Book: An Historical Relation Of The Island Ceylon In The East Indies

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[The Rebels take the English with them.] The Rebels having driven away
the King, and marching to the City of Cande to the Prince, carried us
along with them; the Chief of their Party telling us that we should
now be of good cheer; for what they done upon very good advisement
they had done, the Kings ill Government having given an occasion
to it. Who went about to destroy both them & their Countrey; and
particularly insisted upon such things as might be most plausible to
Strangers, such as, keeping Embassadours, discouraging Trade, detaining
of Forainers that come upon his Land, besides his cruelties towards
themselves that were his natural People. All which they told us, They
had been informed was contrary to the Government of other Countries;
and now so soon as their business was settled, they assured us,
They would detain none that were minded to go to their own Countreys.

[They design to ingage the English with them.] Being now at Cande,
on Christmas-Day of all the days in the year, they sent, to call us
to the Court, and gave us some Money and Cloths first, to make us
the more willing to take Arms, which they intended then to deliver
unto us, and to go with them upon a Design to fall upon the old King
in the place whither he was fled. But in the very interim of time,
God being merciful unto us, the Prince with his Aunt fled. Which so
amazed and discouraged them, that the Money and Cloths which they
were distributing to us and other Strangers to gain us over to them,
they scattered about the Court and fled themselves. And now followed
nothing but cutting one anothers Throats to make themselves appear
the more Loyal Subjects, and make amends for their former Rebellion.

[They resolve neither to meddle or make.] We for our parts little
thinking in what danger we were, fell in to scramble among the rest to
get what we could of the Monies that were strewed about, being then
in great necessity and want. For the allowance which formerly we had
was in this Disturbance lost, and so we remained without it for some
three Months, the want of which, this Money did help to supply. Having
gotten what we could at the Court, we made way to get out of the hurly
burly to our Lodgings; intending as we were Strangers and Prisoners,
neither to meddle nor make on the one side or the other, being well
satisfied, if God would but permit us quietly to sit, and eat such
a Christmas Dinner together, as he had prepared for us.

[The day being turned, they fear the King.] For our parts we had no
other dealings with the Rebels, than to desire them to permit us to go
to our Native Countrey, which Liberty they promised we should not want
long. But being sent for by them to the Court, we durst not but go,
and they giving us such things as we wanted, we could not refuse to
take them. But the day being turned put us into great fear, doubting
how the King would take it at our hands, from whom we knew this could
not be hid.

[But he justifies them.] Into our Houses we got safely. But no sooner
were we there, but immediately we were called again by a great Man,
who had drawn out his Men, and stood in the Field. This Man we thought
had been one of the Rebels, who to secure himself upon this change,
had intended to run away down to Columbo to the Dutch. Which made us
repair to him the more cheerfully, leaving our Meat a roasting on the
Spit. But it proved otherwise. For no sooner had he gotten us unto him,
but he Proclaimed himself for the old King, and forthwith he and his
Company taking us with him marched away to Fight or seize the Rebels,
but meeting none went into the City, and there dismissed us, saying,
He would acquaint the King, how willing and ready we were to fight for
him, if need had required; altho, God knows, it was the least of our
thoughts and intents, yet God brought it to pass for our good. For
when the King was informed of what we had received of the Rebels,
this piece of good Service that we had done, or rather supposed to
have done, was also told unto him. At the hearing of which himself
justified us to be innocent; saying, Since my absence, who was there
that would give them Victuals? And, It was mere want that made them to
take what they did. Thus the Words of the King's own mouth acquitted
us. And when the Sword devoured on every side, yet by the Providence
of God not one hair of our heads perished.

[They are driven to beg in the Highways.] The Tumults being appeased,
and the Rebellion vanished, the King was settled in his Throne
again. And all this happened in five days time. We were now greatly
necessitated for food, and wanted some fresh Orders from the King's
mouth for our future subsistence. So that having no other remedy,
we were fain to go and lay in the High way that leads to the City a
begging; for the People would not let us go any nearer towards the
King, as we would have done. There therefore we lay, that the King
might come to the knowledge of us, and give Command for our allowance
again. By which means we obtained our purpose. For having laid there
some two Months, the King was pleased to appoint our Quarters in
the Countrey as formerly, not mentioning a word of sending us away,
as he had made us believe before the Rebellion.

