No. 55. — 1904.] RAJA SINHA II. AND THE DUTCH. 225 
that His Majesty begged that no second assault should be 
commenced before and until His Majesty had assisted His 
Honom- with his counsel and army." " Whereupon," adds 
Baldseus,^^^ "a note with all politeness and thankfulness 
was sent to Raja Singa." 
On December 10 Antonio do Amaral de Menezes, the 
Governor of Jaffnapatam, was captured at Mutwal while 
attempting to get to Colombo, and a number ^ of letters 
found on him were, after having been read and doubtless 
copied, sent to Raja Sinha.^^^ 
On December 28 "the General," says Baldaeus,^^^" informed 
the Dissaves of SaflPragam and of the Four Corlas that he 
had resolved to send an envoy to the Emperor in order to 
learn once for all what was His Majesty's intention towards 
us, whether he intended to come down or not, and asked 
them also to write to che Emperor on this subject, as, having 
proceeded so far, the time did not admit of much further 
delay in making another assault on the town ; and that in 
oase the Emperor should still have any doubts of our good 
intentions they should (as far as possible) assure His Majesty 
of our upright intentions." 
Accordingly, "on the day following," says Baldaeus,^^^ 
^' Lieutenant Johannes Hartman, afterwards Captain before 
Jafnapatan, was dispatched with some letters to the King 
of Candy, Emperor of Ceylon." 
On January 24 or 25, 1656, Lieutenant Hartman returned, 
bringing the following letter^^'' from Raja Sinhato Hulf t : — 
[ 14. ] 
[I] Raja Singa Raju, Most Exalted Monarch, Most Potent Emperor of 
this my far-famed Empire of Ceilao, to Gerardo Hulfut, Director- 
General over the State of the East Indies, who has come for 
my imperial service with the fleet of the ships of my 
Hollanders, and is with the camp in the siege of 
the city of Colnmbo, send much greeting. 
The letter of Your Honour which the captain of the guard brought 
to be presented at this imperial court, written on the 29th of 
December, was presented before my imperial presence in this camp 
and imperial court of Balane on Tuesday night, which was the 18th 
