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

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[He refuses to wait longer for Audience.] The Ambassador alighted
at his Lodgings. Where he and his Companions were nobly Entertained,
Provisions sent them ready Dressed out of the King's Palace three times
a day, great Plenty they had of all things the Countrey afforded. After
some time the King sent to him to come to his Audience. In great
State he was Conducted to the Court, accompanied with several of the
Nobles that were sent to him. Coming thus to the Court in the Night,
as it is the King's usual manner at that Season to send for foreign
Ministers, and give them Audience, he waited there some small time,
about two hours or less, the King not yet admitting him. Which
he took in such great disdain, and for such an affront, that he
was made to stay at all, much more so long, that he would tarry no
longer but went towards his Lodging. Some about the Court observing
this, would have stopped him by Elephants that stood in the Court,
turning them before the Gate thro which he was to pass. But he would
not so be stopped, but laid his hand upon his Sword, as if he meant
to make his way by the Elephants; the People seeing his resolution,
called away the Elephants and let him pass.

[Which more displeased the King. Clapt in chains.] As soon as the King
heard of it, he was highly displeased; insomuch that he commanded
some of his Officers, that they should go and beat them, and clap
them in Chains: which was immediately done to all excepting the two
Gentlemen, that were first sent up by the Admiral: for these were not
touched, the King reckoning they did not belong unto this Ambassador;
neither were they now in his Company; excepting that one of them in
the Combustion got a few Blows. They were likewise disarmed, and so
have continued ever since. Upon this the Gentlemen, Attendants upon
the Embassador, made their Complaints to the Captain of their Guards,
excusing themselves, and laying all the blame upon their Ambassador;
urging, That they were his Attendants, and a Soldier must obey his
Commander and go where he appoints him. Which sayings being told
the King, he approved thereof, and commanded them out of Chains,
the Ambassador still remaining in them, and so continued for six
Months. After which he was released of his Chains by means of the
Intreaties his own men made to the great Men in his behalf.

[The rest of the French refuse to dwell with the Ambassador.] The rest
of the French men, seeing how the Embassador's imprudent carriage
had brought them to this misery, refused any longer to dwell with
him. And each of them by the King's Permission dwells by himself
in the City; being maintained at the King's charge. Three of these,
whose Names were Monsieur Du Plessy, Son to a Gentleman of note in
France, and Jean Bloom, the third whose Name I cannot tell, but was
the Ambassador's Boy, the King appointed to look to his best Horse,
kept in the Palace. This Horse sometime after died, as it is supposed
of old Age. Which extremely troubled the King; and imagining they had
been instrumental to his Death by their carelessness, he commanded
two of them, Monsieur Du Plessy and Jean Bloom to be carried away into
the Mountains, and kept Prisoners in Chains, where they remained when
I came thence.

The rest of them follow Employments; some whereof Still Rack, and
keep the greatest Taverns in the City.

[The King uses means to reconcile the French to their
Ambassador.] Lately, a little before I came from the Island; the King
understanding the disagreements and differences that were still kept
on foot betwixt the Ambassador and the rest of his Company, disliked
it and used these means to make them Friends. He sent for them all,
the Ambassador and the rest, and told them, That it was not seemly
for Persons as they were at such a distance from their own Countrey,
to quarrel and fall out; and that if they had any love for God, or
the King of France, or himself, that they should go home with the
Ambassador and agree and live together. They went back together,
not daring to disobey the King. And as soon as they were at home,
the King sent a Banquet after them of Sweetmeats and Fruits to eat
together. They did eat the King's Banquet, but it would not make
the Reconcilement. For after they had done, each man went home and
dwelt in their own Houses as they did before. It was thought that
this carriage would offend the King, and that he would at least take
away their Allowance. And it is probable before this time the King
hath taken Vengeance on them. But the Ambassador's carriage is so
imperious, that they would rather venture whatsoever might follow
than be subject to him. And in this case I left them.

