would be no convenient opportunity: but his desire was that we would go with him to Batavia; where the General his father, would be very glad to see us." Which it was not in our power to deny.
Then he commanded to call a Dutch Captain; who was over the countries adjacent, subject to their jurisdiction. To whom he gave orders to take us home to his house, and there well to entertain us, and also to send for a tailor to make us clothes.
Upon which I told him: "That his kindness shown us already, was more than we could have desired. It would be a sufficient favour now to supply us with a little money upon a bill to be paid at Fort Saint George, that we might therewith clothe ourselves."
To which he answered, "That he would not deny me any sum I should demand, and clothe us upon his own account besides." For which, we humbly thanked his Lordship: and so took our leave of him; and went home with the aforesaid Captain.
The Governor presently sent me money by his steward for expenses when we walked abroad in the city.
We were nobly entertained without lack of anything all the time we stayed at Colombo. My consort's ague increased, and grew very bad; but the Chief Surgeon, by order, daily came to see him; and gave him such potions of physic, that by GOD's blessing, he soon after recovered.
During my being here, I wrote a letter to my fellow-prisoners that I left behind me in Kandy: wherein I described, at large, the way we went, so that they might plainly understand the same; which I finding to be safe and secure, advised them when GOD permitted, to steer the same course. This letter I left with the new Governor of Colombo and desired him, when opportunity presented, to send it to them: who said he would have it copied out into Dutch, for the benefit of their prisoners there; and promised to send both together.
The Governor seemed to be pleased with my aforesaid relations and replies to his demands; insomuch that he afterwards appointed one that well understood Portuguese to write down all the former particulars. Which being done; for further satisfaction, they brought me pen and paper,
