1. The two brothers made plans to stop the new friendship between the King of Kandy and the Portuguese. They captured roads that led from Colombo to Kandy and installed security barriers. They got ready to go to fight with King Vickramabahu of Kandy. The Kandyan king was furious over this. He got the help of provincial rulers of far off Batticaloa, Vanni and the princes of the four Korales.
2. All these leaders pledged their support to King Vickramabahu as by this time, all these
provincial rulers owed allegiance to the King of Kandy. They wished to embrace Christianity and sought Portuguese
assistance. In the
meantime, the Portuguese
leadership in India changed. Martin Aponso de Souza left and Don John de Castro was appointed as the new Viceroy.
3. This new Viceroy was wise and quite
efficient. He always thought far, before taking any action. He wondered and wanted to find out why the King of Kotte had changed. He admitted that it was wrong to have helped the princes who embraced Christianity, without consulting King Buwanekabahu. He thought he should talk about this matter with the King of Kotte.
4. He sent an envoy to meet King Buwanekabahu. He met the king and made it known to him that if no obstructions were caused for the spread of Christianity in the Kingdom of Kotte, they could be friends once more. The king replied saying that he never went against them. Then the envoy wanted to know why he annexed the lands that belonged to the people, who embraced the new religion.
5. Then the king had to explain that it was not due to the change of
religion, but due to other reasons. The king further added that to preach Christianity and to build churches, he would not obstruct the clergy. As a result of this meeting, a lot of questions were sorted out and the dispute between the king and the Portuguese was settled to a great extent. The envoy was very happy. The palace of Kotte and the fort of Colombo were brought closer.
6. King Vickramabahu of Kandy heard this. At this juncture, it was he, who wanted Portuguese
friendship, more than King Buwanekabahu. He tried to obtain it. He sent a letter to the envoy who had arrived from Goa. The letter read as follows. "King Buwanekabahu and his brother King Mayadunne are against the King of Kandy. It is to deceive us, that both of them get angry, now and then.
7. So do not get caught. Whenever one of them gets into trouble, they help each other because that bond of being brothers is strong. But Mayadunne is a very crafty man. He wants to be the king of the entire
country and to achieve that he would stoop to any level. Because of this, the Kandyan Kingdom has to be protected. For that, I need your help.
8. Furthermore, I wish to embrace Christianity. Earlier my intention was to get my daughter
married to the prince who claimed kingship from Buwanekabahu. But now it is changed. I shall now select a Sinhala prince of your choice, who is at the moment resident in Goa and give my daughter in marriage to him. I shall help to spread Christianity in the Kandyan Kingdom." |
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