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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XIX. 



he had never seen any Portuguese, and on hearing the message 

 of DomLourenco was very glad, and received the present, saying 

 to his followers that were with him : " The Moors carried on their 

 business with these men with evil deeds, and therefore found evil 

 in them ; and all that they said of them is false. Inasmuch 

 as I now see that these men are so good that they would rather 

 trust in my word than in my pledge, and without hostages come 

 and speak with me inside my house ; therefore I say that they 

 are good men, and only do evil to those that wish to do them evil." 

 He then inquired of Diogo d'Almeida what it was the captain 

 desired, and he replied : " Sir, the captain of that armada is the 

 son of the viceroy of India, and they are slaves of the king of 

 Portugal, the greatest lord that there is in the world, and they 

 have come to India with many goods, to sell and buy with the 

 folk who are good merchants, in all the countries that desire 

 peace and treaty relations with them ; and to make war on any 

 that may not desire peace, because the thing that they are most 

 delighted to buy is good faith, which wherever they find it good 

 they purchase for ever, and purchase it with very good deeds, 

 even to giving their lives and whatever they have for their friends. 

 But when they have thus agreed to a good peace, and break it 

 without justice and reason, they then take vengeance with fire 

 and sword. And towards their good friends they hold friendship 

 as with own brothers, guarding their ports, and people, and 

 vessels wherever they find them, because the Portuguese are 

 lords of the sea. The captain has sent me to say to you, that if 

 you shall approve of thus settling with him this friendship and 

 good peace he will establish a trade with this country, and if you 

 agree to this he will consider himself fortunate to have arrived at 

 this port of yours ; he is now waiting for you to send him a reply 

 regarding this, and says that if you conclude this peace with him, 

 in order that he may know that you keep it firmly like a good 

 friend, you will have to send him every year, when our ships come 

 here, something good, as it shall please you, to be sent to the 

 king of Portugal, in order that he may know that you continue 

 at peace with him, and that he likewise may send you his gift ; 

 because if you do not thus each year give this of your own good- 

 will, he will not know if you are his friend or not ; and by doing 

 this your territories, and ports, and vessels will remain secure for 

 ever, without anyone's making war on you or doing you harm. 

 And if anyone should make war on you, they will send you an 

 armada, and soldiers, and will help you against your enemies like 

 own brothers ; and if you do not desire this peace you will remain 

 his enemy, and they will do harm to everything of yours 

 wherever they shall find it: on which you can take counsel, 

 and choose what you approve of." 



The king, while listening to what Diogo d'Almeida said, had 

 settled in his heart what reply he would give, and answered that 

 he was very pleased with all that he had said, if only the deeds 

 should be equal to the words ; and that he desired peace as he 

 had said, as to which he must give him his bond, and that every 