[The Author acquaints the French Ambassador in London, with the
condition of these Men.] Since my return to England, I presumed by a
Letter to inform the French Ambassador then in London of the abovesaid
Matters, thinking my self bound in Conscience and Christian Charity
to do my endeavour, that their Friends knowing their Condition,
may use means for their Deliverance. The Letter ran thus,

These may acquaint your Excellency, That having been a Prisoner
in the Island of Ceilon, under the King of that Countrey
near Twenty years; by means of this my long detainment
there, I became acquainted with the French Ambassador,
and the other Gentlemen his Retinue; being in all Eight
Persons; who was sent to Treat with the said King in the
Year MDCLXXII. by Monsieur De la Hay, who came with a Fleet
to the Port of Cotiar or Trinkemalay, from whence he sent
these Gentlemen. And knowing that from thence it is scarce
possible to send any Letters or Notice to other Parts, for
in all the time of my Captivity I could never send one word,
whereby my Friends here might come to hear of my Condition,
until with one more I made an Escape, leaving Sixteen English
men yet there; The Kindness I have received from those French
Gentlemen, as also my Compassion for them, being detained in
the same place with me, hath obliged and constrained me, to
presume to trouble your Lordship with this Paper; not knowing
any other means where I might convey Notice to their Friends
and Relations, which is all the Service I am able to perform
for them. The Ambassador's Name I know not; there is a Kinsman
of his called Monsieur le Serle, and a young Gentleman called
Monsieur du Plessey, and another named Monsieur la Roche. The
rest by Name I know not. And then an account of them is given
according to what I have mentioned above. I shall not presume
to be farther tedious to your Honour; craving Pardon for my
boldness which my Affection to those Gentlemen being detained
in the same Land with me hath occasioned. Concerning whom if
your Lordship be pleased farther to be informed, I shall be
both willing and ready to be,

Yours, &c.

The Ambassador upon the receipt of this, desired to speak with me. Upon
whom I waited, and he after some Speech with me told me he would send
word into France of it, and gave me Thanks for this my Kindness to
his Countreymen.

[An inquiry into the reason of this King's detaining Europaeans] It
may be worth some inquiry, what the reason might be, that the King
detains the Europaean People as he does. It cannot be out of hope
of Profit or Advantage; for they are so far from bringing him any,
that they are a very great Charge, being all maintained either by
him or his People. Neither is it in the power of Money to redeem any
one, for that he neither needs nor values. Which makes me conclude,
it is not out of Profit, nor Envy or ill will, but out of Love and
Favour, that he keeps them, delighting in their Company, and to have
them ready at his Command. For he is very ambitious of the Service of
these Men, and winks at many of their failings, more than he uses to
do towards his Natural Subjects. [The King's gentleness towards his
white Soldiers.] As may appear from a Company of White Soldiers he
hath, who upon their Watch used to be very negligent, one lying Drunk
here and another there. Which remisness in his own Soldiers he would
scarce have indured, but it would have cost them their lives. But with
these he useth more Craft than Severity to make them more watchful.

[They watch at his Magazine.] These Soldiers are under two Captains,
the one a Dutch man and the other a Portugueze. They are appointed
to Guard one of the King's Magazines, where they always keep Sentinel
both by Day and Night. This is a pretty good distance from the Court,
and here it was the King contrived their Station, that they might swear
and swagger out of his hearing, and that no body might disturb them,
nor they no body. The Dutch Captain lyes at one side of the Gate,
and the Portugueze at the other.

[How craftily the King corrected their Negligence.] Once the King
to employ these his white Soldiers, and to honour them by letting
them see what an assurance he reposed in them, sent one of his Boys
thither to be kept Prisoner, which they were very Proud of. They
kept him two years, in which time he had learnt both the Dutch and
Portugueze Language. Afterwards the King retook the Boy into his
Service, and within a short time after Executed him. But the King's
reason in sending this Boy to be kept by these Soldiers was, probably
not as they supposed, and as the King himself outwardly pretended,
viz. To shew how much he confided in them, but out of Design to make
them look the better to their Watch, which their Debauchery made them
very remiss in. For the Prisoners Hands only were in Chains, and not
his Legs; so that his possibility of running away, having his Legs
at liberty, concerned them to be circumspect and wakeful. And they
knew if he had escaped it were as much as their lives were worth. By
this crafty and kind way did the King correct the negligence of his
white Soldiers.

[The King's Inclinations are towards white Men.] Indeed his
inclinations are much towards the Europaeans; making them his great
Officers, accounting them more faithful and trusty than his own
People. With these he often discourses concerning the Affairs of
their Countreys, and promotes them to places far above their Ability,
and sometimes their Degree or Desert. [The colour of white honoured
in this Land.] And indeed all over the Land they do bear as it were
a natural respect and reverence to White Men, in as much as Black,
they hold to be inferior to White. And they say, the Gods are White,
and that the Souls of the Blessed after the Resurrection shall be
White; and therefore, that Black is a rejected and accursed colour.

