NO. 62. — 1909.] LETTERS OF RAJA SINHA II. 



263 



an order from the king of Portugal, which the Portuguese had 

 set on foot, to take him to the said kingdom ; and that after 

 the writing of the said letter there was only the space of a year, 

 or a year and a half ; and if in the meanwhile there should be 

 war in this my empire with the said Portuguese, they would 

 let him remain 17 . This is what was contained in the said 

 letter, with other things besides of his troubles, and how he 

 was in health. If the said king had had love for me he would 

 never have had to leave my royal company ; but seeing that he 

 had it not, and left me in bitterness, well, for that same reason 

 I have left him until now, and have never inquired about his 

 affairs ; and now that he sees himself in trouble he wishes to 

 avail himself of my imperial person. And any of the aforesaid 

 troubles that may befal those that shall descend from my 

 royal blood, by reason of its not being possible to find another 

 similar person, the natives of this my empire are bound to feel it 

 much ; and with all this he left them and went off ; but with 

 the help and favour of God I continue in perfect health, and 

 hope in Him with much confidence that He will give much 

 health, with prosperous and long years of life, to the prince 

 whom God sent into this world, for the defence of this empire 18 . 

 And as I have taken Your Honours in lieu of my own said 

 vassals, I give you advice of this secret ; the which I should 

 never have thought of doing to any other foreign nation : 

 wherefore let Your Honour take counsel on these matters that 

 I relate to you, and of what shall result therefrom, and shall 

 seem to you best, advise me of in the reply that you shall send 

 me to this letter 19 . 



As regards the third paragraph, in which Your Honour says 

 that there was no intention of sending any of your captains 

 or other persons to Columbo to treat with the Portuguese 20 

 without first giving advice to this imperial court : as I hold 

 in my royal heart that the Dutch nation is loyal and true to me, 

 and serves me with good will, so I have confidence that it will 

 serve me always with the same aforesaid love and loyalty ; and 

 in this same manner I hope in God that as long as the sun and 

 moon shall endure so it will continue always. 



Your Honour says also likewise in your [letter] that I had 

 sent from this my imperial court certain persons of quality to 



