RECORDS OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN SIAM AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN THE 17th CENTURY (1688-1700). Copied from Papers preserved at the India Office. [5]

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book

is in

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RECORDS OF THE RELATIONS BETWEEN SIAM AND FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN

THE

17th

CENTURY.

Copied from Papers preserved India

at the

Office.

VOLUME

V.

1688—1700.

Printed by order of the Council of the Vajiranana National Library.

BANGKOK 1921.

NOTE,

—In

some instances the

has been modernised.

spelling

SIAM Seventeen til Centnry

Docnments TABLE OF CONTENTS.

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

Location.

Document.

1.— Elihu Yale

at Fort St. George to Mons. Martin at

Letter

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

Pondicherry.

2.

Vol. 21, p. 176.

— Consultation at Fort

St.

George.

3.— The Council

at Fort St.

George to the Council at

Consulta-

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

of General Let-

from Fort

St.

George

Letter (Extracts)

to the East India Co. 5.

—Abstract ter

of General Let-

from Fort

St.

George

—General Letter from the Court of Committees to the Council at Fort St.

21,

Letter (Extracts)

181.

Miscellaneous, ff.

129a-130a.

Factory Records, Miscellaneous, Vol.

Letter (Extract)

p.

Factory Records, Vol. 3a,

to the East India Co. 6.

George, Records,

Vol.

— Abstract ter

St.

Mackenzie Collection, Vol. LIV. pp. 291-292.

Surat. 4.

Fort

tion (Extract)

3a,

ff.

138-139.

Letter Book, Vol. 8, p. 504.

George.

7.—Fort

St.

George Diary.

Diary (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 5, p. 14.

—

CONTENTS. Date.

Fort

St.

Page.

Subject.

George Samuel

One

11 Jan. 1687-1688.

White gone

to

Pondicherry.

of H. M. Frigates sent to

him and bring back the commands.

1-2

recall

ship

he

Fort St. George, The French ship "President" from Mergui, with French Ambassador 12 Jan. 1688 [Ceberet] and Chevalier de Forbin on board, coming near the Eoad, brings news from Siam the Forts of Bangkok and the block houses at Mergui Mr. delivered over to the French Hodges and Mr. Hill arrived at Siam,

3-4

:

;

etc., etc.

—

Fort St. George 17 Jan. 1688.

0-6

do.

—

Fort St. George, Resume of the Mergui Affair. News Two Siamof the French Embassy. 21 Jan. 1688.

—

7-8

ese ships seized.

Fort St. George, Mr. Hodges and Mr. Hill gone to Siam without order. Advantages of a 25 Jan. 1688.

—

settlement at Negrais.

London,

Opportunity for the Company to seize

and

6 Feb. 1688.

Fort 2

St.

George,

March 1688.

A

10

fortify Tenasserim.

Siamese ship arrived at Acheen.

11

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

8.

—The

Location.

Document.

factors at Batavia

to the Council of Seven-

Letter (Translation)

teen.

Dutch Records, .1st.

Series,

Vol. 41,

No. 1010, pp. 3 16.

(Extract)

—

Consultation St.George.

9.

at Fort

Consultation

(Extract)

10.

—Elihu

Yale to Captain

Letter

John Brumwell, Commander of ship Rochester.

11.

—Fort

St.

George Diary.

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol.

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol.

Diary (Extract)

pp. 15-16.

5,

5,

pp. 17-18.

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 5, pp. 19-21.

12.— Fort

St.

George Diary.

Diary (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 5, p. 39.

13.— Fort

St.

George Diary.

Diary (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort S. George, Vol.

14.

—Fort

St.

George Diary.

Diary (Extract)

5. p.

44.

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 5, p. 45.

—

Instructions from the Court of Committees to Captain Benjamin Brangwin of the " Persia Mer-

15.

chant."

Instructions (Extract)

Factory Records, Sumatra, Vol. 2.

CONTENTS. Date.

Ill

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

—

of General Abstract Fort St. Letter from George to the East India

16.

Location.

Document.

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Miscellaneous, f. 149.

Vol. 3a,

Company.

—

John Nicks & Company to Elihu Yale.

17.

Letter (Extract)

Press

list.

No.

1535

(Bombay) Extract from Public Sundries No. 3,

18.

— Consultation

St.

Fort

at

George.

Consultation.

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 5, pp.

19.— Elihu Yale Captain

mander

Wm.

&ca.,

-fee,

Perse,

to

Com-

of the " Bengal

Merchant."

20.— The Council St.

at Fort George to J9hn Nicks

at Cuddalore.

21.

—Elihu Yale & Company

Mr. John Wilcox, at Conimeer. to

22.— Fort

St.

George Diary.

Letter

74-75.

CONTENTS.

IV

Date.

Fort

St.

George,

Subject.

No news from

Page.

32

Tenasserini.

20 April 1688

Coodaloor,

29 April 1688.

Fort St. George, 30 April 1688.

Danger from the Siamese numerous at Pondicherry.

An

English

away

to

ship

seized

who

and

are

33-34

carried

35-36

Pondicherry by a Siamese

ship with French colours.

The

ships

Bengal Merchant ", " Dragon " and " Rochester " to be sent after the

"

Siamese.

—

sail Portonovo to for to Fort St. George, Order assist the Factory in pursuit of the 30 April 1688 Siamese ship under French colours.

37

Fort St. George, Capt. Bromwell and Capt. Pearce commissioned to come to their assistance 1 May 1688. in pursuit of the Siamese ship.

38

George, Covering letter enclosing commission to Capt. Pearce and Capt. Bromwell.

39

Fort .

.

?

.

St.

May 1688

Fort St. George, Mr. Hodges and Mr. Hill 14 May 1688.

still

at Siam.

40

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

23.

—Diary

Location.

Document.

of Consultation.

Diary (Extract)

Press

No. 1584.

list

(Bombay) Exti'act from Public Consultations 1688, Vol. XIV.

24.

—Fort

St.

George Diary.

Diary (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol.

—

Letter to the Honble. Francis Martin, Director General for the Royal French East India Co.

25.

Letter

Press

5,

p. 96.

No. 1627.

list.

(Bombay) Extract from Letters from Fort

St.

George,

Vol. II.

—

General Letter from the Court of Committees to the Council at Fort St. George.

26.

27.

— Consultation

St.

at

Fort

George.

Letter (Extract)

Consultation

(Extract)

28.— Elihu Yale &

Co., to

?

Letter (Extract)

Letter Vol.

8,

Book, 566.

p.

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol.

