under the Portuguese. 
impenetrable fastnesses, they took this favourable opportunity 
of proposing terms of peace; and, in order to give their pro- 
posals more weight, they procured a letter from the King of 
Spain, offering to become mediator for the adjustment of their 
differences. The terms proposed by the Portuguese were ‘‘ that 
a treaty should be concluded foi\ a certain number of years ; 
that each party should retain the territory which they then 
possessed ; that the Candians should renounce their alliance 
with the Dutch, and never enter into any other without the 
consent of Spain and Portugal ; that the subjects of Spain, 
Portugal, and Candy should be at liberty to traffic in what- 
ever articles they pleased, and that all commercial regulations 
should have equally in view the advantage of all parties ; that 
the free exercise of the Roman Catholic religion should be 
permitted over the whole island, and leave given to erect 
chapels and convents ; that an ambassador from each of the 
courts of Spain and Portugal should reside at Candy, and one 
from the Candians at Columbo ; that the Candians should re- 
store all the treasure, cannon, and military stores of every de- 
scription which they had taken from the Portuguese,” 
The terms were rejected by the Candians, who having been 
so often before deceived by the Portuguese, resolved to remain 
faithful to their new allies. A truce was^, then proposed, but 
rejected with equal disdain; upon which the Portuguese, highly 
incensed, determined to compel the Candians to accept their 
terms by force of arms. With this view^ they marched a large 
body of troops to Candy, where they we r^ met by the,jnatives. 
A bloody battle ensued, in which the Portuguese were, totally 
routed, and the fugitives compelled to save themselves ' among 
the woods. After the loss of this army they found themselves 
* „ rs^ 
