6l2 
A Defer ipion of the Coafts of 
^>^j^^ Letters, fcnt by his Portuguefe Majefty to 
Baldaus. the Viceroy ^ but thefe being only private 
v./'yx^ Letters from certain Dutch Merchants 
living at Lisbon^ and another Letter from 
the States-General to the Admiralty of 
that place, and confequently the fame 
that were before fent hither from our 
Squadron at Goa^by the way of Coromandel^ 
by the Sloop call'd the Pi]^eli : His Ex- 
cellency the Governor-General reply'd, 
that the iaft being fent to the Council 
before by the Commodore Quaji^th&y had 
perufed the fame, and found that in the 
Letter of the States- General, it was ex- 
prefly faid that the Dutch (hould not moltji 
the Portuguefes on the other fide of the Line \ 
which being to be underftood of the 
North-fide, the Indians were not com- 
prehended therein \ belides that they had 
not receivM any Inftruftions upon that 
account from the Governors and Di- 
redtors of the £rty^-Iwi^/(3 Company. 
But to convince the Ambafladors that 
they were not enter'd into this War out 
of any other motive than to obtain an 
honourable Peace ; they could not but 
ptit them in mind, that tho they had de- 
liver'd their Credentials from the Vice- 
roy, they had not brought along with 
them any pofitive Proof whether the faid 
Viceroy were authorized by his Majefty 
of Portugal to treat concerning matters 
of fuch great confequence ^ and it was 
confequently to be doubted whether the 
fame would be approved of and ratify'd 
by his Majefty. 
One of the AmbafTadors reply'd, that 
the Viceroy of India was always en- 
dowM with a Power of making Peace 
and War, many Inftances of which could 
be alledg'd upon divers occafions ^ which 
would leave no room to queftion his Au- 
thority in this cafe ; but if they did, they 
were ready to remain as Hoftages for the 
accomplifbrnent of what fiiould be agreed 
upon. His Excellency the Governour- 
General return'd, That he was fatisfied 
of the Authority of the V^iceroy in ma- 
king peace or War with the Indian 
Princes, but remained doubtful, whether 
the fame did extend alfo to the European 
Natrons : Neverthelefs, that he believ'd 
the Viceroy would not tranfgrefs his 
Comraifl'ion, and that therefore they had 
been acknowledg'd as Plenipotentiaries ^ 
which being done, there remained no- 
thing now to do, but to proceed to the 
Treaty it felf, and to make their Propo- 
rtions under what Conditions they would 
have the Truce fettled. 
The Ambafladors anfwer'd, that they 
lookM upon it as unnecelTary to infift upon 
many Conditions or Limitations at this 
junfture, when they expefted every day 
to hear of a Peace concluded betwixt 
both Nations in Europe, according to 
the Conditions of which, both Psrties 
would be oblig'd to regulate themfelves 
hereafter : That their only aim now be- 
ing to obtain a Ceffation of Arms, the 
main thing in queftion was, to fix a cer- 
tain time of its beginning, which they 
thought ought to be taken from that ve- 
ry hour the Truce was agreed upon and 
fign'd betwixt them. 
The Governor-General told them that 
he agreed with them in that point, that 
not many Conditions were requir'd at 
this time, but that it would be next to an 
impoftibility the Truce fhould commence 
from the very hour the fame was fign'd, 
it being very probable that the Dutch 
Squadron would in the mean while not 
let Hip any opportunity of taking their 
advantage over the Portuguefes as the 
Forces lately fent to Ceylon^ perhaps 
might have made an Enterprize upon 
Negwnho or Columho \ as on the other 
hand, the Portuguefes might probably 
have undertaken fomething againft Gak^ 
or have obtain'd fome advantages againft 
the Dutch in other places : The Viceroy 
himfelf having commanded Don Phi'jppo 
Mafcarenhas^ that he ftiould ( till the News 
of the Truce did arrive) ad with his 
utmoft vigor againft the Dutch in Zcylon. 
He urg'd, that all thefe things conlider'd, 
it was to be fear'd that in cafe the Truce 
commenced according to their defire, 
this might furnifli occafion to new Mifun- 
derftandings, it being more than probable 
that neither of the two Parties would be 
willing to reftore what they had con- 
quer'd in the mean while j that therefore 
it was his opinion, that the beginning of 
the faid Truce muft be fo fix'd, as that 
fufficient time might be allow'd for giving 
notice thereof to the Subjeds of both 
Parties. 
The Ambaffadors made many Ob- 
jedions againft this, infifting to have the 
beginning of the Truct fettled from the 
Date of the iigning thereof, alledging 
among the reft, that they could fcarce 
imagine the Viceroy Ihould have fent fuch 
Orders to Mafcarenhas. The Governor- 
General reply'd, that he had certain ad- 
vice of it from Ceylon^ but that not- 
withftanding this, he hoped the AmbafTa- 
dors fliould not leave Bataz'ia unfatisfied. 
He at the fame time invited them to dine 
with him, where they were fplendidly 
entertained, and drank to the Health of 
the King of Portugal, and the Prince of 
Orange. Ti>® 