Press

6, p.

list,

209.

No. 1772.

(Bombay) Extract from Letters from Fort St. George, Vol.

IL

— CONTENTS. Date.

Fort St. George 24 May 1688.

Subject.

Rumour

that an ambassador from the to the Mogul arrived

41

King of Siam

in Metchlepatam.

—

Fort St. George; 27 May 1688.

42

do.

Fort St. George, Justifying their action in the recent 23 June 1688 troubles at Pondicherry, Portonovo and St. Thomas.

43-47

to be begun with the French Mefgui. The war against the King of Siam to be pursjied. •

48-49

London, 27 Aug. 1688.

No war at

Fort St. George, Mr. Hill getting away from Siam Mr. Hodges and four Englishmen detain24 Sept. 1688. ed prisoners at Siam.

50

Fort St. George, Mr. Hills' arrival at Acheen. Mr. Hodges and several Englishmen pri29 Sept. 1688 soners at Siam. Two Siamese ambassadors sent upon a French ship to the King of England.

51-52

;

TABLE OF Name.

29.— I'he Council St.

at Fort George to the Presi-

Nature of Document.

Looation.

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

dent at Surat.

Vol. 21, p. 83. (2ud. set of paging).

—

Abstract of General Letter from Fort St. George to the East India Co.

30.

—

Information concerning India. (News of the Kingdom of Siam).

31.

Factory Records,

Letter (Extracts)

Miscellaneous, Vol. 3a,

Information.

— Consultation

St.

at

Fort

George.

146-14.7.

Portuguese Records. Noticiaa da India, (Translations) Vol.

32.

ff.

Consultation

I, Pt. 2.,

pp. 448-457.

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

(Extract)

Vol. 5, p:

7.

(2nd. set of paging).

33.— Elihu Queen

Yale

to

the

Letter

of Acheen,

Factory Records, Fort St. George, 21, pp. 100-101. (2nd. set of paging)

Vol.

34.

— Letter.

Letter (Extract)

Press

list

No. 1808.

(Bombay) Extract from Public Sundries No.

—

A letter from the prison of Tenasserim.

35.

Letter (Extract)

Press

list

3.

No. 1818.

(Bombay) Extract from Public Sundries No.

3.

CONTENTS. Date.

VI

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

36.

Document.

— Renewed Contract

be-

Contract

tween the Company and

King

the

St.

George

I.

Treaties &c. pp. 456-460.

at

Fort

to the Council

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 21, pp. 108-109. (2nd. set of paging)

at Surat.

88.— The Council

of Seven-

teen at Middleburgh to the Governor General and Council of India.

—

Narrative for the elucidation of the negotiations of the two Eng-

39.

Dutch Records, A., vol. II, part

of Siam.

37.— The Council

Location.

Letter (Extract)

Dutch Records 2nd.

Series,

Vol. 4, No.

Report (Transla-

'

211.

Dutch Records 1st Series,

tion)

Vol. 42, No. 1038, pp. 1-7.

Letter (Transla-

Dutch Records

tion)

Vol. 41, No. 1012, pp. 3-7.

Commissaries, Mr. and Mr. Hill, during their stay in Siam. lish

Hodges

40.

—The facters

at Batavia

to the Council of

Seven-

teen.

1st.

Series,

(Extract) 41.

—Fort

St.

George Diary.

Diary (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 5, pp. 29-30. (2nd. set)

42.—The St.

Council

at

Fort

George to the East

India Co.

Letter (Extract)

0. C. No. 5658.

CONTENTS. Date.

VII

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

43.

—Consultation

St.

44.

at

Fort

George.

—The

Company's Com-

mission to Capt. John Bonnell, Commander of the " Chandos " bound for Fort St. George.

45.

—The

Location.

Document.

factors at Batavia

to the Council of Seventeen.

tion

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

(Extract)

Vol. 6, p. 3.

Instructions (Extract)

Vol. 9, pp. 28-29.

Consulta-

Letter

Book,

Dutch Records,

Letter (Transla-

1st. Series, Vol. 42,

tion)

No. 1045, pp. 1-1 a

(Extract)

46.

—Consultation

at

Fort

St. George.

47.

— Consultation

St.

48.

— Consultation

St.

Fort

at

Fort

George.

49.—The Council bay to the Company.

at

East

50.— The Council St.

at

George.

BomIndia

at Fort

George to the East .

India Company,

Consultation (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

Consultation (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

Consultation (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

Letter (Extracts)

Letter (Extract)

Vol.

6., p.

30.

Vol. 6, p. 31.

Vol. "

6,

pp.

35-36.

O.

C, No. 5671.

O.

C, No. 5676.

CONTENTS. Date.

VIII

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

51.—The

Court

of

Com-

Council mittees to the at Fort St. George.

52.—The Council

at Fort George to the East

St.

Location.

Document.

Letter (Extract)

Letter (Extract)

Letter Book, Vol.

0.

9,

71.

p.

a, No. 5679.

India Company.

53.

—Fort

St.

George Diary.

Diary (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol.

—

The factors at Batavia to the Council of Seven-

64.

teen.

—

An abstract from Lemuel Blackmore's Narra-

55."

tive

relating

to

Letter (Translation (Extract)

Diary

6,

p. 70.

Dutch Records, 1st. Series, Vol. 43,

No. 1053, pp.

7-8:

O.

C, No. 5665.

0.

C, No. 5700.

(Extract)

several

Voyages.

56.—The

Council at Fort George to the Council

St.

at

Letter (Extract)

Bombay.

57.—The Court tees

to the

Bombay.

of

Commit-

Council

at

Letter (Extract)

Letter Book, Vol. 9, p.

79.

CONTENTS. D^te.

IX

T^BLE OF Nature of

Name.

58.— The. Council

at Fort George to t^e East

St.

Location.

Document.

Letter (Extract)

O.

C, No. 5698.

India Company.

59.

—The Council at Batavia

Dutch East India Company at Amsterdam. to the

Letter (Translation

Dutch Records, 1st Series, Vol. 43.

No. 1068, pp.

6-7.

(Extract) 60.

—Consultation

Fort

at

George.

St.

Consultation

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

(Extract)

Vol. s

61.

—The Court of Commit-

tees

the

Council Fort St. George. to

62.—Diary

of

Fort

at

St.

George,

Letter (Extract)

Diary (Extract)

Letter Book, Vol. 9,

page 139.

Fort St. George, Records, Mackenzie Coll. Vol.

63.

—Lemuel

Blackmore

to

Letter (Extract)

The Council at Surat to the East India Com-

Letter (Extract)

the Council at Surat. 64.

