greatness of the re- 

 public, but only acquired it for themselves, thinking that those 

 who were about the prince's person deserved more than those 

 in the armies, which, indeed, are the very prop and safety 

 of kingdoms. This was particularly the case with regard to 

 that of Portugal, for there was no appointment or office or 

 expedition entered into for the service of the king that was 

 not undertaken without serious expenses : a matter which 

 required great reform. For whether it was in the armies of 

 the coast, on the African frontier, or in maritime conquest, 

 the Portuguese were naturally sumptuous in their manner 

 of living, proud, ambitious, and scrupulous about their 

 honour, and in these particulars surpassed all other nations. 

 There was not a poor man who would not sell himself, nor a 

 rich one who would not stake his all to gain glory and renown 

 in the service of his king, fighting and striving to emulate 

 and to gain those ends to which all aimed, never allowing 

 money or any other consideration to hinder them — a mistaken 



