NO. 53—1902.] GALLE DUTCH RECORDS. 



373 



Thus done and resolved on board the ship " Utrecht," datum 

 ut supra. Willem Jacobs Coster, 1 A. Anthonisz, 2 Minne 

 Willemsz Caertekoe, Gerard Herbers, Hendrick Siewersz (?), 

 Dominic as Bouwens, Gerrit Moutmaker, Secretary. 



Tuesday, March IS, 1640 A.D} 



Ms.foi. a 



Prayer, 



Merciful God and Heavenly Father, everlasting light 

 shining in darkness, Who givest wisdom unto children and 

 light unto the eyes of the blind, 



forasmuch as we have now been charged and entrusted with 

 the Government of this place, and are by nature unfit 

 therefor, we pray Thee that with Thy Holy Ghost Thou wilt 

 vouchsafe to preside over our assembly, and to enlighten our 

 darkened understanding ; 



Let Thy word be a lamp before our feet, and a light on 

 our path ; put away from us all covetousness, ambition, 

 obstinacy, vainglory, in short all carnal wisdom ; 



1 To Coster belongs the honour of having- conquered G-alle and thus laid 

 the foundation of the Dutch rule in Ceylon. Many translations of letters, 

 reports, and resolutions relating- to his short rule and his tragic death have 

 appeared in the Ceylon Literary Register, to the pages of which the reader 

 is referred. 



2 Adriaan Anthonisz (Anthoniszoon) was appointed Field Marshall of the 

 army and second person of the expedition under Coster. He had previously 

 served with Lucasz at the taking of Negonibo. Shortly after the conquest 

 of G-alle he was entrusted with the command of the land and sea forces 

 against Malacca, which he conquered for the Dutch, losing his life the same 

 year through illness brought on by exertion and fatigue. Valentyn 

 describes him as an old, experienced, and bold soldier — een oud, ervaren en 

 stout Jtrygsman (see Cey.Lit. Meg., vol. II., page 119 ; Valentyn, JBeschryving 

 v. Malakha, page 340). 



3 The news of the conquest of Galle, which the Dutch at once made the 

 headquarters of their Government, was carried to Batavia by the ships 

 11 Middelburch" and " Utrecht," which also conveyed Mr. Gerard Herbers as 

 the Council's emissary. The victory was gained by the Dutch, " not without 

 great bloodshed oil both sides," and the number of prisoners taken was 

 about 700 natural-born Portuguese with their wives and children. The 

 event was celebrated in Batavia with a great military display followed by 

 a thanksgiving service in Church (see Cey. Lit. Beg., vol. II., page 118). 



