34 JOURNAL, R.A.S.. (CEYLON). [VOL. XVI. 



Text. 



Nobre e honrado Rey de Candia, — Eu el Rey Dom Joao 

 por graga de Deos Rey de Portugal e dos Algarves daquem e 

 dalem mar em Affrica, Sr. de Guinem e da conquista, 

 navegagao [e] comercio de Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, e da 

 India &r a ., vos fago saber que pellos avizos do geral de Ceilao 

 entendi achava em vos e vossos vassalos melhor courres- 

 pondencia de que fizestes aos meus em tempo quenao" corria 

 por minha conta o governo destes reinos este mesmo termo 

 achey em alguns reis da India que continuarao comigo a 

 amizade que tiverao com os s es . reis portuguezes meus pro- 

 genitores, esquecendosse das queixas que podia5 ter dos reys 

 intiustos* de Castella espero mereger a todos esta boa courres- 

 pondencia, e particularmente a vos a quern tenho grande 

 afeigao, significovolo por esta carta, e ao vreyf e mais 

 ministros que tenho dessa parte encomendo muito vos 

 ajudem e assistao em tudo, e tenho por certo de vos uzareis 

 ej o mesmo com elles. Nobre e honrado rey de Candia 

 nosso S r . vos alumie em sua santa guarda. — Escrita em 

 Lisboa a 15 de Margo de 1652. — El Rey. 



Translation. 



Noble and honoured King of Candia, — I, King Dom Joao, 

 by the grace of God, King of Portugal and the Algarves on 

 this side and on the other side of the sea in Africa, Lord of 

 Guinea and of the Conquest, Navigation, and Commerce of 

 Ethiopia, Arabia, Persia, and India, &c, do you to wit that 

 by advices from the General of Ceilao I have learnt that he 

 has found in you and your vassals a better feeling than you 

 showed towards mine during the time that the government 

 of these realms was not carried on under my authority. I 

 have found this same goodwill in several kings of India, 

 who continue towards me the friendship that they had with 

 the lords, the Portuguese kings, my progenitors, forgetting 

 the complaints that they may have against the unjust kings 

 of Castille. I hope to merit from all this good feeling, and 

 particularly from you, for whom I have a great affection, 

 [wherefore] I signify it to you by this letter, and on the 

 viceroy and other ministers, that I have in those parts I 

 strongly enjoin that they aid and assist you in everything, 

 and I hold it for certain that you will practise the same 

 towards them. Noble and honoured King of Candia, our 

 Lord have§ you in his holy keeping.— Written in Lisbon, the 

 15th of March, 1652.— The King. 



* Sic, for "iniustos." — D. W. F. 



f A common contraction for " visorey." — D. W.F. 



X This " e " seems to be an error of the copyist's. — D„ W. F. 



§ Literally, " enlighten. "— D. W. F. 