—

6.

LVI.

Factory Records, Surat, Vol. 110, p. 76. O.

C, No. 5768.

pany. 65.

—

J.

Cropley to

relative in Siam.

to

P.

Large

the troubles

Letter (Extract)

Press List No. 1825. Extract from Public Sundries, Vol. Ill dated 29 Nov. 1688.

CONTENTS. Date.

Papre.

Subject.

George Mr. Hodges' death at Ballasore. The 1690. English very kindly treated by the new Government of Siam. French interest totally extirpated from that country, the Dutch remaining the sole Europeans settled there.

107-108

General Desfarges attempted in vain a reconciliation with the King of Siam. March N.S.) No English ships seen in Siam. (15

109-110

Fort

St.

1 Feb.

Batavia,

4 March 1690.

Fort St. George, 12 June 1690.

A

letter of

Elihu Yale to the Barcalon, old King's debts to

111-112

to be spent about trading in

113

Blackmore's misfortunes at

114

demanding the the Company.

London, 18 Feb. 1691.

No money

Fort St. George 20 Feb. 1691.

On Lemuel

Siam.

Embargo put on his by the Siamese, " demanding Siam.

vessel satis-

faction for a loss they sustained an English pirate."

—

Malacca, 2 April 1691.

4

Surat, 1691.

May

29 Nov. 1688.

do

by

—

115-lir

Siam on

118

(Pages corresponding to this destroyed in the Original).

1 19

Ship

"Benjamin" sent

to

freight.

)

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

66.

—Consultation

St.

George

Location.

Document.

(at

Fort

Consultation.

?

—The Council

Press List No. 528. Extract from Public Consultations, 1697, Vol. XXV.

at Surat Leonard Captain Bloome, Commander of the " Benjamin."

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records,

68 ^Abstract of General Letter from Fort St. George to the East India

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records,

67.

to

Surat, Vol. 93.

Miscellaneous, Vol. 3a,

ff.

216a-2l7.

Company.

69.— The Council St.

at Fort George to the East

Letter

0.

C, No. 5777.

(Exti'act)

India Company.

70.

— A Consultation at Fort

St.

George.

Consultation

(Extract) 71.

— A Consultation at Fort

St.

George.

—

An Abstract from Lemuel Blackmore's Narra-

72.

tive

relating

Voyages.

to

several

Fort St. George, Records, Coll.

:

Consulta-

Fort

tion

Records,

St.

(Extract)

Coll.:

Narrative

d.

(Extract)

Mackenzie LVI.

Vol.

George,

Mackenzie Vol. LVI.

C, No. 5665.

CONTENTS.

XI

Date.

13

May

1697.

Page.

Subject.

Translation

of

Mahomad

a letter

frani

Hojee

120

a pass for ship Nassaret Shay belonging to the King of 'Siam on which Assid Cawn sends Presents, with an answer thereunto, read and approved.

19

Surat, 1691.

May

Allee

requiring

Order to sail for Acheen, and Quedah, and to ascertain the present King of Siam's inclinations towards the English if he refuses peace, all vessels or goods belonging to him or his subjects to be seized or destroyed.

121-123

:

Foi-t St.

23

George, 1691.

On Lemuel

Blackraore's affair.

124

May

Fort St. George, 20 Nov. 1691

Summary

of the Barcalon's

answer to

Fort St. George, Proposed to attach the King of Siam's concerns supposed to arrive on an 29 Jan. 1691-2.

Armenian

127

ship.

Forb St. George, Attachment of the King of Siam's goods 24 Mar. 1691-2. considered dangerous.

1692.

125-126

Elihu Yale's letter (supra, No. 60), stating that the present King of Siam " has no money of the other's to discharge his debts with." The war against Siam to be continued.

Arrival at Malacca.

128

129

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

—

Abstract of General Letter from Fort St. George to the East India

73.

Location.

Document.

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Miscellaneous, f. 242a.

Vol. 3a,

Company.

74.— Diary

of

Fort

St.

George.

Diary (Extract)

Fort St. George, Records^ Mackenzie Coll

75.

—The

factors at Batavia

to the Council of Seven-

Letter (Translation)

teen.

:

Vol. LVI.

Dutch Records, 1st. Series,

Vol. 50.

No. 1287. pp.

3-6.

(Extract)

76.—The Council

at

Bom-

bay to the East India Company.

—

Mr. Bowyear to Council at Fort George.

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records,

Bombay,

Vol. 11.

the

Report

St.

(Extract)

Factory Records, China, Vol. 5.

The factors at Tonquin to the Council at Port St.

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

77.

78.

—

George.

Vol. 33. p.

79.—The Council

at

Chuta-

nutta (Chatanati) to the Council at Fort St. George. 80.

—Claus Voogt and Coun-

Danish East India Company at Tranquebar to Nathaniel Higginson and Council at Fort St. George. cil

for

the

152.

Factory Records,

Letter (Extract)

Calcutta, Vol.

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George, Vol. 33, pp.

6.

101—102.

CONTENTS.

XII

Date.

Page.

Subject.

Fort St. George, Trade in Siain unsuccessful. 12 June 1693,

130

Fort St. George. Mr. Baroon arrested for induing some 16 July 1693. of the garrison's soldiers to go with

131

him Batavia, 24 Jan. (4 Feb. N.S.) 1695.

Bombay, 3 Dec. 1695.

30 April 1696.

Tonquin, 24 Nov. 1696.

Chatanati,

15 Jan. 1697.

to Siara.

Samuel Baron gone from Madras Siam. Siam.

to

132-133

English flag in

Three Dutch vessels come from Holland with advices of the designs that the French have upon the Molucca Islands, etc.

134

Report on the trade of Cochin-China.

135

An

for

136

Father Tachard sailed from Bengal for

137

English ship bound from Siam Tonquin touched at Camboja.

Mergui.

Dansbbrg Fort, One 17 April 1697.

Insult to the

of the King of Siam's ships plundered at Mergui by English

pirates.

138

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

81.

—Translation

from

Haji

Location.

Document.

of a letter

Letter

Muhammad

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

AH to the Lieutenant General of India, Nathaniel Higginson. 82.—The Council bay to the

at

Bom-

Council

at

83.— The Council at Fort

St.

Vol. 33, p. iir.

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records, Surat, Vol. 113.

Surat.

George to the Council at

Letter (Extract)

Factory Records,

Bombay,

Vol. 28.

Bombay. 84.

— A Consultation at Fort

St.

85.

George.

