198 
JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XYIII. 
The past troubles have not happened through our fault, nor are 
they to be imputed to His Majesty, lb>ut to false tongues and wicked 
men, in whom His Majesty is begged not to put trust lightly, but to 
take into consideration the faithful services that we have rendered to 
his crown, without expecting any other reward than the maintenance 
of the contract and friendship. 
On August 21 Maatzuyker again wrote as f ollows^^^ to the 
King : — 
At present the commissioner, Laurens Maarschalk, is leaving for 
Candi, who shall make known to His Majesty our good intentions, and 
treat with His Majesty more fully regarding the settlement of the 
differences that have arisen, the conditions of which have been already 
prescribed to him, which Your Majesty will doubtless accept. 
Afterwards we shall dispatch a regular ambassador to confirm the 
mutual resolution and ratify it with an oath. Let His Majesty be 
pleased to give credit to the said commissioner. 
On September 7 a letter^^^ from Raja Sinha, dated August 
29, reached Maatzuyker, who replied^^^ on September 10 as 
follows : — 
His Majesty's letter of 29th August we duly received on the 7th 
instant, and our envoy left for Baticalo on the 23rd instant,^^^ hoping 
that he will have speedily appeared before His Majesty. 
With regard to the fact that His Majesty has been asked by the 
Portuguese for peace,'^^ and that he is desirous of hearing our opinion 
thereupon, His Majesty will be pleased to act therein as may seem 
good to him, and in such a manner as he thinks to be for the advance- 
ment of his kingdom, but our resolve is to maintain the contract 
made with Mr. Westerwolt, provided that His Majesty do so likewise. 
The reason why the Portuguese thus seek for peace is that they 
fear ere long to come to war with us in consequence of their treachery 
in Brazyl they think to shelter themselves under the shade of 
peace with His Majesty, but will be deceived, because the contract 
cannot prevent our doing them harm according to our power, with this 
difference, that the war, which was before this carried on against them 
in the name of His Majesty, will then be carried on in the name of my 
Lords the States-Greneral, and that consequently whatever we happen 
to capture from them will be not for His Majesty, but on our own 
account, so that on the conquest of Columbo Your Majesty will have 
no claim to make in connection therewith. 
Let His Majesty be pleased to reconsider this, and at the same time 
how little trust is to be put in a nation which during the peace 
attempted a shameful piece of treachery in Brazyl. 
On the arrival of the ships from Batavia^^^ we shall inform His 
Majesty of the new tidings. 
