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
[He stays in the City expecting his doom.] In this manner I lodged
in an English mans house that dwelt in the City about ten days,
maintaining my self at my own charge, waiting with a sorrowful heart,
and daily expecting to hear my Doom. In the mean time my Countrey
men and Acquaintance, some of them blamed me for refusing so fair a
Profer; whereby I might not only have lived well my self, but also
have been helpful unto my Poor Country-men and friends: others of
them pittying me, expecting, as I did, nothing but a wrathful sentence
from so cruel a Tyrant, if God did not prevent. And Richard Varnham,
who was at this time a great man about the King, was not a little
scared to see me run the hazard of what might ensue, rather than be
Partaker with him in the felicities of the Court.
[He goes home but is sent for again.] It being chargable thus to
lye at the City, and hearing nothing more of my business, I took
leave without asking, and went home to my House; which was but a
Days distance, to get some Victuals to carry with me and to return
again. But soon after I came home I was sent for again. So I took
my load of Victuals with me, and arrived at the City, but went not
to the Court, but to my former Lodging, where I staid as formerly,
until I had spent all my Provisions: and by the good hand of my God
upon me, I never heard any more of that matter. Neither came I any
more into the Presence of the Great-men at Court, but dwelt in my own
Plantation, upon what God provided for me by my Labour and Industry.
[Having escaped the Court service, falls to his former course of
life.] For now I returned to my former course of life, dressing my
Victuals daily with mine own hands, fetching both Wood and Water upon
mine own back. And this, for ought I could see to the contrary, I was
like to continue for my life time. This I could do for the Present,
but I began to consider how helpless I should be, if it should
please God I should live till I grew old and feeble. So I entred
upon a Consultation with myself for the providing against this. One
way was the getting of me a Wife, but that I was resolved never to
do. Then I began to enquire for some poor body to live with me, to
dress my Victuals for me, that I might live at a little more ease,
but could not find any to my mind. Whereupon I considered, that there
was no better way, than to take one of my poor Country-mens Children,
whom I might bring up to learn both my own Language and Religion. And
this might be not only Charity to the Child, but a kindness to my
self also afterwards. And several there were that would be glad so to
be eased of their charge, having more than they could well maintain,
a Child therefore I took, by whose aptness, ingenuity and company as
I was much delighted at present, so afterwards I hoped to be served.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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