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
[Commanded still to wait at the Palace. During which a Rebellion
breaks out.] After this they told us, we must wait at the Palace gate
dayly, it being the Kings pleasure, that we should make our personal
appearance before him. In this manner we waited many days. At length
happened a thing which he least suspected, viz. a general Rebellion
of his People against him. Who assaulted his Palace in the Night:
but their hearts failed them, daring not to enter into the Apartment
where his Person was. For if they had had courage enough, they might
have taken him there. For he stayed in his Palace until the Morning;
and then fled into the Mountains, and escaped their hands, but
more thro their cowardliness than his valour. This Rebellion I have
related at large in the second Part, whither he that desires to know
more of it may have recourse. Only I shall mention here a few things
concerning our selves, who were gotten into the midst of these Broils
and Combustions, being all of us now waiting upon the King in the City.
[They are in the midst of It, and in great danger.] It was a great and
marvellous mercy of Almighty God to bring us safe thro these dangers,
for it so happened all along that we were in the very midst. Before
they gave the Assault on the Kings Palace, they were consulting to lay
hands on us, fearing lest we might be prejudicial to their Business,
in joyning to the help and assistance of the King against them. For
tho we were but few in comparison, yet the Name of White men was
somewhat dreadful to them. Whereupon at first their Counsels were to
cut us off. But others among them advised that it would be better to
let us alone; For that we being ignorant of their Designs, as indeed
we were, and at quiet in our several Lodgings, could not be provided
to hurt or indanger them. But otherwise if they should lay hands on
us, it would certainly come to the Kings Ears, and Allarm him, and
then all would be frustrated and overthrown. This some of their own
Party have related to us since. These Counsels were not given out
of any secret good will any of them bore to us (as I believe ) but
proceeded from the over-ruling hand of God, who put those things into
their hearts for our safety and preservation. The People of the City
whence the King fled, ran away also leaving their Houses and Goods
behind them. Where we found good Prey and Plunder; being permitted
to Ransack the Houses of all such as were fled away with the King.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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