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



567 



into which could sail a large Indiaman fully loaded, contrary 

 to the common opinion of the Portuguese, who knew little 

 about its depth. The city, which gave its name to the whole 

 kingdom, is two leagues from the shore and ten from Candia, 

 to whom its king was subject, conformable, as the Calvinists 

 say in their relations of the year 1622, to a private feudatory 

 prince as well as to the Portuguese. 



It was incredible the valour and continual watchfulness 

 Avhich the General displayed in this expedition and at the 

 making of this fortress, which he began and finished at the 

 sword's point, for the King of Candia continually harassed 

 him during the work. He came down upon him with all his 

 power to impede it, and not daring to invest the Catholics, 

 thinking our forces were stronger than he had imagined, he 

 retired to his own territories, and sent a secret message to 

 Constantino de Sa, offering him 80,000 xarafins if he 

 would desist from the enterprise. But Constantino was 

 always deaf to bribery ; he curtly answered that the offer was 

 an insult, and that he would have satisfaction for the affront 

 against his honour and reputation. On the erection of this 

 fortress 8,000 xarafins were spent out of his own income, so 

 that at the same time they offered him so much, he might 

 show he was not less ready in serving his king. He had spent 

 the most he could out of his own pocket, but his excess of 

 zeal and fidelity offended both his friends and enemies ; for- 

 th e same spies which the Candian employed against the 

 Governor's life at this time, put the officials who administered 

 the royal treasury against him, placing at the head of the 

 civil conspiracy the Overseer of the Revenues himself. 



The Count-Admiral, aware of the advantages which would 

 result by the collection and payments of the rents passing 

 through the General's hands owing to the breaking out of the 

 war against Candia, gave his approval, without waiting for an 

 answer from Portugal, to that which the Attorneys offered on 

 their side, which was in the interval of receiving the final 

 orders from Spain, that Ambrose de Freitas would have joint 

 licence and still remain at his post. 



