NO. 41.— 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 525 



had been taken prisoner and sent him to another ship, 

 placing him in charge of a Captain of infantry, who, when 

 pressed by the prisoner, gave him an opportunity to escape, 

 managing to part his ship from the fleet under the pretence 

 of having lost his course. 



When on arrival at Goa he found himself without the 

 prisoner, the Governor tried to throw the whole blame on 

 Constantino de Sa ; for he was badly disposed towards him, 

 and wished to accuse him for allowing his prisoner to escape, 

 and also for not arriving in time to save Ormuz. The 

 Governor's intentions were apparent to all ; and Constantino 

 de Sa, mistrusting this accusation, voluntarily placed himself 

 in the castle of Goa until such time as his innocence should 

 be proved, although every one knew his promptitude and 

 diligence on this occasion. When the whole affair was made 

 known it was found that it was a mere pretence, and not for 

 any matter of justice. It was still more clearly proved when 

 the Governor himself wished to release him ; but he refused 

 to be released until the whole case had been laid before his 

 Majesty, who, in consideration for the good services of 

 Constantino de Sa, ordered him back to Ceylan with great 

 promises of further favours. 



It was in the year [1] 623 when, for the second time arrived 

 as Viceroy of India, Don Francisco de Gama, Conde de la 

 Vidigueira, Admiral of those seas, great grandson of the illus- 

 trious Vasco de Gama, first discoverer of them, having left Lis- 

 bon in March of the year before — Hernando de Alboquerque's 

 death happening about the same time as his arrival. With 

 the orders he had received from his Majesty, the moment he 

 entered on his government he restored the command of 

 Ceylan to Constantino de Sa, and sent him thither in April, 

 1623, with a plentiful supply of money and men. 



Two years had elapsed since Jorge de Alboquerque came 

 to that post, and he had governed so cautiously that 

 Madune had again taken the field. Emboldened by the ab- 

 sence of Constantino de Sa, and buoyed up by new aspirations 



and hopes, he managed to get together a bold following with 



H 2 



