News spread that the Danes were coming towards Trincomalee, to assist the king. This shocked General de Saa. Meanwhile, attempts of Boschhouwer, who went to Holland, were futile. He also went there to seek help for King Senarath.

In the month of May in 1620, five ships laden with arms and armaments and carrying soldiers under Ove Gjedde arrived in Kottiyar. It was quite unfortunate for Boschhouwer to die on his way here. This complicated matters and it was difficult to carry on discussions with the king.

However, with time, he succeeded in getting the Danes to agree to help King Senarath, against the Portuguese. He promised to pay the expenses, they may incur. He further told them that he would give the full trading rights of the country to them.

This resulted in making Gjedde start discussions with the king straight away. But by the time they reached Sri Lanka, the king and the Portuguese had made peace. This made the support of the Danes not very essential.

King Senarath had come to a position where he would maintain peace with everybody. He was more concerned about bringing up his children properly. He even employed a Franciscan priest to impart education to his children.

By Halaliye Karunathilake

Edited and translated by
Kamala Silva
Illustrated by
Saman Kalubowila

Book Week at the British School in Colombo

Kids world