Chap. XXXIV. A Defcription of CEYLON. 743 
two hours, but his Majelty's Dijfaves came 
to enquire after the General's Health, 
being inform'd that his Excellency was 
feiz'd with an Ague, which had made 
him refolve to come to him in Perfon, 
had he not received nearer Advice, that 
his dearly beloved Diredtor was on the 
mending hand, of which heexpedted the 
confirmation with theutmoft impatience. 
Thefe Compliments were return'd by the 
General with the utmoft demonflrations 
of Refped and Duty, telling the Dif- 
faveSy that he was highly defirous to ap- 
pear in the Prefence of fo famous and 
potent a Monarch fo foon as pofllble could 
be, his Prefence being abfolutely neceflary 
in the Camp. 
Next day being the 6thj great flore of 
Provifions of the beft kind were brought 
in Boats for the General and his whole 
The Gene- Retinue. In the Afternoon fome Cour- 
ral pre- tiers brought word to the General in pri- 
paresfor yate, that his Majelly being feiz'd that 
hitRetHrn. ^Qj-jjing with a fuddenlllnefs, could (to 
his great Affliftion) not fpeak with his 
Excellency that day. His Excellency re- 
ply'd, that he was heartily forry, his 
Prefence was fo abfolutely necelTary in the 
Camp,that he could not without great ha- 
zard ftay, iince it was uncertain how foon 
his Majefty mighty recover ; for which 
reafon he defired leave to depart for this 
time, till a better opportunity, defiring, 
that four Horfes might be laid by the way, 
which, as foern as his Majelly thought 
convenient, might carry him with all 
fpeed to Court, Whereupon Orders 
were given to lohn Hartman to prepare 
for the March, which was done accord- 
ingly the fame Night. 
Soon after we underltood, that his 
Majefty had been forc'd to have been 
let blood in the Arm, and that he had 
Ihow'd a great deal of Sorrow for the 
intended departure of the General ; tel- 
ling his Courtiers, that being fenfible 
liovv necelTary his Prefence was in the 
Camp, he would either the next morn- 
ing, or at furtheft in the Evening, ad- 
mit him into his Prefence, in cafe he 
found the leaft abatement of his 111- 
nefs. In the mean while the General 
fent the following Letter to his Ma- 
jefty : 
Mo^ Serene Em^eroi\ 
she Empi. 
ror. 
General's u H R E E days being already pafs'd 
fh""J", " fince I came hither by your Ma- 
" jefty's Command and Defire j but 
" not being abk hitherto to appear 
\ 
in your Majefty's Prefence, I moftr\.^J^ 
humbly beg leave to return to the ^^ff^vj 
Camp, the whole Burden whereof '^'^'^^ 
refts upon my Shoulders ^ promi- 
ling to be ready to attend your Ma- 
jefty whenever you fiiall think fit to 
fend for me, and living in conftant 
hopes, that in cafe fome Mifcarriage 
or other fhould happen in my Abfence, 
the fame will not be alledged againft 
me, and put upon me as a Blemifli to 
blot out the remembrance of my for- 
mer Service. God proteft the Empe- 
ror. 
your Majefty's mofl; 
humble Servant, 
Gerard Hulji. 
This done, the General order'd rf- 
brand Gotshens and Don John de Cojia, 
with fome of his trufty Lafcaryns, to 
take a view of the King's Guards upon 
the Road, with an intention, that iii 
cafe he faw no certain Profped of go- 
ing to Court to day ( as indeed there 
was but little appearance he fliould, conH" 
dering the Emperor's Indifpofition ) he 
would privately go poft to the Camp. 
The m of u4pril the following Letter 
was delivered to the General from the 
Emperor. 
" T"* H E Perfons fent to enquire after The Empe- 
your Excellency's Health, deli- "'''■^ 
" ver'd to me with a great deal oi*''^"^' 
" fatisfadion your Excellency's Letter 
" wrote on Friday laft at 4 a Clock, 
" I was extremely pleas'd to hear you 
" were in health, and retained the fame 
" Inclinations for our Service. It was 
" on the other hand no fmall Afflidion 
" to me that you had ftay'd fo long 
" in my Court, without being able to 
" fee you. I alTure you, that the fame 
" has happenM fir beyond my VVifhes 
" or Intention ^ but it feems to have been 
" fo ordain'd by God, that your Excel- 
" lency ftiouldbea Witnefs of mylllnefs, 
" and at the fame time have an op- 
" portunity of receiving the Prefent 
fent to you by the Prince (born by 
" God's Providence for the Welfare of 
" my Subjeds) and delivered into my 
" hands before my Departure from Can- 
" dy. Your Excellency may prepare your 
" felf againft to morrow, when I will 
" fend word for your Appearance in my 
" Prefence j which done, you (hall have 
liberty to return into the Camp, when I 
" will alfo {ffb,e my Orders for the fur- 
niihing 