—The

factors at Batavia

to the Council of Seventeen.

tion

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

(Extract)

Vol. 10, pp. 7-8,

Consulta-

Letter (Translation)

Dutch Records, l.st.

Series,

Vol. 53,

No. 1642, pp.

1-2.

(Extract) 86.

—Reply

by

in writing

made 6ya

his Excellency the

Berkelang,

etc.,

—

The factors at Calicut to the Council at Bombay.

87.

—

The factors at Batavia to the Council of Seventeen.

88.

Dutch Records,

Letter (Transla-

1st. Series, Vol. 55,

tion)

No. 1507.

Letter (Extract)

Bombay,

Letter (Transla-

1st. Series,

tion)

(Extract)

Factory Records, Vol. 29.

Dutch Records, Vol. 54,

No. 1679, pp.

6-8.

.

CONTENTS. Date.

XIII

.

TABLE OF Nature of

Name.

89.

—Consultation

St.

90.

91.

at

Fort

George.

— Consultation

St.

at Fort

George.

— Consultation

St.

at Fort

George.

92.— A

receipt

for

2000

pagodas

received of the King of Sitvm in part of his debt to the Company.

—

Abstract of General Letter from Fort St.

93.

Location.

Document.

tion.

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

(Extract)

Vol. 10, p. 108.

Consultation.

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

(Extract)

Vol. 10. p. 125.

Consultation.

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

(Extract)

Vol. 10, p. 140.

Consulta-

Receipt (Extract)

Factory Records, Fort St. George,

•

Vol. 10,

Letter (Extract)

George to the East India

p.

141.

Factory Records, Miscellaneous, f. 382a.

Vol. 3a,

Company.

94

—The

factors at Batavia

Dutch East India Company at Amsterdam. to the

Letter (Translation)

Dutch Records, 1st. Series, Vol. 55,

No. 1549, pp.

5-7.

(Extract)

—

An account of the Trade of India, derived from 12 years experience,

95.

written by Sir Nicholas Waite.

Account (Extract)

0.

C, No. 6988.

CONTENTS.

XIV

Date.

Page.

Subject.

Fort St. George, King of Siana's robar's complaint of a, 22 June 1699.> robbery on liig mastev's ship by Augustin IJ^rt to be heard on the 28th June.

151

Fort St. George, Augustin Hart found guilty and 26 July 1699.

152

fined.

Fort St. George, 2,000 pagodas paid by Augustin Hart 21 Aug. 1699, and received in part of King of Siam's

153

debt.

164

Fort St. George, "22 Aug. 1699.

Fort 1

St.

&

155

George, Resum^ of Augustin Hart's case.

13 Oct. 1699.

The French and

Batavia,

12 Nov. (23 Nov. N.S.)

possibly to

Europeans striving

way

also

other

work

their

156-157

in Siam.

1699.

On

board the "

Montague bound to Surat "

1699.

Produces of Siam.

158

TABLE OF Name.

CONTENTS. Date.

XV

Factory Uncord.,

Fort

St.

Eliliu Yale at

Fort

Geor^e '^

St.

Georjre,

to Moiis.

Martin

at Pondicherry.

vol. 21, p. 170.

Dated 11 January 1688. Fort

To

George the lltli January 1G87/88.

St.

the Honble. Monsr. Martui

Director General for the lioyal

French East India Company.

By

authority of his Sacred ^Majesty the

King of England's Royal Charter and Proclamation, Mr. Samuel White his subject and late servant to the King of Siam was summoned from his service at Tenasserira with all other English to repair hither, which the said Mr.

White

promised

Pollicat. is

by

several

from

letters

Notwithstanding which we hear he

departed thence and gone to the Port of

Pondicherry, and intends not hither, but designs to avoid giving us that satisfaction

to do,

he ought

which makes us doubt that his ship and

goods

may

declared

belong to his

enemy

occasions our

the

late

King of

Master,

Siam,

our

which

sending one of his Majesty's

Frigates with ]Mr. William Eraser one of

my

Council, and Capt. Anto. Weltden to recall or

bring back the said Mr. Samuel White and the ship he

commands

to be

examined before our

Court of Admiralty, wherein

I

earnestly re-

quest your kind assistance, though I cannot

2

doubt Mr. White

will

be so rash or imprudent

as to disobey our orders.

Mr. Fraser

will

Your respects

be an obligation upon

Honble. Your Honour's most obedient servant

ELIHU YALE.

also to

3 Fort St. George, Hecords,

Consultation at Fort St. George,

Mackenzie

Collection, vol.

Liv,

12th January 1688. "^

pp. 291-2.

^

[Extract]

A

French sbip from

MergQi comes near

French ship called the President from

Mergui couiing near into this Road, the Governmeut scnt off the French Padre to wel-

come them

into the Port

and to learn the news

of our affairs from Mergui and Siam,

A

French

P^'l re jj,™ j£ ,^^

q£ ni/^.i some of the Council g^^^

,«. Oil

sent aboard

send

and French Ambissador on

boam

invite

men

j^|jj

not,

ing ashore -

He

comsent

to

^^ board tO i-

compliment

them ashore. But some of the j.

j

acquainted

ii

the

^

j

ambassadors

'-

her that one of their ships excuses his

^^g

intend-

boati

j

on board

lately passed

by,

whereupon he returned the Padre with his e^cuses for not coming ° ashore, his business _

Pondicherry requiring haste, but that he

the Chevalier Four-

at

^•e"*-

had sent the Chevalier Fourbean [Forbin] to acquaint us with the news of those parts, whic)i lam.

^^^^

— That the King of

Siam had delivered

over the Forts of Bangkok on both sides of the river into the

French possession, as also the

block houses at Mergui, with orders to build a

which purpose they had sent a French Raja and engineer. But he gives us no Fort there, for

account of the late massacre there more than

was believed it proceeded from the rebellion and mutiny of the people, the King of Siam's Governors there being sent up in j^^j^g ^^ ^^^ ^jgo ^hat Mr. Hodges and Mr. Hill were arrived at Siam and lodgings appointed that

Mr. Hodges and Mr.

it

them next the French ambassador's there, and that they were under no confinement, That

Captain Perriman had fitted his ship and only waited orders from Mr. Hodges and Mr. Hill Two Siam war

sent to

men-of-

Pegu

retum hither. That the Siamese had Sent two men-o£-war to Pegu in pursuit of the Trivitore, and some other private ships had gone

^^^ ^"^

thither.

