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

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[Their Generals.] I shall now mention some of the last Portugueze
Generals, all within this present King's Reign, with some passages
concerning them.

[Constantine &c.] Constantine Sa, General of the Portugals Army
in Ceilon, when the Portugueze had footing in this Land, was very
successful against this present King. He ran quite thro the Island
unto the Royal City it self, which he set on Fire with the Temples
therein. Insomuch that the King sent a Message to him signifying,
that he was willing to become his Tributary. But he proudly sent him
word back again, That that would not serve his turn; He should not
only he Tributary, but Slave to his Master the King of Portugal. This
the King of Cande could not brook, being of an high Stomach, and
said, He would fight to the last drop of Blood, rather than stoop to
that. There were at this time many Commanders in the Generals Army
who were natural Chingulays; with these the King dealt secretly,
assuring them that if they would turn on his side, he would gratifie
them with very ample Rewards. The King's Promises took effect; and
they all revolted from the General. The King now daring not to trust
the Revolted, to make tryal of their Truth and Fidelity, put them
in the forefront of his Battel, and commanded them to give the first
Onset. The King at that time might have Twenty or Thirty thousand Men
in the Field. Who taking their opportunity, set upon the Portugueze
Army, and gave them such a total overthrow, that as they report in
that Countrey not one of them escaped. The General seeing this Defeat,
and himself like to be taken, called his Black Boy to give him water
to drink, [He loses a Victory and stabs himself.] and snatching the
Knife that stuck by his Boy's side, stabbed himself with it.

[Lewis Tissera served as he intended to serve the King.] Another
General after him was Lewis Tiffera. He swore he would make the King
eat Coracan Tallipa, that is a kind hasty Pudding, made of Water
and the Coracan Flower; which is reckoned the worst fare of that
Island. The King afterwards took this Lewis Tissera, and put him in
Chains in the Common Goal, and made him eat of the same fare. And
there is a Ballad of this Man and this passage, Sung much among the
common People there to this day.

[Simon Caree, of a cruel Mind.] Their next General was Simon
Caree, a Natural Chingulays, but Baptized. He is said to be a great
Commander. When he had got any Victory over the Chingulays, he did
exercise great Cruelty. He would make the Women beat their own Children
in their Mortars, wherein they used to beat their Corn.

[Gaspar Figari Splits Men in the middle.] Gaspar Figari, had a
Portugueze Father and Chingulays Mother. He was the last General they
had in this Countrey. And a brave Soldier: but degenerated not from
his Predecessors in Cruelty. He would hang up the People by the heels,
and split them down the middle. He had his Axe wrapped in a white
Cloth, which he carried with him into the Field to execute those he
suspected to be false to him, or that ran away. Smaller Malefactors
he was merciful to, cutting off only their right hands. Several whom
he hath so served, are yet living, whom I have seen.

[His Policy.] This Gaspar came up one day to fight against the King,
and the King resolved to fight him. The General fixed his Camp at
Motaupul in Hotteracourly. And in order to the King's coming down to
meet the Portugueze, Preparation was made for him at a place called
Cota coppul, which might be Ten or Twelve miles distant from the
Portugueze Army. Gaspar knew of the place by some Spies; but of the
time of the Kings coming he was informed, that it was a day sooner than
really it happened. According to this information he resolved privatly
to march thither, and come upon him in the night unawares. And because
he knew the King was a Polititian, and would have his Spies abroad to
watch the Generals motion, the General sent for all the Drummers and
Pipers to Play and Dance in his Camp, that thereby the Kings Spies
might not suspect that he was upon the March, but merry and secure in
his Camp. In the mean time, having set his People all to their Dancing
and Drumming, he left a small party there to secure the Baggage, and
away he goes in the night with his Army, and arrives to Catta coppul,
intending to fall upon the King. But when he came thither, he found
the King was not yet come: but into the Kings Tents he went, and,
sits him down in the seat appointed for the King. [Gives the King
a great overthrow.] Here he heard where the King was with his Camp:
which being not far off, he marched thither in the morning and fell
upon him: and gave him one of the greatest Routs that ever he had. The
King himself made a narrow escape; for had it not been for a Dutch
Company, which the Dutch had sent a little before for his Guard,
who after his own Army fled, turned head and stopped the Portugueze
for a while, he had been seized. The Portugueze General was so near
the King, that he called after him, Houre, that is Brother, stay,
I would speak with you, but the King being got a top of the Hills;
was safe. And so Gaspar retyred to his Quarters.