[Sent into new quarters there, and their Pensions settled again.] Now
we were all sent away indeed, but not into our own Countrey, but
into new Quarters. Which being God would have to be no better we were
glad it was so well, being sore a weary of laying in this manner. For
some three Months time we had no manner of allowance. We were all now
placed one in a Town as formerly, together with the Persia Merchant
men also, who hitherto had lived in the City of Cande, and had their
Provisions brought them out of the King's Palace ready dressed. These
were now sent away with us into the Countrey. And as strict a charge
was given for our good entertainment as before.

[Fall to Trading, and have more freedom.] We were thus dispersed
about the Towns here one and there another, for the more convenient
receiving our allowance, and for the greater case of the People. And
now we were far better to pass than heretofore, having the Language,
and being acquainted with the Manners and Customs of the People,
and had the same proportion of Victuals, and the like respect as
formerly. And now they fall into employments as they please, either
Husbandry or Merchandizing, or knitting Caps, being altogether free
to do what they will themselves, and to go where they will, excepting
running away: and for that end, we are not permitted to go down to
the Sea, but we may travel all about the Countrey, and no man regards
us. For tho the People some of the first years of our Captivity, would
scarcely let us go any whither, and had an eye upon us afterwards,
yet in process of time all their Suspitions of our going away wore
off; especially when several of the English had built them Houses,
and others had taken them Wives, by whom they had Children, to the
number of eighteen living when I came away.

Having said all this in general of the English People there, I will
now continue a further account of my self.







CHAP. VI.

A Continuation of the Author's particular Condition after the
Rebellion. Purchaseth a piece of Land.


[The Author at his new quarters builds him another House.] My hap
was to be quartered in a Countrey called Handapondown, lying to the
Westward of the City of Cande. Which place liked me very well, being
much nearer to the Sea than where I dwelt before, which gave me some
probable hopes, that in time I might chance to make an escape. But
in the mean time to free my self from the Suspition of the People,
who watched me by Night, and by Day, had an eye to all my actions, I
went to work with the help of some of my Neighbors to Build me another
House upon the Bank of a River, and intrenched it round with a Ditch,
and Planted an Hedge: and so began to settle my self; and followed
my business in Knitting and going about the Countries a Trading;
seeming to be very well contented in this Condition.

[The People counsel him to Marry.] Lying so long at the City without
allowance, I had spent all to some Seven shillings, which served me for
a stock to set up again in these new Quarters. And by the Blessing of
my most gracious God, which never failed me in all my Undertakings,
I soon came to be well furnished with what that Countrey afforded:
insomuch that my Neighbours and Townsmen no more suspected my running
away; but earnestly advised me to marry, saying, It would be an ease
and help to me, knowing that I then dressed my Victuals my self:
having turned my Boy to seek his Fortune when we were at the City:
They urged also, That it was not convenient for a young man as I
was to live so solitarily alone in a house: and if it should so
come to pass that the King should send me hereafter to my Country,
their manner of Marriage, they said, was not like ours, and I might
without any Offence discharge my Wife, and go away.

[Which he seemed to listen to.] I seemed not altogether to slight
their counsel, that they might the less suspect I had any thoughts of
mine own Countrey, but told them, That as yet I was not sufficiently
stocked, and also, That I would look for one that I could love: tho
in my heart I never purposed any such matter; but on the contrary,
did heartily abhor all thoughts tending that way.

[Here he lived two years.] In this place I lived two years; and all
that time could not get one likely occasion of running for it. For I
thought it better to forbear running too great a hazard by being over
hasty to escape, than to deprive my self of all hopes for the future,
when time and experience would be a great help to me.

[A Fort built near him, but afterward taken by the King.] In the year
MDCLXVI. the Hollanders came up and built a Fort just below me, there
being but a ridge of Mountains between them and me. But tho so near,
I could not come to them, a Watch being kept at every passage. The
King sent down against them two great Commanders with their Armies,
but being not strong enough to expel them, they lay in these Watches
to stop them from coming up higher. The name of this Fort was called
Arrandery. Which altho they could not prevent the Dutch from building
at that time. Yet some years after when they were not aware, they fell
upon it and took it, and brought all the People of it up to Cande,
where those that remained alive of them were, when I came from thence.