'Tis reported they are

80 Christians,

Dutch,

French

manned with and

Mistees

Portuguese besides Natives, and that they are fitting

Who

were saved

in

^^^^^

the massacre at Merr

out two more

^^-^

^^^^

upon some

ships thence

^j^^j,^

^.^^^^

^^^^ ^^. .

saved from the massacre at Mergui,

gui.

^^^^

,

vizt.,

Mr.

Threader, Mr. Morgan and Captain Crossley French honours conferred

on Constant

Fauioon.

^ithall the wouieu and children. That the French

King had loaded Mousr. FauJcon with great houours, vizt., a Count of France, and Chevalier of the Orders of St. Michael and St. Peter, and had sent for one of his children to be bred

up

in

France.

5 Factory Becords,

The Council

at Fort St.

George

to the

FoTfc St. (leorge,

Council at Surat,

vol. 21, p. 181.

(Extract)

Dated 17 January 1688.

The 14th

there

inst.

French ship

.

,

came near our Road

a

which "brought advices

.

that Mr. Hodges and Mr. Hill were gone up to Siam to treat of the accommodation .

.

.

the Right. Honhle.

the French

tell

Company proposed,

.

.

.

us they were arrived at Siam and

lodgings apix)inted

them,

treated with civility

and freedom, but what

may

the issue

where they were

be we cannot imagine,

their

going to Siam being beyond our commission,

and we wish they may return safe. The French also tell us there escaped but 3 English-

men

of

all

that

were at Mergui, who were hid

and protected by some Dutch from their fury, which excused all the women and children

who were about 10 persons. learn who were the fomentors this,

or whether by the

people's rebellion, but

We

or occasion of

King's

we hear

cannot yet

order or the

the Governors of

those parts were sent for to be taken up in irons to Siam,

yet as selves

but no punishment inflicted on them

we hear and

of.

affairs

The French news is

that

the

of them-

ambassador

brought out 6 men-of-war with about 1,400

Frenchmen,

soldiers

and

others,

to

serve

King of Siam, and that the Forts at Bangkok on both sides of the river were deliverthe

ed into their charge as also Mergui, and a

French Governor and soldiers sent thither to it, with orders to build a garrison. That

defefid

King has loaded Mons. Faulcon with great honours and presents, making him a Count of France and Chevalier of the Order of St. Michael and St. Peter, with many other

the French

great favours.

Factory Records,

Abstract of General Letter from Fort

St.

Miscellaneous, vol. 3a, "

ff.

George

129a-

to the East India

Company.

Dated 21 January 1688.

130a.

Gurtana and James sloop, with

Para. 4.

[Extracts]

40 soldiers and suitable ammunition dispatch-

ed to Mergui and Tenasserim, with commission to

demand

Siam, which

if

satisfaction of the

for recalling

tion

King of

denied to publish the proclamathe

English thence, and

make war on him and his subjects, seizing Mergui. To reinforce them sent the Pearl with 40

soldiers

and Mr. Hodges and Mr.

John Hills. Wrote also to Mr. Burnabv and White acquainting them of the King's letter to them, which was not yet come to them being on the Bengal^ yet sent some paragraphs to them of the general letter to that purpose, but

Captain

Weltdeo

arriving

the

2oth

December with them, acquaints them that he and the James had been at Mergui, and were welcomed by the English, to whom he delivered the letters to them and the King, making a truce for fifty days to await his answer. But 14 days after,

on the 14th July, the natives broke the

truce and at nine at night killed

the Eng-

Captain Weltden and

lish

they

]\lr.

White escaped with wounds

could meet.

all

to

their

boat

and so aboard the Curtana., and, cutting her cable, sailed out of the river.

But

their

great

guns playing on sloop James took her and

some of her men.

The Master and

crew escaped to the Curtana. The

boat's

rest with all

8 tlie

English were massacred to the number of

Some women and children that themselves were saved. The French report fifty.

hid this

was long of Captain Weltden and Mr. White.

White on a

Mr.

Bombay

stopped

at

sailing

as they write us, whither they have

written about him. letters

ship

went thence to Pondicherry,

Pollicat,

for

country

The French

Perriman

from Captain

brought

ship

Mergui,

at

advising us they were under a truce,

and

j\Ir.

Hill and Hodges gone to Siam, for which we

gave them no commission, yet hear the King

them free accommodation and has sent for the Mergui officers in irons to Siam. Yet we fear that massacre was acted by Faulcon's treachery, whom the French King has erected Count of France, &ca., and sent for his child o;ives

to bring up.

Para. at

Siam

and

in

5.

The French ambassador

arrives

July with six ships and 1000 soldiers

artificers for the

King's service,

who

has

given them Bangkok Forts and the govern-

ment of Mergui, where they are fortifying. A French Raja sent to Tenasserim. A great mortality

among

the soldiers, and the country

disagrees with them.

Para.

9.

.

Captain

.

Batten took a small

King of Siam's with some copper, and Captain Fen took one bound for Surat to Siam which Mr. Moody brought to vessel of the

them.

She

is

condemned.

9 Faciuiy Koconis.

Abstvixct of General Letter

from Fort

St.

Miscellaneous vol.

3a,

George

ff.i3Sa-i3fl.

to the East India Comp.iny.

Dated 25 January 1688.

[Extracts]

Mv. Hodges and Hill went to we wish they fall

Para. 37.

Siain without tlieir order, and

not under Faulcon's cruelty, destroy

all

who has

sent to

the English in the King of Siam's

Dominions. But when the General arrives at the Fort he will consider what

revenge their late massacre.

The

Para. 43.

.

may

be done to

.

Island Xegrais they

promote for a Settlement there for advantages, lit

in

monsoon and

will

many

being a very fertile place,

it

for any ship to ride out a

aground

its

and

to lay

by report of Captain days' sail from the Captain Weltden found no

safety, as

AVeltden, being

but

six

inhabitants thereon,

but

Fort or Bengal.

a Siam

inscription

erected on a Standard

which he supposed to

be that King's

of possession

Captain burnt tin that

the

it,

title

;

but the

placing another inscription on

he had taken possession thereof in

King of England's name, for the Com-

pany's service.

10 Letler Book

General Letter from

tlie

Court of Committees

vo). 8, p.DOl.

to the Comicil at Fort St. George. [Exti-ict.]

Dated

February 1688.

