Page 222 - A History of Siam

208 A HISTORT OF SIAM

factory at Ayut'ia, and Samuel White, brother of George
White, Phaulkon's early patron. Burnaby, who bore
the title of P'ra Marit, was Governor, and White was
or Port Officer. A
Shahbander, personal letter from
James II was obtained, ordering Burnaby and White
to their trust over to the
betray by handing Mergui
Company's men-of-war. James was never too proud
to ask any of his subjects to do a dirty action.
On the 28th of April, 1687, the Company forwarded
to the King of Siam a detailed claim of 65,000, for
damage suffered by British subjects as a result of the
war between Siam and Golconda, and also for advances
made to the Persian ambassador to Siam. The claim
was accompanied by a very friendly letter to the King,
coupled, however, with a threat to take any of His
and of and to
Majesty's subjects ships by way reprisals,
blockade the of until full satisfaction was
port Mergui
given.
The letter was not delivered until after the arrival at
Mergui of two English frigates, the Curtana and the
James. Captain Anthony Weltden, of the Curtana^
landed, and a proclamation by King James II was read,
ordering all Englishmen in the Siamese service to leave
at once. The Englishmen at Mergui, numbering at
least to and a truce for
fifty, prepared obey, sixty days
was to allow of the letter to Narai
proclaimed, King
being sent to Ayut'ia. After the proclamation of the
truce some made to
preparations were, very naturally,
defend the port. Weltden objected to this, and on July
he caused some which had been driven into
9th piles,
the river bed, to be taken out, and on the same day
seized a Siamese the Resolution.
ship,
On the night of the I4th of July the Siamese Governor
of Mergui, exasperated by the proceedings of Weltden,