[He and three more removed thence] In this Countrey of Hotteracourly,
where the Dutch had built this Fort, were four English men placed,
whereof I was one. All whom the King immediately upon the News of the
Dutche's Invasion, sent order to bring up out of the danger of the
War into Cande Uda, fearing that which we were indeed intended to do,
viz. to run away.

This Invasion happening so unexpectedly and our remove so sudden,
I was forced to leave behind me that little Estate which God had
given me, lying scattered abroad in Betel-nuts, the great Commodity
of that Countrey, which I was then parting from: and much ado I had
to get my Cloths brought along with me, the Enemies, as they called
them, but my Friends being so near. And thus was I carried out of
this Countrey as poor as I came into it, leaving all the fruits of
my Labour and Industry behind me. Which called to my remembrance the
words of Job. Naked came I into this world, and naked shall I return:
God gave and God hath taken away, blessed be the Name of the Lord.

[Settled in a dismal place.] We all four were brought up together
into a Town on the top of a Mountain called Laggendenny. Where I and
my dear Friend and fellow Prisoner, and fellow Batchelor Mr. John
Loveland lived together in one House. For by this time not many of our
People were as we, that is, single men; but seeing so little hopes,
despaired of their Liberty, and had taken Wives or Bedfellows.

At our first coming into this Town, we were very much dismayed,
it being, one of the most dismal places that I have seen upon that
Land. It stands alone upon the top of a Mountain, and no other Town
near it, and not above four or five Houses in it. And oftentimes
into this Town did the King use to send such Malefactors as he was
minded suddenly to cut off. Upon these accounts our being brought to
this place could not but scare us, and the more, because it was the
King's special Order and Command to place us in this very Town.

[A comfortable Message from the King concerning us.] But this our
trouble and dejection (thanks be to God) lasted but a day. For the
King seemed to apprehend into what a fit of Fear and Sorrow this our
Remove would cast us, and to be sensible, how sadly we must needs take
it to change a sweet and pleasant Countrey, such as Handapondown and
the Countrey adjacent was, for this most sad and dismal Mountain. And
therefore the next day came a comfortable Message from the King's
own mouth, sent by no less Man than he, who had the chief Power
and Command over those People who were appointed to give us our
Victuals, where we were. This Message, which as he said himself,
he was ordered by the King to deliver to the People in our hearing,
was this, That they should not think that we were Malefactors, that
is, such who having incurred the King's displeasure were sent to be
kept Prisoners there, but men whom his Majesty did highly esteem,
and meant to promote to great Honour in his Service, and that they
should respect us as such, and entertain us accordingly. And if their
ability would not reach thereunto, it was the King's Order, he said,
to bid them sell their Cattel and Goods, and when that was done their
Wives and Children, rather than we should want of our due allowance:
which he ordered, should be as formerly we used to have: and if we
had not Houses thatched, and sufficient for us to dwell in, he said,
We should change, and take theirs.

[Placed there to punish the People for Crime.] This kind Order from
the King coming so suddenly, did not a little comfort and encourage
us. For then we did perceive the King's purpose and intent in placing
us in those remote Parts, was not to punish us, but them: that we
might be his Instruments to Plague and take revenge of that People;
who it seems had Plundred the King's Palace in the time of the late
Rebellion, when he left it and fled; for this Town lies near unto
the same: and their Office lying about the Court they had the fairer
opportunity of Plundering it. For the Service they are to perform to
the King, is to carry his Pallenkine when he pleaseth to ride therein,
and also to bring Milk every Morning to the Court, being Keepers of
the King's Cattel.

[Weary of this place.] In this Town we remained some three years;
by which time we were grown quite weary of the place, and the place
and People also grown weary of us, who were but troublesom Guests to
them; for having such great Authority given us over them, we would
not lose it; and being four of us in call one of another, we would not
permit or suffer them to domineer over us. Being thus tired with one
anothers Company, and the King's Order being of an old Date, we used
all means we could to clear our selves of one another: often repairing
unto the Court to seek to obtain a Licence that we might be removed
and placed any where else. But there was none that durst grant it,
because it was the King's peculiar Command, and special Appointment
that we must abide in that very Town.