6

news be true that the King of Siam is dead and Faulcon killed, it was a brave and just opportunity for you to seize and fortify If the

Tenasserim is

and there

(^flagrante instante hello),

no doubt but to obtain peace with you and

assistance

content to

from you the new Prince would be grant the sovereignty and customs,

for the

Company's

territory thereunto,

been admirably

Majesty

for ever to his

&ca., of that place

some convenient

use, with

and then you would have

fitted

with

all requisites

to the

support of a naval force on that side of India.

you have Chitagong we

But

if

less

need of Tenasserim, altho' in truth the

latter

place

is

English Nation,

of if

shall

inestimable

value to the

we ceuld have

terms aforesaid, by

have the

previous or

it

on the

subsequent

Revenue appendent would fully defray the charge of

consent, vizt., with such a to

it

as

fortifying times.

and

defending

But without

it

such a

strongly at

all

certain revenue

no such place can do us any good. Victory itself,

when

that

those that pay the

is

it

enriches not the

being rather loss than gain.

conquerors,

charge of the war,

11 Factory Records,

^^^^^ gt_ Georffe °

Fort St. George,

^oi-3,p.H.

2

(.Extract)

Letter

Ketten.

from

Received a Capt.

Bfitten at

Diarv. ''

March 1688.

letter

from Captain Thomas

Acheen, dated the 7th of

last

month,

advising of a ship belonging to the King of Siam

having arrived there, laden with Copper, Tin, Tutanague, Pepper and Benjamin, and bound for

Pondicherry

;

that he dm'st

not meddle

with her in that Port, the Shabander having threatened

all

the English

if

he did

;

that said

ship had put out treasure into a small vessel Avait

bound

to Pondicherry,

and that he would

on the said Siam ship and dispute

her at Sea.

French

it

with

12

The

Dutch Records, 1st

Series,

vol

No. 1010, pp.3-16.

[

Tvaiislatioti

factors at Batavia to the Council of

41,

Dated 2 March (13 ^larch X.

Seventeen.

S.)

1688. ]

At

[Extract]

the end of our last letter on the

aflEairs

of Batavia we wrote to your Excellencies that news had come from ^Malacca of the arrival of the ships America and Vryheyt in Siam, which

has been confirmed since in a letter from the factor,

the

chief

merchant Keyts, and the 23rd December of last

council there, dated

and brought hither on the 3rd February by the aforesaid ship America the ships arrived on the 16th Nov. and the 3rd Dec. year,

;

respectively.

The

further contents [of the letter]

are

That the head of the Siamese embassy from France had arrived there with as

follows

:

four ships.

was

They had previously

to be only a

director

said

there

general over their

Company here in India, who was to return by way of Tenasserim and Surat. Afterwards it was acknowledged that he had the character of envoy whose name is La Loubere, a Gascon nobleman, and that besides himself another

had the position of

name and he

is

director.

Cebert

is

his

one of the twelve directors of

their aforesaid East

India

Company.

These

gentlemen arrived on the 30th September and the 8th October with four ships (as previously

On

the 2nd Nov. they were conducted with their retinue to court, bringing stated).

13

them

with

Siamese Majesty 1

foHowing

the

Lirge

1

:

inkhorn, 4 parcels o£

made

presents for mirror,

3

garments

velvet,

and

set

all

Item,

pearls.

saddles,

of

French fashion,

after the

edged with gems and

his

-i

Siamese

cabaya of white lace curiously worked and

edged with gems and pearls.

price,

on a

found

hats

gentlemen view

closer

by our p3ople

at

be so

to

very high

a

have

not

been

costly.

His

Excellency the lord Faulcon has also

by

honoured

his

in

gold,

tion

:

Be

lily in

with

crown

a

side .and

been

France with

moreover

with

diamonds on the one falcon with a

of

]\Iajesty

various valuables and portrait

of

Five of these hats being

different colours.

valued by these

some

and

glassware

of

varieties

Further several

set

his

with

on the other a

one claw with the inscrip-

faithful.

These particulars

have

been learnt at ^falacca from the talk of the captain of the French

ship

St.

Louis, which

arrived there with another ship in

from Siam, without given as to

December

any information being

his further destination.

But E.

Keyts writes that the aforesaid portrait was set with

very precious stones, to the value (as

was said) of quite 20,000

rix dollars

and that

he had worn a star on his

left breast

valued at

900 or 1,000 rix dollars, and that he raised to the rank of count

had been

and made chevalier

of the order of St. ]\Iichael.

What

will

come

of

all

this

favour and

14

honour time

will

show.

The

result

first

that the two years' contracts between the

of

Siam and

his

is

King

Majesty of France, made by

Chaumont and working in many respects in no wise smoothly, have now been accommodated and amplified. the Chevalier de

.

.

Also the ambassador from Cambodia had

informed Ed. U. Keyts that the said gentle-

men had been

permitted to build a factory at

Junkceylon.

But

their

intolerable

since their

not escape

to

wanton insolence had become the

women it.

simple in

nation,

the public

especial)}'

streets

did

But the people could obtain no

from the King, nor even could the Oya Barkalong, when he complained to the King about these matters. Some eminent suitable redress

persons of repute,

instead

of

obtaining an

audience, were, by the King's orders,

severely

beaten and driven off with sticks.

However, with regard

to the

affront put

upon the Company's cluef and two other

per-

when passing Bangkok in their boat on their return from the Amsterdam warehouse by four armed soldiers who made a most unsons

called for

and insolent examination of them,

King was much disturbed, and made the envoy and director, the said MINI. La Loubere the

and Cebert, promise that similar things should not ha])pen in future and had given the as-

surance through the commandant of the

said

lo fortress, a

des

jNI.

granted the

title

Farges,

wlio

of general by

the culprits and the officer

had

been

the King,

that

who was at the They have

time on duty should be punished. thus

let

pass this act of insolence

if

only

it

does not some day break out into something people must be

worse, against which our

on

guard and on their side must avoid giving any imaginable cause to the people for the slightest animosity.

The

flyboat

La Normande,

the

fifth

ship

from France, arrived there on the 22nd Nov. The of

the

combined

which

fleet

sailed

cargo consisted, like that of the other ships, of all

soi'ts

of

cannon, bombs, also

munitions drugs,

of

war,

spades

including

and shovels,

some French piece goods, confirming the we had previously reached as to

conclusion

the reason of their presence here, except the

building

materials,

which

they should not

have had. This

last

named

ship

was despatched

with copper and spelter to Surat, and one

of

the others with a cargo of rice to Coromandel.

