An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous EscapeKnox, Robert
History
An Historical Relation of the Island Ceylon in the East Indies: Together with an Account of the Detaining in Captivity the Author and Divers other Englishmen Now Living There, and of the Author's Miraculous Escape
Knox, Robert
Sri Lanka -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Sri Lanka -- Social life and customs
[The other out of Favour, and lamentable Death.] Henry Man the other,
yet remained in Favour, and was promoted to be Chief over all the Kings
Servants that attended on him in his Palace. It happened one Day,
that he broke one of the Kings China Dishes. Which made him so sore
afraid, that he fled for Sanctuary into a Vehar, a Temple where the
Chief Priests always dwel, and hold their consultations. This did
not a little displease the King; this Act of his supposing him to
be of Opinion that those Priests were able to secure him against the
Kings displeasure. However he shewing Reverence to their Order would
not violently fetch him from thence; but sent a kind Message to the
English man, bidding him not to be afraid for so small a matter as a
Dish (And, it is probable had he not added this fault he might have
escaped without Punishment) and that he should come and Act in his
place as formerly. At which Message he came forth, and immediatly,
as the King had given order, they took hold of him and bound his Arms
above the Elbows behind, which is their fashion of binding men. In
which manner he lay all that Night, being bound so hard that his Arms
swelled, and the Ropes cut throw the Flesh into the Bones. The next
day the King Commanded a Noble man to loose the Ropes off his Arms,
and put Chains on his Legs, and keep him in his House, and there feed
him and cure him.
Thus he lay some Six Months, and was cured, but had no Strength in
his Armes, and then was taken into his Office again, and had as much
Favour from the King as before. Who seemed much to lament him for
his folly, thus to procure his own ruine.
Not long after he again offended the King. Which as it is reported
was thus. A Portugueze had been sent for to the City to be employed in
the Kings Service; to which Service he had no Stomach at all, and was
greatly afraid of, as he justly might be. For the avoiding therefore
of it he sends a Letter to this English Courtier, wherein he entreated
him to use his interest to excuse him to the King. The English man
could not read the Letter being writ in the Portugueze Tongue, but
gave it to another to read. Which when he knew the contents of thought
it not safe for him to meddle in that business, and so concealed the
Letter. The person to whom the English man had given it to read, some
time after informed the King thereof. Whereupon both the Portugueze
that sent the Letter, and the English man to whom it was sent, and
the Third Person that read it, because he informed no sooner, were
all three at one time and in one place torn in pieces by Elephants.
[The King sends special order concerning their good usage.] After this
Execution the King supposing that we might be either discontented in
our selves, or discountenanced by the People of the Land, sent special
order to all parts where we dwelt, that we should be of good cheer,
and not be discouraged, neither abused by the Natives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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