During the time of our stay here, we had our Victuals brought us
in good order and due season: the Inhabitants having such a charge
given them by their Governour and he from the King, durst not do
otherwise. So that we had but little to do, only to dress and eat,
and sit down to knit.

[By a piece of Craft he gets down to his old Quarters.] I had used
the utmost of my skill and endeavour to get a Licence to go down to
my former Quarters, all things being now pretty well settled, hoping
that I might recover some of my old Debts: but by no means could I
obtain it. The denial of so reasonable a desire, put me upon taking
leave. I was well acquainted with the way, but yet I hired a man to
go with me, without which I could not get thro the Watches. For altho
I was the Master and he the Man, yet when we came into the Watches,
he was the Keeper and I the Prisoner. And by this means we passed
without being suspected.

[Began the world anew the third time.] Being come into my old Quarters,
by pretending that this man was sent down from the Magistrate to
see that my Debts and Demands might be duely paid and discharged,
I chanced to recover some of them, and the rest gave over for lost;
for I never more looked after them. And so I began the world anew,
and by the Blessing of God was again pretty well recruited before I
left this Town.

[Plots to remove himself.] In the time of my residence here, I chanced
to hear of a small piece of Land that was to be sold. About which I
made very diligent inquiry. For altho I was sore a weary of living
in this Town, yet I could not get out of it, not having other new
Quarters appointed me, unless I could provide a place for my self
to remove to: which now God had put into my hand. As for the King's
Command I dreaded it not much, having found by observation, that the
King's Orders wear away by time, and the neglect of them comes at
last to be unregarded. However I was resolved to put it to a hazard,
come what will.

[Is incouraged to buy a piece of Land.] Altho I had been now some seven
or eight years in this Land, and by this time came to know pretty well
the Customs and Constitutions of the Nation, yet I would not trust
my own knowledge, but to prevent the worst, I went to the Governor of
that same Countrey where the Land lay, to desire his advice, whether
or no I might lawfully buy that small piece of Land. He inquired,
Whose and what Land it was, I informed him, That it had been formerly
dedicated to a Priest, and he at his death had left it to his Grandson:
who for want was forced to sell it. Understanding this, the Governor
approved of the business, and encouraged me to buy it: saying, That
such kind of Lands only were lawful here to be bought and sold,
and that this was not in the least litigious.

[The Situation and condition of it.] Having gotten both his consent and
advice, I went on chearfully with my purchase. The place also liked me
wondrous well; it being a point of Land, standing into a Corn Field,
so that Corn Fields were on three sides of it, and just before my Door
a little Corn ground belonging thereto, and very well watered. In
the Ground besides eight Coker-nut Trees, there were all sorts of
Fruit Trees the Countrey afforded. But it had been so long desolate,
that it was all overgrown with Bushes, and no sign of a House therein.

[Buys it.] The price of this Land was five and twenty Larees, that is
five Dollars, a great Sum of Money in the account of this Countrey;
yet thanks be to God, who had so far inabled me after my late and
great loss, that I was strong enough to lay this down. The terms of
Purchase being concluded on between us, a Writing was made upon a leaf
after that Countrey manner, witnessed by seven or eight Men of the
best Quality in the Town: which was delivered to me, and I paid the
Money, and then took Possession of the Land. It lyes some ten Miles
to the Southward of the City of Cande in the County of Oudaneur,
in the Town of Elledat.

[Builds an House on it.] Now I went about Building an House upon my
Land, and was assisted by three of my Countreymen that dwelt near
by, Roger Gold, Ralph Knight, and Stephen Rutland, and in short time
we finished it. The Countrey People were all well pleased to see us
thus busie our selves about buying of Land and Building of Houses,
thinking it would ty our Minds the faster to their Countrey, and make
us think the less upon our own.

