Page 191 - A History of Siam

A HISTORT OF SIAM 183

however, numbers of troops were kept under arms, and
all kinds of warlike were with the
preparations made,
of the Dutch that the was and
object showing King ready
able to Batavia.
capture
In November 1641 a letter was received from the
Prince of Orange, and also one from the Governor-
General of the Dutch Indies, accompanied by many
rare The received the Prince's letter in an
gifts. King
unusually ceremonious manner, and said that he had
never before been favoured with so a missive.
pleasing
But the Dutch probably knew better by this time than to
be impressed by these changes of face. Van Vliet,
writing several years later, said that real friendship
between Siam and the Netherlands was impossible
"
unless the which we have suffered has been
disgrace
washed the in which God
away by sword, may Almighty
help."
In became and an
1648 Singora troublesome, expedition
was sent to subdue it. The Dutch Council at Batavia
gave orders that some Dutch vessels were to be sent to
the Siamese in the of the fickle
help fleet, hope placating
King. No record remains of the result of this expedition,
but it would that was not subdued until
appear Singora
much later. In we find the Dutch once more at
1654
loggerheads with King Prasat T'ong on account of their
in not sent to assist in
negligence having twenty ships
Their the suc-
attacking Singora. Agent, Westerwolt,
cessor of van Vliet, was treated with great indignity,
and when he threatened to leave Siam he was informed
that to do so would result in his
any attempt being
to death with all his
trampled by elephants, together
compatriots.
the had to be told that to the
Finally King owing
rupture of relations with England the Dutch could not