[Looses Columbo, and taken Prisoner.] This Gallant expert Commander,
that had so often vanquished the Chingulays, could not cope with
another Europaean Nation. For when the Hollanders came to beseige
Columbo, he was sent against them with his Army. They told him before
he went, that now he must look to himself, for he was not now to Fight
against Chingulays, but against Soldiers, that would look him in the
Face. But he made nothing of them, and said, he would serve them as he
had served the Chingulays. The Hollanders met him, and they fought:
but had before contrived a Stratagem, which he was not aware of:
they had placed some Field-pieces in the Rear of their Army. And
after a small skirmish they retreated as if they had been worsted;
which was only to draw the Portugueze nearer upon their Guns. Which
when they had brought them in shot of, they opened on a suddain to
the right and left, and fired upon them, and so routed them, and
drove them into Columbo. This Gaspar was in the City when it was
taken, and himself taken Prisoner. Who was afterwards sent to Goa,
where he died. And so much of the Portugueze.

[The Dutch the occasion of their coming in.] The Dutch succeeded the
Portugueze. The first occasion of whose coming into this Land was, that
the present King being wearied and overmatched with the Portugueze,
sent for them into his aid long ago from Batavia. And they did him
good service, but they feathered their own nests by the means, and
are now possessed of all the Sea-Coasts, and considerable Territories
thereunto adjoyning.

[The King their implacable enemy, and why!] The King of the Countrey
keeps up an irreconcileable War against them. The occasion of which
is said to be this. Upon the beseiging of Columbo, which was about
the year MDCLV. it was concluded upon between the King and the Dutch,
that their Enemies the Portugueze being expelled thence, the City
was to be delivered up by the Dutch into the Kings hands. Whereupon
the King himself in person with all his Power went down to this War
to assist and joyn with the Hollanders, without whose help, as it is
generally reported, the Dutch could not have taken the City. But being
surrendred to them, and they gotten into it, the King lay looking,
when they would come according to their former Articles, and put
him into possession of it. Mean while they turned on a suddain &
fell upon him, contrary to his expectation (whether the King had
first broke word with them,) and took Bag and Baggage from him:
Which provoked him in so high a manner, that he maintains a constant
hostility against them, detains their Ambassadours, and forbids his
People upon pain of Death to hold Commerce with them.

[The dammage the King does them.] So that the Dutch have enough to
do to maintain those places which they have. Oftentimes the King at
unawares falls upon them and does them great spoil, sometimes giving
no quarter, but cutting off the Heads of whomsoever he catches,
which are brought up, and hung upon Trees near the City, many of
which I have seen. Sometimes he brings up his Prisoners alive, and
keeps them by the Highway sides, a spectacle to the People in memory
of his Victories over them: many of these are now living there in a
most miserable condition, having but a very small Allowance from him;
so that they are forced to be, and it is a favour when they can get
leave to go abroad and do it.

[The means they use to obtain Peace with him.] The Dutch therefore
not being able to deal with him by the Sword, being unacquainted
with the Woods and the Chingulays manner of fighting, do endeavour
for Peace with him all they can, dispatching divers Embassadours to
him, and sending great Presents, by carrying Letters to him in great
State wrapped up in Silks wrought with Gold and Silver, bearing them
all the way upon their Heads in token of great Honour, honouring him
with great and high Titles, subscribing themselves his Subjects and
Servants, telling him the Forts they build are out of Loyalty to him,
to secure his Majesties Country from Forraign Enemies; and that when
they come up into his Countrey, tis to seek maintenance. And by these
Flatteries and submissions they sometimes obtain to keep what they keep
what they have gotten from him, and sometimes nothing will prevail,
he neither regarding their Embassadours nor receiving the Presents, but
taking his opportunities on a suddain of setting on them by his Forces.