[Their Privilege above the Natives.] And as further signs of the King's
favour to them, there are many Privileges, which White Men have and
enjoy, as tolerated or allowed them from the King; which I suppose may
proceed from the aforesaid Consideration; as, to wear any manner of
Apparel, either Gold, Silver, or Silk, Shoes and Stockings, a shoulder
Belt and Sword; their Houses may be whitened with Lime, and many such
like things, all which the Chingulayes are not permitted to do.

[The King loves to send and talk with them.] He will also sometimes
send for them into his Presence, and discourse familiarly with
them, and entertain them with great Civilities, especially white
Ambassadors. They are greatly chargeable unto his Countrey, but he
regards it not in the least. So that the People are more like Slaves
unto us than we unto the King. In as much as they are inforced by his
Command to bring us maintenance. Whose Poverty is so great oftentimes,
that for want of what they supply us with, themselves, their Wives,
and Children, are forced to suffer hunger, this being as a due Tax
imposed upon them to pay unto us. Neither can they by any Power or
Authority refuse the Payment hereof to us. For in my own hearing
the People once complaining of their Poverty and Inability to give
us any longer our Allowance, the Magistrate or Governor replied,
It was the King's special Command, and who durst disannul it. And
if otherwise they could not supply us with our maintenance he bad
them sell their Wives and Children, rather than we should want of
our due. Such is the favour that Almighty God hath given Christian
People in the sight of this Heathen King; whose entertainment and
usage of them is thus favourable.

[How they maintain Christianity among them.] If any enquire into the
Religious exercise and Worship practised among the Christians here,
I am sorry I must say it, I can give but a slender account. For
they have no Churches nor no Priests, and so no meetings together
on the Lord's Dayes for Divine Worship, but each one Reads or Prays
at his own House as he is disposed. They Sanctifie the Day chiefly
by refraining work, and meeting together at Drinking-houses. They
continue the practice of Baptism; and there being no Priests, they
Baptize their Children themselves with Water, and use the words,
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;
and give them Christian Names. They have their Friends about them
at such a time, and make a small Feast according to their Ability:
and some teach their Children to say their Prayers, and to Read,
and some do not.

[In some things they comply with the worship of the Heathen.] Indeed
their Religion at the best is but Negative, that is, they are not
Heathen, they do not comply with the Idolatry here practised; and they
profess themselves Christians in a general manner, which appears by
their Names, and by their Beads and Crosses that some of them wear
about their Necks. Nor indeed can I wholly clear them from complyance
with the Religion of the Countrey. For some of them when they are
Sick do use the Ceremonies which the Heathen do in the like case,
as in making Idols of clay, and setting them up in their Houses, and
Offering Rice to them, and having Weavers to Dance before them. But
they are ashamed to be known to do this; and I have known none to
do it, but such as are Indians born. Yet I never knew any of them,
that do inwardly in Heart and Conscience incline to the ways of the
Heathen, but perfectly abhor them: nor have there been any, I ever
heard of, that came to their Temples upon any Religious account, but
only would stand by and look on; [An old Priest used to eat of their
Sacrifices.] without it were one old Priest named Padre Vergonce,
a Genoez born, and of the Jesuits Order who would go to the Temples,
and eat with the Weavers and other ordinary People of the Sacrifices
offered to the Idols: but with this Apology for himself, that he
eat it as common Meat, and as God's Creature, and that it was never
the worse for their Superstition that had past upon it. But however
this may reflect upon the Father, another thing may be related for
his Honour. There happened two Priests to fall into the hands of the
King; on whom he conferred great Honours; for having laid aside their
Habits they kept about his Person, and were the greatest Favourites
at Court. The King one day sent for Vergonse, and asked him, if
it would not be better for him to lay aside his old Coat and Cap,
and to do as the other two Priests had done, and receive Honour from
him. He replied to the King, That he boasted more in that old habit
and in the Name of Jesus, than in all the honour that he could do
him. And so refused the King's Honour. The King valued the Father
for this saying. He had a pretty Library about him, and died in his
Bed of old Age: whereas the two other Priests in the King's Service
died miserably, one of a Canker, and the other was slain. The old
Priest had about Thirty or Forty Books, which the King, they say,
seized on after his Death, and keeps.

[The King permitted the Portugueze to build a Church.] These Priests,
and more lived there, but all deceased, excepting Vergonse, before
my time. The King allowed them to build a Church; which they did,
and the Portugueze assembled there, but they made no better than a
Bawdy-house of it; for which cause the King commanded to pull it down.

Although here be Protestants and Papists, yet here are no differences
kept up among them, but they are as good Friends, as if there were no
such Parties. And there is no other Distinctions of Religion there,
but only Heathens and Christians: and we usually say, We Christians.



FINIS.




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FINIS.

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