Page 212 - A History of Siam

200 A HISTORT OF SIAU
In 1674 the Bishop of Heliopolis had left Siam, but
several new arrived in In M. Cher-
priests 1676. 1676
boneau, the first Medical Missionary to Siam, arrived.
He was installed in a established the
hospital by King,
but was before long persuaded to accept the Governorship
of the island of Puket. This appointment was, without
doubt, inspired by the French Jesuits, and marks the
first in their to for their
step design gain country complete
control over Siam. A few later, M.
political years
Cherboneau was succeeded at Puket by another French-
man, M. Billi.
In 1679 the worthy Bishop of B&ythe died, and after
his death the side of the activities of the French
political
missionaries became more evident.
Colbert, the famous Minister of Louis XIV, had in
"
a charter to a called the Com-
1664 granted Company
pagnie Royale des Indes Orien tales," which was intended
to rival the English Company, and which had been
established at Surat since 1668. In 1680 this French
Company sent a vessel to Ayut'ia, with a number of
officers, to start a factory there. The King received them
well and them all kinds of
granted privileges.
On Christmas 1680 the first Siamese to
Day embassy
Europe left Ayut'ia. There were three ambassadors,
all of with followers. took with
high rank, thirty They
them a letter to the of France, written on a sheet of
King
gold, together with many rare and curious presents,
including young elephants and rhinoceroses. The letter
offered to cede to France. as has been
Singora Singora,
had been in a state of rebellion at the time of the
seen,
death of King Prasat T'ong, and it would seem as though
it was still unsubdued in 1680.
The this which must have been
ship bearing embassy,
a Noah's never reached It
regular Ark, Europe. got