[How he took Bibligom Fort.] His Craft and Success in taking Bibligom
Fort in the County of Habberagon, may deserve to be mentioned. The
Chingulays had beseiged the Fort: and knowing the Dutch had no Water
there; but all they had was conveyed thro a Trench wrought under
Ground from a River near by, they beseiged them so close, and planted
so many Guns towards the mouth of this Trench, that they could not
come out to fetch Water. They cut down Wood also, and made bundles
of Faggots therewith, which they piled up round about their Fort at
some distance, and every night removed them nearer and nearer. So
that their works became higher than the Fort. Their main intent by
these Faggot-works, was to have brought them just under the Fort, and
then to have set it on Fire, the Walls of the Fort being for the most
part of Wood. There was also a Bo-gahah Tree growing just by the Fort:
on which they planted Guns and shot right down into them. The houses
in the Fort being Thatched, they shot also Fire-Arrows among them:
So that the beseiged were forced to pull off the Straw from their
Houses, which proved a great inconvenience to them being a Rainy
Season: so that they lay open to the weather and cold. The Dutch
finding themselves in this extremity desired quarter which was granted
them at the Kings mercy. They came out and laid down their Arms, all
but the Officers, who still wore theirs. None were plundered of any
thing they had about them. The Fort they demolished to the Ground,
and brought up the Four Guns to the Kings Palace; where they among
others stand mounted in very brave Carriages before his Gate.

The Dutch were brought two or three days journey from the Fort into
the Countrey they call Owvah: and there were placed with a Guard
about them, having but a small allowance appointed them; insomuch that
afterwards having spent what they had, they perished for Hunger. So
that of about ninety Hollanders taken Prisoners, there were not above
five and twenty living when I came away.

[Several Embassadors detained by the King.] There are several white
Embassadours, besides other Chingulay People, by whom the Dutch have
sent Letters and presents to the King whom he keeps from returning
back again. They are all bestowed in several houses with Soldiers
to Guard them: And tho they are not in Chains, yet none is permitted
to come to them or speak with them; it not being the custom of that
Land for any to come to the speech of Embassadours. Their allowance
is brought them ready dressed out of the Kings Palace, being all
sorts of Varieties, that the Land affords. After they have remained
in this condition some years, the Guards are somewhat slackned, and
the Soldiers that are to watch them grow remiss in their Duty; so
that now the Ambassadours walk about the Streets, and any body goes
to their houses and talks with them: that is, after they have been
so long in the Countrey, that all their news is stale and grown out
of date. But this liberty is only winked at, not allowed. When they
have been there a great while, the King usually gives them Slaves,
both men and women, the more to alienate their minds from their own
Country, and that they may stay with him with the more willingness
and content. For his design is, to make them, if he can, inclinable
to serve him. As he prevailed with one of these Embasssadours to do
for the love of a woman. The manner of it I shall relate immediatly.

There are five Embassadors whom he hath thus detained since my coming
there; of each of whom I shall speak a little, besides two, whom he
sent away voluntarily.

[The first Embassador there detained since the Authors
remembrance.] The first of these was sent up by the Hollanders some
time before the Rebellion against the King; Who had detained him in
the City. After the Rebellion the King sent for him to him to the
Mountain of Gauluda whither he had retreated from the Rebels. The
King not long after removed to Digligy, where he now keeps his Court,
but left the Embassador at Gauluda remaining by himself, with a
Guard of Soldiers. In this uncomfortable condition, upon a dismal
Mountain void of all society, he continued many days. During which
time a Chingulay and his Wife falls out, and she being discontented
with her Husband to escape from him flies to this Embassadors house
for shelter. The woman being somewhat beautiful, he fell greatly in
love with her. And to obtain her he sent to the King, and profered
him his service, if he would permit him to enjoy her company, Which
the King was very willing and glad to do, having now obtained that
which he had long aimed at, to get him into his service.

[His preferment, and death.] Hereupon the King sent him word that he
granted his desire, and withall sent to both of them rich Apparel,
and to her many Jewels and Bracelets of Gold and Silver. Suddainly
after there was a great House prepared from them in the City, furnished
with all kind of furniture out of the Kings Treasure and at his proper
cost and charges. Which being finished he was brought away from his
Mountain into it. But from thence forward never saw his Wife more,
according to the custom of Court. And he was entertained in the Kings
Service, and made Courtalbad, which is cheif over all the Smiths and
Carpenters in Cande Uda. Some short time after the King about to send
his Forces against a Fort of the Hollanders, called Arundery built
by them in the year MDCLXVI. He tho in the Kings service, yet being
a well wisher to his Countrey, had privatly sent a Letter of advice
to the Dutch concerning the Kings intention and purpose, an Answer
to which was intercepted and brought to the King, wherein thanks
was returned him from the Dutch for his Loyalty to his own Nation,
and nhut they would accordingly prepare for the Kings assault. The
King having this Letter, sent for him, and bad him read it, which he
excused pretending it was so written, that he could not. Whereupon
immediatly another Dutchman was sent for, who read it before the King,
and told him the Contents of it. At which it is reported the King
should say, Beia pas mettandi hitta pas ettandi, That is, He serves
me for fear, and them for love; or his fear is here and his love
is there; And forth with commanded to carry him forth to Execution:
which was accordingly done upon him. Tis generally said, that this
Letter was framed by somebody on purpose to ruine him.

