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 King pleased to hear of England Victory over Holland.] This News
of the Hollanders overthrow, and the English Victory much delighted
the King: and he inquired into it very particularly. Then the King
pretended he would send a Letter to the English Nation, and bad
Mr. Vassal inform him of a Trusty Bearer. Which he was very forward
to do, and named one of the best which he had made trial of. One of
the Great men there present, objected against him, saying, he was
insufficient, and asked him, if he knew no other. At which Vassal
suspected their Design, which was to learn who had brought those
Letters to him; and so framed his answer accordingly, which was that
he knew no other.
[Private discourse between the King and Vassal.] There was much
other discourse passed between the King and him at this time in the
Portugueze Tongue. Which what it was I could never get out of him,
the King having commanded him to keep it secret. And he saith, he
hath sworn to himself not to divulge it, till he is out of the Kings
hands. At parting, the King told him, for Secrecy he would send him
home privatly, or otherwise he would have dismist him with Drums
and Honour. But after this the King never sent for him again. And
the man, that he named as fit and able to carry the Kings Letter,
was sent away Prisoner to be kept in Chains in the Countrey. It is
supposed, that they concluded him to have been the man that brought
Vassal his Letters. And thus much of the Captivity and Condition of
the Persia-Merchant men.
CHAP. V.
Concerning the means that were used for our Deliverance. And what
happened to us in the Rebellion. And how we were setled afterwards.
[Means made to the King for our Liberty.] All of us in this manner
remained until the year MDCLXIV. At which time arrived a Letter on
our behalf to the King from the Right Worshipful Sir Edward Winter,
Governour of Fort St. George, and Agent there. The Dutch Embassadour
also at that time by a Commission from the Governour of Columba
treated with the King for us. With Sir Edward's Message the King
was much pleased, and with the Dutch's mediation so prevailed with,
that he promised he would send us away.
[Upon which they all met at the City.] Upon this, he commanded us all
to be brought to the City. Whither when we came, we were very joyful
not only upon the hopes of our Liberty, but also upon the sight of one
another. For several of us had not seen the others since we were first
parted. Here also we met with the Persia Merchant men, whom until this
time we had not seen. So that we were nine and twenty English in all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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