NO. 41. — 1890.] REBELION DE CEYLAN. 



573 



to display their own cupidity and avariciousness. And there 

 is no doubt that as often as Constantino de Sa entered Candia 

 victorious he was obliged to keep troops to retain what he had 

 conquered. For our regiments would always keep under that 

 idolatrous rebel, owing to the valour of the few Portuguese 

 that were left, their superior discipline and steadiness 

 in adversity, their patience in suffering and confidence 

 in danger, the rapidity of their movements and the other 

 military virtues which they possessed in the highest degree, 

 so that there was nothing they could not undertake nor 

 overcome ; and considering the little help they received 

 from their prince and his ministers, who wasted oppor- 

 tunity, they might have made themselves masters of the 

 whole Island. 



Notwithstanding such odds, Constantino de Sa did not 

 cease from war, although he still listened with great caution 

 and reserve to the overtures of peace which the King of 

 Candia offered. He both appeared to reject and to accept 

 them, so as to show that he was in no urgent necessity, 

 and to make use of them in case he needed ; and in order to 

 conceal his hand, being rather straitened, he resolved to 

 return (in March, [1]629) and attack the enemy within 

 Candia itself. He undertook this expedition with the 

 determination to die or conquer, for when he was set 

 out on it he made his will and testament, in the first 

 clause of which he clearly showed what state he was in, 

 and his courage and valour in exposing himself to such 

 dangers. These are his words : — 



The expedition which I undertake against Candia is so profitable 

 to the service of God and His Majesty that I am determined this very 

 moment to set out upon it, although with forces far inferior to the 

 enemy. It is only God I fear, and in Him alone do I put my trust for 

 any success I may obtain, since I fight for a cause as much His as for 

 every Christian and mortal who fears death, which comes at all times, 

 and has no respect for age : and therefore recommending myself to 

 Almighty God, I place my soul in His divine hands. 



So goes the will. Then he goes on discoursing with great 

 Christian fervour, of which we shall say somewhat hereafter, 



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