[The next Embassador dying there his Body is sent down to Columbo
in great State.] The next Ambassador after him was Hendrick Draak;
a fine Gentleman, and good friend of the English. This was he who
was Commissioned in the year MDCLXIV. to intercede with the King on
the behalf of the English, that they might have liberty to go home,
and with him they were made to beleive they should return: which
happened at the same time that Sir Edward Winter sent his Letters to
the King for us. Which I have already spoke of in the fifth Chapter
of this Part. This Embassador was much in the Kings favour, with whom
he was detained till he died. And then the King sent his Body down
to Columbo carried in a Pallenkine with great State and Lamention,
and accompanied with his great Commanders, and many Soldiers.

[The third Embassador. Gets away by his resolution.] Sometime after
the loss of the Fort of Arrundery which was about the year MDCLXX. the
Dutch sent up another Embassador to see if he could obtain a Peace,
which was the first time their Embassadors began to bring up Letters
upon their heads in token of extraordinary reverence. This man was
much favoured by the King, and was entertained with great Ceremony
and Honour, cloathing him in Chingulay Habit, Which I never knew done
before nor since. But being weary of his long stay, and of the delays
that were made; having often made motions to go down, and still
he was deferred from day to day, at length he made a resolution,
that if he had not leave by such a day, he would go without it;
saying that the former Embassador who died there, died like a Woman,
but it should be seen that he would die like a man. At the appointed
day, he girt on his Sword, and repaired to the Gates of the Kings
Palace, pulling off his Hat, and making his obeysance as if the
King were present before him, and thanking him for the Favours and
Honours he had done him, and so took his leave. And there being some
Englishmen present, he generously gave them some money to drink his
Health; and in this resolute manner departed, with some two or three
Black-servants that attended on him. The upshot of which was, that
the King, not being willing to prevent his resolution by Violence,
sent one of his Noblemen to conduct him down; and so he had the good
fortune to get home safely to Columbo.

[The fourth was of a milder Nature.] The next Ambassador after him was
John Baptista. A Man of a milder Spirit than the former, endeavouring
to please and shew compliance with the King. He obtained many Favours
of the King, and several Slaves both Men and Women. And living well
with Servants about him, is the more patient in waiting the King's
leisure till he pleaseth to send him home.

[The fifth brings a Lion to the King as a Present.] The last
Embassador that came up while I was there, brought up a Lion:
which the Dutch thought would be the most acceptable Present that
they could send to the King, as indeed did all others. It was but a
Whelp. But the King did never receive it, supposing it not so famous
as he had heard by Report Lions were. This Man with his Lion was
brought up and kept in the County of Oudapollat, near Twenty Miles
from the King's Court. Where he remained about a year, in which
time the Lion died. The Embassador being weary of living thus like
a Prisoner with a Guard always upon him, often attempted to go back,
seeing the King would not permit him Audience. But the Guards would
not let him. Having divers times made disturbances in this manner
to get away home, the King commanded to bring him up into the City
to an House that was prepared for him, standing some distance from
the Court. Where having waited many days, and seeing no sign of
Audience, he resolved to make his Appearance before the King by
force, which he attempted to do, when the King was abroad taking his
Pleasure. The Soldiers of his Guard immediately ran, and acquainted
the Noblemen at Court of his coming, who delayed not to acquaint the
King thereof. Whereupon the King gave Order forthwith to meet him,
and where they met him, in that same place to stop him till further
order. And there they kept him, not letting him go either forward
or backward. In this manner and place he remained for three days,
till the King sent Order that he might return to his House whence he
came. This the King did to tame him. But afterwards he was pleased to
call him before him. And there he remained when I left the Countrey,
maintained with Plenty of Provisions at the King's charge.

