Chap.XXXlI. A Defcripion i?/ C E Y L O N. 737 
" of you will underlland from the Ori- 
" ginals. 
At our Court and Camp 
of Reygamrvattc,Mar 
17. i6s6. 
Subfcribed, 
Jiaja Shiga Rajou^ moft 
Potent Emperor of 
Ceylon. 
Mojl Potent Emperor Raja Singa, <b'c. 
mffiZ' " jMmediately after our Enemies did 
7ertothe " engage into this unjuH War, which 
Emperor, " continues to this Day, I let your Ma- 
jefty know the Reafons which induced 
" me to follicite fome Supplys from 
" your Majefty ; not queftioning, but 
that you would not leave me in fuch 
" an Extremity, it being always the 
" Ambition of great Monarchs, to take 
" thelefs powerful under their Protefti 
" on ; tho thro God's Mercy, we have 
" hitherto not only defended this City, 
" but alfo at feveral times given the Ene- 
" my fufficient Proofs of our Bravery, 
" indeftroying and difperfing his Forces, 
" of which we have fent an account to 
" your Majefty. But perhaps the fe Let- 
ters never came to your Majefty's 
" Hands, being intercepted by the Ene- 
" my ; which ftems the lefs furprizing to 
" me, fince they have treated the Natives 
" of this Ifland (without any jufl: Caufe) 
" that went out of this City like Slaves, 
" forcing many of them to retire back 
" without the leafl: Mercy. The City 
" of Columbo is an antient Inheritance 
" of the Portuguefes^ beftowed upon 'em 
" by the Kings and Emperors, your Pre- 
" deceffors, who always were ready to 
" honour them with their Protedion •, 
neither do we want Opportunity to 
" make your Majefty (if you pleafe) 
fenfible of the manifold Services done 
by the Portuguefes in this Ille, in cafe 
" we did not believe the fame to be Ibill 
" in the Memory of your Majefty, and 
" many of your Great Ones. VVe don't 
" know to have given the leafl; reafon of 
" Difpleafure to your Majefty, which 
" makes us imagine, that you will be 
" pleafed not to leave us in this Extremi- 
" ty, in regard it feems much more rea- 
" fonable, to afTift the Portuguefes yonv 
" antient Friends, than the Hollanders 
" your new Guefts. Time has already 
" difcovered the Intentions of the Vutchy 
and Experience will foon convince you, 
" that all their Aim is founded upon Lu- 
cre and Intereft, which they diflerablc 
for the prefent but fo foon as they 
^ are Mailers of this Place, your Majefty 
- v/ill too late beconvinc'd of the Truth 
Vol. III. 
" of what I fay, I will not pretend to '""^yV^' 
" urge that matter any further for the ^cul^ui^ 
" prefent, leaving the Determination of 
" the whole to your Majefty's Wifdom, 
and the Condudt of your Counfellors. 
God preferve your Imperial Majefty. 
Columbo^ Mir. 
10. i6$6. 
jintonio de Sour-.a Coutinbo. 
A'lofl Pligh and mofi Potent Eo-^psror a'/id 
Lord^ RajaSinga, &c. 
" I Mmed lately after the Hollanders had The citi- 
" * laid Siege to this Place, our Magi- zcns Let 
" ftrates and Governors did give notice 
" thereof to your Majefty, as likewife ^'"^""'"^ 
" of theenfuing General Aftault made 
" by the Enemy both by Sea and Land i 
" which being done in the Day-tirae, we 
" let them advance into the City, but 
" afterwards made them glad to ask for 
Quarter, which was granted them- 
" According to the Confeflion of the 
" JDMtc/; themfelves, they were 240 ftrong 
" when they palFed the Fens, the great- 
' eft part whereof with their Boats fell 
" into our Hands, befides a Ship of 30 
Guns taken by us, and another much 
damaged, which they had enough to 
' do to carry off, not to mention thofe 
that were (lain in the Ships, and in the 
AOault. Being afterwards advanc'd 
" to the Ditch, they fix'd their Miners, 
and were bufy in bringing over their 
Gallery i but we forc'd them to retire 
" with coniiderable Lofs, and took the 
" Gallery with the Lofs of one Manon- 
" ly. There remains nothing now but 
" for your Majefty to vouchfafe us your 
" Favour, which we heartily wiih for 
" anddefire. From what has been faid, 
" we hope your Majefty is fufficiently 
" convinc'd of our good Will and Zeal, 
" in defending a Place, beftow'd upon 
" us by your Imperial Majefty's Ance- 
ftors, and that, if fupported by your 
" Favour, we ftiall never ceafe to perfift 
" in the fame Refolution, in hopes that 
" your Majefty will rather affift the Porta- 
guefcs your antient Friends, than tiie 
Hollanders. God protcd your Majefty, 
" and your Dominions. 
cohmbo. Mar. 1 1. By Order from 
Diego Lcitaon do Souta^ 
Chief Secretary. 
Aianoel de Fonfeca. 
Diego de Souz.a de Cunha, 
Ruy Lopes Coutinho, 
John Coclho de Caftro. 
BentoFerciYo d' Ahreu. 
C c c c c 
The 
