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 Poysons his only son.] He stands not upon any Villainy to establish
himself, or strike terror into his People. This made him cut off his
only Son, a young man of about Fifteen years. After the Rebellion the
Kingdom being setled in the King's hands again, and knowing that the
hearts of the People disaffecting him, stood strongly bent towards the
Prince, and fearing his own safety as the Prince grew to riper years,
to prevent all, he poisoned him. For about a year after the rebellion,
his Son was Sick, the King takes this Opportunity to dispatch him by
pretending to send Physic to him to Cure him. The People hearing of
the Death of the Prince, according to the Custom of the Land when any
of the Royal Blood is deceased, came all in general towards the City
where he was, with black or else very dirty Cloaths, which is their
Mourning, the Men ail bare-headed, the Women with their hair loose
and hanging about their Shoulders, to mourn and lament for the Death
of their young Prince. Which the King hearing of, sent this word unto
them, That since it was not his fortune to live, to sit on his Throne
after him and Reign over the Land, it would be but in vain to mourn;
and a great trouble and lett unto the Countrey: and their voluntary
good will was taken in as good part as the mourning it self, and
so dismist the Assembly; and burned the Princes dead Body without
Ceremonies or Solemnities.
[The extraordinary lamentation at the Death of his Sister.] Yet the
Death of an old Sister which he had, caused no small lamentation. It
was she that carried the Prince away in the Rebellion. Which I shall
relate by and by. Countrey after Countrey came up to mourn, giving
all signs of extraordinary sadness, both in Habit and Countenance;
the King himself was seen to weep bitterly. The White men also came,
which the King took well. Insomuch that the Hollanders supposing the
King himself to be dead, came up to take Possession of the Countrey;
but hearing the contrary and understanding their mistake returned
back again. The King and all his Countrey for more than a years time
went in mourning. And her Body was burnt with all the Honour and
State that could be. Yet notwithstanding all the love and respect
he bare unto her, he did not once Visit her in all the time of her
Sickness. And it is now for certain reported that there is not one
of his Generation left.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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