The remaining three stayed until the envoy should have come from Lavo with the Jesuit Pore Tachard, to take them home, intending to take with them as cargo much Chinese and Bengal

silk,

porcelain,

camphor,

musk, tea and other merchandise, and on the way they were to touch at Bantam, undoubted-

K) ly in order to

that place

.S[)y

out everything tliere

Jis

far

and to enquire into the

state of

and the disposition of the

officials

as possible

However,

and the other discontented notables. they had evidently

made

plan in

this

nothing was yet

belief that

known

of

the

them

there and in that neighbourhood, and that they

could continue their voyage to

France, with

the intention of touching also at the Cape of

Good Hope, where, on they

had

outward voyage,

and where, communications made bv certain

been

accordino; to

members

their

received

well

of the suite,

subjected to

close

everything had been

by the envoy

scrutinj^

during his stay on shore, marvelling at the weakness of our garrisons there, and at the

care-

lessness of those in authority to such an extent

indeed that

would have cost these

it

nien very

little to

the place,

if,

gentlc-

make themselves masters

on an outbreak of

fire

of

outside

the castle, the majority of the garrison should

out unarmed to

have rushed

extinguish

it,

leaving ver}^ few within, not enough (as he

judged) to have been able to defend

Thus

now taken if

occasion

it

it.

might well happen that heed being

thereto the

aforesaid

place

might,

arose, suffer an attack, and no

liance could be

placed by

security of the 20 years'

re-

our people in the truce

do better to put their trust

;

in

they

would

a good and

formidable garrison, and in getting the fresh

water supply into our power.

17

The Portuguese

father, Stevao

de Soysa,

with the Siamese envoy, having been appointed

Nossa Signora de Milagras, w^hioh foundered on the Cape of Aguilljes (whereof

to the ship

mention was made in our previous

letter)

had

given quite a different account of his reception at the

Cape of Good Hope, saying that he had unjustifiably

quite

with very

little

been

frequently treated

respect by the

commander Van

der Stel, and on a certain occasion in the presence of other persons had been insulted in these words

:

Wat

paap, soo menigen paap, soo

menigen schelm [Where there's a priest there's a rogue]. And he had already previously

made an

accusation against his Excellency of

having taken gifts from the Siamese envoy

voyage

that he should give his support to his to Europe with the English

who were

there at

that time (the father haying other views), and that he should put

obstacles

their departure, also that his

in

suite

the same, and that he had been

return against his

the

way

of

had done

compelled to

will.

Further, the commander.

Van der

Stel,

is

have enriched himself considerably by the wreck of the aforesaid foundered Portuguese ship. All these points we have made said to

known

to

you

in the letter

now being

sent

by

the Cape that they should be answered for to

your Excellencies.

As Commissaries

for the composition

of

18

King and the English Company, of which previous mention has been made, a Mr. William Hoges the differences between the Siamese

[Hodges]

Mr. Hill came

and

by

Tenasserim from Madras on the

way

14tli

of

Nov.,

and on the 10th Dec. arrived at the Court

What

Lavo. shall

they have accomplished there we

probably learn before the end of this

month per the Vryheyt which wards on its way to America time

at

... A letter was

is to

sail

hither-

in 15 or 16 days'

written to us by

Company's factor, the head merchant Keyts, and the council at Siam, dated 25 Jan.

the

last year, stating that

on the 4th the French

envoy, M. de la Loubere started

beforenamed, had

on his return voyage to France with

three ships, having taken leave of his Excel-

lency the lord Faulcon

.

.

.

his said Excellency followed the

after his departure

would meet Pfere

from Lavo, thinking they

Bano;kok.

at

Nevertheless,

envoy 3 days

The

Jesuit father

Tachard departed with him, not as an

ambassador, but in company with 5 or 6 merchants for the furtherance of his

and to report to the Pope of state of their flourishing

Kingdom.

own

Rome

affairs

on the

church in the Siamese

had not been possible to

It

dis-

cover their design and to what end they went

many men and were

thither with so

the

King's

Tenasserim, soldiers

in

castles

although the

both

at

besides

posted

in

Bangkok and the

aforesaid fortress,

French the most

19 trusty Siamese governors and their troops have to

keep watch on

known

all

all their

make

doings and to

occurrences in

the

least extraor-

dinary, by day

by messengers, and by night by beacon fires, from which one may easily

gather the sort of trust in which these gentle-

men

are held by the natives.

Also that their

M. des Farges, and his two sons are kept usually at Lavo at the court, as is supposed more by order of the King than in general,

accordance with the intentions of his Excel-

Otherwise he knows well how to secure

lency.

many

the King's favour to his advantage on occasions.

For instance,

witli

regard to their

imported merchandise and munitions of war, he knew how to dispose him to buy them at the

highest price,

own

interests

not

;

but

thereby it

also

was thought

serving his this

would

last.

The common soldiers become more and more dissolute, wholly given over to debauchery, and the aversion of the Siamese to them becomes stronger. officers

This

who withheld

the fault

is

their

of their

pay so that the

worst of them took to stealing and other acts

tyranny on the public in order to obtain means for sort

their

support

were compelled

made

great ravages

.

.

to beg.

.

and

the

better

Disease has also

among them and

is

said

to have destroyed half of the original number.

Many of them did not get decent burial, but were flung

into the

river

and

their

bodies were

20 carried past the

way

to sea.

some on

Company's warehouse on

The complaints made

their

first

arrival

of

ill

their

at court

by

treatment

both at the Cape of Good Hope and at Batavia

were dealt with by the above-named general his Excellency's table,

contrary are

still

given.

The

English

commissaries

very busy, but so far without having

accomplished anything as far as they can

As

at

and evidences of the

to the

embassy from Sousankounang

see.

to the

King, of which mention was previously made,

nothing further

is said.

21 Factory Records,

CoilSultation at Fort St. GeOrffC.

Fort St. George, vol. 5, pp. 15-16.

3

March 1688.

(Extract)

The Concerning the

Governor

Siam£ron^ Capt. Batten at

ship at Acheen.

.

has

received

a letter

Acheen advising him "-

that

.

a ship arrived there from Siam under French colours, about 400 tons, 18

guns and 12 Euro-

peans, and notwithstanding they produced a

of sale, that she was bought

bill

of the Portuguese, but

by the French upon enquiry he was

informed by the seamen that she belonged to the King of Siam, as also the goods on board her,

and that he intended

have taken her,

to

but that the Shabander at Acheen declared, that

if

he

offered

hostility in their road,

tion

,.,.,, his

Siam ship at Acheen

bound

Pondi-

for

cherry.

meddle, or use any

to

he would have satisfac-

from the English ashore which prevented

seizing ° her in that ^place,

but that he in-

'

tended to wait her departure, she being bound f^j.