[The number of Dutch there.] The number of Dutch now living there
may be about Fifty or Sixty. Some whereof are Ambassadors, some
Prisoners of War, some Runaways, and Malefactors that have escaped
the hand of Justice and got away from the Dutch Quarters. To all whom
are allotted respective allowances, but the Runaways have the least,
the King not loving such, tho giving them entertainment.

[They follow their Vice of Drinking.] The Dutch here love Drink, and
practise their proper Vice in this Countrey. One who was a great Man in
the Court, would sometimes come into the King's Presence half disguised
with Drink, which the King often past over; but once asked Him, Why do
you thus disorder yourself, that when I send for you about my Business,
you are not in a capacity to serve me? He boldly replied, That as soon
as his Mother took away her Milk from him, she supplied it with Wine,
and ever since, saith he, I have used myself to it. With this answer
the King seemed to be pleased. And indeed the rest of the white Men
are generally of the same temper: insomuch that the Chingulays have
a saying, That Wine is as natural to white Men, as Milk to Children.

[The Chingulays prejudiced against the Dutch, and why.] All differences
of Ranks and Qualities are disregarded among those Chingulay People
that are under the Dutch. Neither do the Dutch make any distinction
between the Hondrews, and the low and Inferior Casts of Men: and
permit them to go in the same Habit, and sit upon Stools, as well as
the best Hondrews; and the lower Ranks may eat and intermarry with the
higher without any Punishment, or any Cognizance taken of it. Which is
a matter that the Chingulays in Cand' Uda are much offended with the
Dutch for; and makes them think, that they themselves are sprung from
some mean Rank and Extract. And this prejudiceth this People against
them, that they have not such an Esteem for them. For to a Chingulay
his Rank and Honour is as dear as his life. And thus much of the Dutch.






CHAP. XIV.

Concerning the French: With some Enquiries what should make the
King detain white Men as he does. And how the Christian Religion is
maintained among the Christians there.


[The French come hither with a Fleet.] About the year MDCLXXII. or
LXXIII, there came Fourteen Sail of great Ships from the King of France
to settle a Trade here. Monsieur De la Hay Admiral, put in with this
Fleet, into the Port of Cottiar. From whence he sent up Three men by
way of Embassy to the King of Cande. Whom he entertained very Nobly,
and gave every one of them a Chain of Gold about their Necks, and a
Sword all inlay'd with Silver, and a Gun. And afterwards sent one
of them down to the Admiral with his Answer. Which encouraged him
to send up others: that is, an Ambassador and six more. Who were to
reside there till the return of the Fleet back again, being about to
Sail to the Coast.

[To whom the King sends Provisions, and helps them to build a Fort.] To
the Fleet the King sent all manner of Provision, as much as his Ability
could afford: and not only permitted but assisted them to build a
Fort in the Bay. Which they manned partly with their own People, and
partly with Chingulays, whom the King sent and lent the French. But
the Admiral finding that the King's Provisions, and what else could
be bought in the Island would not suffice for so great a Fleet, was
forced to depart for the Coast of Coromandel; promising the King,
by the Ambassador afore-mentioned, speedily to return again. So
leaving some of his Men with the King's Supplies to keep the Fort
till his return, he weighed Anchor, and set sail. But never came
back again. Some reported they were destroyed by a Storm, others
by the Dutch. The Admiral had sent up to the King great Presents,
but he would not presently receive them, that it might not seem as
if he wanted any thing, or were greedy of things brought him: but
since the French returned not according to their promise, he scorned
ever after to receive them. At first he neglected the Present out of
State, and ever since out of Anger and Indignation. This French Fort
at Cotiar was a little after easily taken by the Dutch.

[The French Ambassador offends the King.] But to return to the
Embassador and his Retinue. He rode up from Cotiar on Horseback, which
was very Grand in that Countrey. And being with his Company gotten
somewhat short of the City, was appointed there to stay, until an
House should be prepared in the City for their Entertainment. When it
was signified to him that their House was ready for their Reception,
they were conducted forward by certain Noblemen sent by the King,
carrying with them a Present for his Majesty. The Ambassador came
riding on Horse-back into the City. Which the Noblemen observing,
dissuaded him from, and advised him to walk on foot; telling him,
It was not allowable, nor the Custom. But he regarding them not,
rode by the Palace Gate. It offended the King, but he took not much
notice of it for the present.

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