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
[They go to the Prince and Proclaim him King.] The People having
thus driven away the old King, marched away to the City of Cande,
and proclaimed the Prince, King: giving out to us English who were
there, that what they had done they had not done rashly, but upon good
Consideration, and with good advice; the King by his evil Government
having occasioned it, who went about to destroy both them and their
Countrey: As in keeping Ambassadours, disanulling of Trade, detaining
of all people that come upon his Land, and killing of his Subjects
and their Children, and not suffering them to enjoy nor to see their
Wives. And all this was contrary to reason, and as, they were informed,
to the Government of other Countries.
[The carriage of the Prince.] The Prince being young and tender, and
having never been out of the Palace, nor ever seen any but those that
attended on his person, as it seemed afterwards, was scared to see so
many coming and bowing down to him, and telling him that he was King,
and his Father was fled into the mountains. Neither did he say or
act any thing as not owning the business, or else not knowing what
to say or do. This much discouraged the Rebells, to see they had no
more thanks for their pains. And so all things stood until the five
and twentieth of December, at which time they intended to march and
fall upon the old King.
[Upon the Prices Flight, the Rebells scatter and run.] But in the
Interim, the Kings Sister Flyes away with the Prince from the Court
into the Countrey near unto the King; which so amazed the Rebells,
that the mony and cloth and plunder which they had taken, and were
going to distribute to the Strangers to gain their good will and
assistance, they scattered about and fled. Others of their Company
seeing the Business was overthrown, to make amends for their former
fact, turned and fell upon their Consorts, killing and taking Prisoners
all they could. The people were now all up in arms one against another,
killing whom they pleas'd, only saying they were Rebells and taking
their goods.
[A great man declares for the King.] By this time a great man had drawn
out his men, and stood in the Field, and there turned and publickly
declared for the old King: and so went to catch the Rebells that were
scattered abroad. Who when he understood that they were all fled,
and no whole party or body left to resist him, marched into the City
killing all that he could catch.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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