Page 160 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM
152
of he made the mistake of
impotence. Unfortunately
of the rulers of Arakan and who had
trusting Taungu,
promised him their help. Himself incapable of deceit
or double he was never inclined to distrust
dealing,
others. By this time, the Prince of Taungu had decided
that there was more to without other
gain by acting
support than that of the King of Arakan, and determined,
if to a Siamese invasion of Burma.
possible, prevent
He therefore tried, during the whole of the year 15983
to foment, by means of secret agents, trouble in Martaban
and other of then to Siam. So
parts Pegu subject
successful was he that King Naresuen, who crossed into
Pegu in the middle of 1599, found his newly won Peguan
in a state of revolt. While he was
provinces engaged
in an Arakanese advanced to
restoring order, army
Hanthawadi, and the Prince of Taungu shortly afterwards
led his forces to join the Arakanese before the walls of
the
capital.
The wily Prince of Taungu represented himself to
Nanda Bhureng as an ally. King Naresuen fondly
imagined that he was supporting the interests of Siam.
In he was in collusion with the of
reality acting King
Arakan, and had no other object than to gain for himself
the supreme power in Burma. After long negotiations,
the Crown Prince of Burma left Hanthawadi and
joined
the Prince of Taungu. He was promptly murdered.
His death was concealed from his father, who shortly
of able to resist the Arakan-
afterwards, despairing being
and at the imminent of a Siamese
ese, appalled prospect
himself into the arms of the Prince of
invasion, flung
Taungu. The unfortunate Nanda Bhureng was removed
to Taungu, and his capital, Hanthawadi, was given over
to the Arakanese, who looted it for several and
days,
burnt it to ashes.
finally