556 



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



[Vol. XI. 



respect to him began to call Candia by the name of " New 

 Flanders." He learnt the French language so that he might 

 be able to gain over the heretics to his side and drive us out 

 of Ceylan. 



There is printed in one volume some journals written in the 

 Latin and French languages. These and other voyages that 

 they made to Asia are so full of lies that no dependence can 

 be put in them about the affairs of the East ; for all their care 

 and study was to accuse the Spaniards and to speak evil of 

 their valour, religion, and industry. As to the credit which 

 should be given to these historians, he who reads the first 

 few pages about their qualifications may easily judge ; 

 because they are heretics who care not about writing the 

 truth, as may be gathered in many parts of their discourse. 

 On the other hand (it is serving God whoever publishes it) 

 we will explain it briefly. Embittered by common and mutual 

 offences towards us, their souls and minds were stirred up by 

 envy and hatred- — two passions which blind more than any 

 others. They corrupt and distort the truth of things, and strive 

 with such might to bring false accusations against us so as 

 to bring down the hatred of other foreign and barbarous 

 nations upon Spaniards, and by these means gain approbation 

 for all their discoveries and conquests, which were made 

 against all human and divine right. For should the sea be free 

 to every living being as they desired, they ought never to 

 be included amongst that number, being rebels to both 

 God and their king, and unworthy of reaping the benefit of 

 our laws, when our own conscience not only counsels but 

 commands fidelity and obedience to the Supreme Creator of 

 things and to our natural prince and lord. As a penalty 

 for their controversy, although they keep the name of reason- 

 able fellow neighbours, they lose the privileges and benefits 

 of the Church, having separated themselves from the 

 evangelical congregation. And supposing this truth not in- 

 fallible, it was sufficient to make them thieves, considering 

 the many and lawful titles our princes had gained to the 

 possession of the navigation, commerce, and conquest of the 



