678 
A Defcripion (?/ G E Y L O N. 
Baldatis. 
Emanuel 
Dias frc' 
tends to 
ccme over 
to the Por- 
However having got intelligence that the 
Fortuguefes had form'd a Defign againft 
the Life of the faid Don Jobny he gave no- 
tice thereof to him, defiring him to be 
upon his guard. 
The Emperor being willing to be fully 
latisfy'd in a Matter of fuch moment, ap- 
ply'd himfelf to one Emanuel Dias^ who 
being formerly a Foot-boy to the Portu- 
guefe General Lo^es^ was advanc'd by the 
faid Don John to the Dignity of one of his 
Gentlemen of the firft rank, and had 
received many other Favours at his hands« 
Emanuel Diai willing to contribute what 
lay in his power to his Mailer's fatisfafti- 
on, propos'd to go to Colmnho^ under pre- 
tence of having deferted his Service, but 
in truth to dive into the real Defign of 
the Portuguefes, Accordingly he arriv'd 
at Co/Mwfco on Eafler-day 1602. where he 
proposM to Don Jeronimo Oriedo feveral 
ways of murdering Don John^ and that 
with fo much alTurance and feeming pro- 
bability, that he was highly carefs'd by 
that General, who agreed with him con- 
cerning the Method how the Defign 
fljould be put in execution. For this 
purpofe five Portuguefes were pitchM upon d^- 
to fhare the Danger and Glory of fo '^^ '''^^^ 
brave an Adlion (as they ftil'd it) among ^ S"^" 
whom were three Captains, viz. Chrijlian 
JacobOj Alberto Primero^ and Caf^ar Perere. 
Emanuel Dias being promis'd no iefs a 
Reward than the Crown of Candy, play'd 
the Hypocrite fo artificially, that he took 
a folemn Oath upon the Crucifix to be 
true to his Truft, and fo he was difmifs'd 
to Walane with a good Sum of Money, 
from whence he returnM to Candy. 
There he gave an account to the Em- 
peror how Meafures had been concerted 
betwixt Don Jeronimo and him, that a 
certain Body of Troops Ihould be ported 
near the Fort of Walane^ to be ready an 
hand to furprize that Place as foon as they 
fhould receive the Signal of the Murder 
of the Emperor being put in execution ; 
for which purpofe thofe who had un- 
dertaken that Task were ivithin a li- 
mited time to appear near Candy. Here- 
upon the Emperor advanc'd fecretly in 
the night time at the head of a good Body gg^y^^^ 
of Troops to Walane^ where the before- fhm, 
mention'd Accomplices appearing accord- 
ing 