[Leaves Laggendenny.] Tho I had built my new House, yet durst I not yet
leave my old Quarters in Laggendenny, but wait until a more convenient
time fell out for that purpose. I went away therefore to my old home,
and left my aforesaid three English Neighbours to inhabit in it in
my absence. Not long after I found a fit season to be gone to my
Estate at Elledat. And upon my going, the rest left the Town also,
and went and dwelt elsewhere, each one where he best liked. But by
this means we all lost a Privilege which we had before: which was
that our Victuals were brought unto us, and now we were forced to go
and fetch them our selves; the People alledging (true enough) that
they were not bound to carry our Provisions about the Country after us.

[Settled at his new purchase, with three more living with him.] Being
settled in my new House, I began to plant my ground full of all sorts
of Fruit Trees; and by the Blessing of God all grew and prospered,
and yielded me great Plenty, and good increase, sufficient both for
me, and for those that dwelt with me. For the three English men I
left at my House when I departed back to Laggendenny, still lived
with me. We were all single men; and we agreed very well together,
and were helpful to one another. And for their help and assistance
of me, I freely granted them Liberty to use and enjoy Whatsoever the
ground afforded, as much as my self. And with a joynt consent it was
concluded amongst us, That only single Men and Batchellors should dwell
there, and such as would not he conformable to this present agreement
should depart and absent himself from our Society, and also forfeit
his right and claim to the forementioned Privilege, that is, to be
cut off from all benefit of whatsoever the Trees and Ground afforded.

I thought fit to make such a Covenant, to exclude women from coming
in among us, to prevent all strife and dissention, and to make
all possible Provision for the keeping up love and quietness among
our selves.

In this manner we four lived together some two years very lovingly and
contentedly, not an ill word passing between us. We used to take turns
in keeping at home, while the rest went forth about their Business. For
our house stood alone and no Neighbour near it. Therefore we always
left one within. The rest of the English men lived round about us,
some four or five miles distant, some more. So that we were, as it
were, within reach one of another; which made us like our present
Situation the more.

[Their freedom and Trade.] Thus we lived upon the Mountains, being
round about us beset with watches, most of our People being now
married: so that now all talk and suspition of our running away was
laid aside. Neither indeed was it scarce possible. The effect of
which was, that now we could walk from one to the other, or where we
would upon the Mountains, no man molesting or disturbing us in the
least. So that we began to go about a Pedling, and Trading in the
Country farther towards the Northward, carrying our Caps about to sell.

[His Family reduced to two.] By this time two of our Company seeing
but little hopes of Liberty, thought it too hard a task thus to lead
a single life, and married. Which when they had done according to
the former agreement departed from us. So that our Company was now
reduced to two, viz. my Self and Stephen Rutland; whose inclination
and resolution was as stedfast as mine against Marriage. And we parted
not to the last, but came away together.






CHAP. VII.

A return to the rest of the English, with some further accounts of
them. And some further discourse of the Authors course of life.


[Confer together about the lawfulness of Marrying with the Native
Women.] Let us now make a Visit to the rest of our Country-men,
and see how they do. They reckoning themselves in for their Lives,
in order to their future settlement, were generally disposed to
Marry. Concerning which we have had many and sundry disputes among
ourselves; as particularly concerning the lawfulness of matching
with Heathens and Idolaters, and whether the Chingulays Marriages
were any better than living in Whoredome: there being no Christian
Priests to join them together, and it being allowed by their Laws to
change their Wives and take others as often as they pleased. But these
cases we solved for our own advantage after this manner, That we were
but Flesh and Blood, and that it is said, It is better to Marry than
to burn, and that as far as we could see, we were cut off from all
Marriages any where else, even for our Life time, and therefore that
we must marry with these or with none at all. And when the People in
Scripture were forbidden to take Wives of Strangers, it was then when
they might intermarry with their own People, and so no necessity lay
upon them. And that when they could not, there are examples in the Old
Testament upon Record, that they took Wives of the Daughters of the
Lands, wherein they dwelt. These reasons being urged, there was none
among us, that could object ought against them, especially if those
that were minded to marry Women here, did take them for their Wives
during their lives, as some of them say, they do: and most of the
Women they marry are such as do profess themselves to be Christians.

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