daunt both King and people: having but a year or two before felt the sad event of a blazing star in this rebellion which I have now related. The King sent men upon the highest mountains in the land to look if they could perceive the head of it: which they could not, it being still under the horizon. This continued visible about the space of one month: and by that time it was so diminished that it could not be seen. But there were no remarkable passages that ensued upon it.
We now resume our Author's narration.
It was a great and marvellous mercy of Almighty GOD to bring us safe through these dangers; for it so happened all along, that we were in the very midst of them. Before they gave the assault on the King's palace; they were consulting to lay hands on us: fearing lest we might be prejudicial to their business in joining to the help and assistance of the King against them. For though we were but few in comparison; yet the name of white men was somewhat dreadful to them: whereupon, at first, their counsels were to cut us off. But others among them advised, that it would be better to let us alone, "for that we, being ignorant of their designs"—as indeed we were—"and quiet in our several lodgings; could not be provided to hurt or endanger them: but otherwise, if they should lay hands on us, it would certainly come to the King's ears, and alarm him; and then all would be frustrated and overthrown." This, some of their own party have related to us since. These counsels were not given out of any secret goodwill any of them bore to us, as I believe: but proceeded from the overruling hand of GOD, who put those things into their hearts for our safety and preservation.
The people of the city of Nillembe, whence the King fled, ran away also; leaving their houses and goods behind them: where we found good prey and plunder, being permitted to ransack the houses of all such as were fled away with the King.
The rebels having driven away the King, and marching to the city of Kandy to the Prince, carried us along with them; the chief of their party telling us that we should now be of good cheer, for what they had done they had done upon very good advisement; the King's ill-government having given an
