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
[Weary of this place.] In this Town we remained some three years;
by which time we were grown quite weary of the place, and the place
and People also grown weary of us, who were but troublesom Guests to
them; for having such great Authority given us over them, we would
not lose it; and being four of us in call one of another, we would not
permit or suffer them to domineer over us. Being thus tired with one
anothers Company, and the King's Order being of an old Date, we used
all means we could to clear our selves of one another: often repairing
unto the Court to seek to obtain a Licence that we might be removed
and placed any where else. But there was none that durst grant it,
because it was the King's peculiar Command, and special Appointment
that we must abide in that very Town.
During the time of our stay here, we had our Victuals brought us
in good order and due season: the Inhabitants having such a charge
given them by their Governour and he from the King, durst not do
otherwise. So that we had but little to do, only to dress and eat,
and sit down to knit.
[By a piece of Craft he gets down to his old Quarters.] I had used
the utmost of my skill and endeavour to get a Licence to go down to
my former Quarters, all things being now pretty well settled, hoping
that I might recover some of my old Debts: but by no means could I
obtain it. The denial of so reasonable a desire, put me upon taking
leave. I was well acquainted with the way, but yet I hired a man to
go with me, without which I could not get thro the Watches. For altho
I was the Master and he the Man, yet when we came into the Watches,
he was the Keeper and I the Prisoner. And by this means we passed
without being suspected.
[Began the world anew the third time.] Being come into my old Quarters,
by pretending that this man was sent down from the Magistrate to
see that my Debts and Demands might be duely paid and discharged,
I chanced to recover some of them, and the rest gave over for lost;
for I never more looked after them. And so I began the world anew,
and by the Blessing of God was again pretty well recruited before I
left this Town.
[Plots to remove himself.] In the time of my residence here, I chanced
to hear of a small piece of Land that was to be sold. About which I
made very diligent inquiry. For altho I was sore a weary of living
in this Town, yet I could not get out of it, not having other new
Quarters appointed me, unless I could provide a place for my self
to remove to: which now God had put into my hand. As for the King's
Command I dreaded it not much, having found by observation, that the
King's Orders wear away by time, and the neglect of them comes at
last to be unregarded. However I was resolved to put it to a hazard,
come what will.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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