But

Pondicherry.

he should

lest

in his enterprise, she being a large

manned and gunned, and we being that that very ship did belong to the

and went under the name black Spread Eagle on her

fail

well

ship,

satisfied here

King of Siam,

of the Eagle, with a stern,

which gives

that the

us great reason to believe,

French

colours are only a pretence to save her Rochester to ride ofiO"»'

Coodaioor ^^''-

to

seize

s^lzure

is

it

therefore ordered that the

Rochester do immediately

and ride there Acheen. seize

It

is

from

sail

for Coodaloor,

expectation of her

in

further

and bring her

ordered

hither,

to

from

that

he

be examined

22

by the ingly

be

HergoQdstobecon-PS'li*^''^!^ tinued till

aboard

her return.

her

Court

of

disposed, i^

^^

brought from ^jjj ^^^, ^^^^^^^^^^

Admiralty,

and

for

and the

Ordered that what

accord-

more

ex-

goods she

Bengali be continued on board

^^^

^j^^^

j£

^^ j^j^^^g ^^

from Portonovo, secure them from

that she then bring our goods

Coodaloor and Conimeer, to

j^^^^

the dangers and troubles of the country.

.

Sf3

Factory Kecoids, Fort St. George,

TO CAPT. JOHN BRUM WELL

vol. 5, pp. 17-18.

3

Copy

March

Commander

of

SHIP ROCHESTER.

1-688.

of Capt.

well's orders.

Whereas you have received his Majesty King of England's commission, authorising and empowering you to be aiding and assisting

Brum- ^j^g

,

.

.

,

,

,

to the Right Honble. English East India

ComMogul and

making war against the King of Siam, wherein you are to observe and follow such orders as you shall from time to time receive from the said East India Company, their General, President, Agent and pany

in

Councils

in

the

We

East Indies,

therefore

the President and Council of Fort St. George

do hereby order you upon receipt hereof, to repair aboard your ship Rochester^ and the first opportunity

wind and weather

of

anchor and set

sail,

to

weigh

bending your course for

the speediest attaining of the Port of Coodaloor,

where you are to ride

in

twenty fathom

water in expectation of a ship and lading of the King of Siam's, under French colours, which in all probability

from Acheen

must pass you, being designed

to Pondicherry.

It

was formerly

called the Eagle, with a black Spread Eagle in her

stern (as per a paragraph in a letter

Thomas

Batten at Acheen, a copy w^hereof

herewith delivered you, large

from Capt. is

wherein you will at

be informed concerning said ship and

And

you should have the good fortune to light upon her, either as you are in said road, or in your passage thither, you are lading).

if

24 then to seize her and bring her to this Port, to be

examined by the Court of Admiralty

;

the same you are to do to any ship you shall suspect to belong to the said King of his subjects.

But

if

you do not

Siam

see

or

her in

twenty days after your arrival, then you are

to

take in the Right. Honble. Company's goods at

Portonovo and Coodaloor, as also at Conimeer.

So wishing you good success. We date these presents at Fort St. George the 3rd day of

March

1687/8.

ELIHU YALE,

&c., &c.

25 Factory Eeeords,

p^^^

Fort St. George,

^.

g^_ f. *-'

-

^°'-''PP-^'-'^-

-^

March 1688.

5

(Extract) jNIr.

News from Mr. Hodgesatsiam.

-r

i

in * This letter

been traced.

has not

t

William Hodges

-j^ii

,

J ohn Littleton ,

t

, r

in a

letter

r^

,

Mr.

to

-

and Mr. John Styleman, dated Lavo the 12th December 1687,* advises

.1

^i

1

^

^"^"^ '"^*

"^^

""^^

.

,

^^

hopes they should be

,

•

,

,

,

,

dismissed as soon as the French ambassador

was gone, whose stay he thought might be ten days longer

;

that he supposes they have heard

murder of the English

of the sad

but he believes not truth, (in the

his

yet

business

knew

much

reports), (to

at Mergui,

(or anything) of

he having made

upon

inquire)

not well what to

the

place,

the

advise,

it

most

agreeing that there were killed 33 English and

20 Portugese.

Faulcon letter,

has

signed

Englishmen

Mr. Hodges promised

adds

shew

to

by

Cropley,

more,

who

that

him

Mr. a

Triggs and two advised

that

Mr.

White and Mr. Burnaby designed to make Mr. White's ship, which occasioned orders to be sent to the Oyah or Siam Governor to prevent the same, that Mr. White had advised that there were ten English ships coming against Mergui, so that he had long before received orders to deface the place and their escape in

go to

Siam, since he thought

it

impossible

from the English, as he had advised. Mr. Hodges further states in his letter that Capt. Mr. White's Weltden taking ship out of the Road made the Oyah consult to

defend

it

26 with

some

Dutchmen, and he was was privy to the design of Mr. White and Mr. Burnaby, which rascally

afraid that Cropley killing

when performed by a

parcel

of people

made

drunk, and mad, proceeded without any other consideration

—then

would more Hodges also sajs

the

more they murdered?

be

the

that

their

Oyah was

the

Lavo, and he was informed

in

brought

examination,

to

with

be pinched off

hot

was one Dutchman and there in prison

;

by two or three disturbance

;

Mr'

profit.

that

his

flesh

irons

when is

that

;

then

to

there

several of the natives

that they bring

them

up, but

at a time, to prevent a further

that

the

King

was extremely

grieved, and was- resolved that all that had a

hand

in the

murder should

were at Mergui

five

sufEer

;

that there

companies of French and

above 300 disciplined Siamese.

He

desires to

be excused to the President and Council that he had not paid his respects in writing, but

when he came to Madras, he would acquaint them with the reasons of it. That he that

had just then the certain news that Cropley had been at Lavo 15 days and kept a close prisoner

;

that

shall

when the French are dispatched they

know what they have

to trust to, but he

fears not, being as civilly treated as he can expect.

That he had seen the King of Siam's declaration of

war against the Right Honble. East

India Comjiany and their servants, and of liberty to

{^11

freemen that are English. That by these

27

French ships the King of Siam sends home

his

grievance against our Right Honble. Masters

and their servants, and refers himself

King

of England's determination.

to the

28 Factory Records, Fort

St.

p^j-t St.

George Diary.

George,

'°'-^'P-^^-

20 March 1688.

[Estract]

Received a letter from Mr. William from Mr. jjojjggg and Mr. Jolin Hill, dated at Bangkok Wm. Hodgesaud Mr. n 1/.0-* „ j t"6 2ad ot JSovember 168/, giving an account John Hill. Letter

Tk.T

of their arrival at

dattlrafAbstract

a*^