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
Whereupon the King made a Declaration to invite the forrain Nations
into his Service against Bibligom Fort, that he would compel none,
but such as were willing of their own free accord, the King would
take it kindly, and they should be well rewarded. Now there entred
into the Kings Service upon this Expedition some of all Nations; both
Portugueze, Dutch and English, about the number of Thirty. To all that
took Arms he gave to the value of Twenty shillings in money, and three
pieces of Callico for Cloaths, and commanded them to wear Breeches,
Hats and Doublets, a great honour there. The King intended a Dutch-man,
who had been an old Servant to him, to be Captain over them all. But
the Portuguese not caring to be under the Command of a Dutch-man,
desired a Captain of their own Nation, which the King granted,
studying to please them at this time. But the English being but six,
were too few to have a Captain over them, and so were forced some to
serve under the Dutch and some under the Portugueze Captain. There
were no more of the English, because being left at their liberty they
thought it safest to dwell at home, and cared not much to take Arms
under a Heathen against Christians.
[Who now live miserably.] They were all ready to go, their Arms and
Ammunition ready with Guns prepared to send down, but before they went,
Tydings came that the Fort yeilded at the Kings Mercy. After this the
Whites thought they had got an advantage of the King in having these
gifts for nothing, but the King did not intend to part with them so;
but kept them to watch at his Gate. And now they are reduced to great
Poverty and Necessity. For since the Kings first Gift they have never
received any Pay or Allowance; tho they have often made their Addresses
to him to supply their wants, signifying their forwardness to serve
him faithfully. He speaks them fair, and tells them he will consider
them, but does not in the least regard them. Many of them since,
after three or four years service, have been glad to get other Poor
run away Dutch men to serve in their steads, giving them as much mony
and cloths as they received of the King before; that so they might
get free, to come home to their Wives and Children.
The Dutch Captain would afterwards have forced the rest of the English
to have come under him, and called them Traytors because they would
not, and threatned them. But they scorned him, and bid him do his
worst, but would never be persuaded to be Soldiers under him, saying,
that it was not so much his zeal to the Kings Service as his own
Pride to make himself greater by having more men under him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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