"If we had never been brought into his presence?" I told them, "No, nor never had had a near sight of him."
"What strength he had for war?" I answered, "Not well able to assault them, by reason that the hearts of his people were not true to him: but that the strength of his country consisted in mountains and woods, as much as in the people."
"What army could he raise upon occasion?" I answered, "I knew not well; but, as I thought, about thirty thousand men."
"Why would he not make peace with them: they so much suing for it, and sending presents to please him?" I answered, "I was not one of his Council, and knew not his meaning."
But they demanded of me, "What I thought might be the reason or occasion of it?" I answered, "Living securely in the mountains, he feareth none; and for traffic, he regardeth it not."
"Which way was best and most secure to send spies or intelligence to Kandy?" I told them, "By the way that goeth to Jaffnapatam; and by some of that country's people, who have great correspondence with the people of Nuwerakalawe, one of the King's countries."
"What I thought would become of that land after the King's decease?" I told them, "I thought, he having no issue; it might fall into their hands."
"How many Englishmen had served the King, and what became of them?" Which I gave them an account of.
"Whether I had an acquaintance or discourse with the great men at Court?" I answered, "That I was too small to have any friendship or intimacy or hold discourse with them."
"How the common people used to talk concerning them [the Dutch]?" I answered, "They used much to commend their justice and good government in the territories and over the people belonging unto them."
"Whether the King did take counsel of any, or rule and act only by his own will and pleasure?" I answered, "I was a stranger at Court, and how could I know that?"
"But," they asked further, "what was my opinion?" I replied, "He is so great, that there is none great enough to give him counsel."
