Page 223 - A History of Siam

A HISTORY OF SIAM 209
and fearing that all the Englishmen at Mergui were
about to make common cause with their
compatriots,
suddenly opened fire on the James, and succeeded in
sinking her. During the same night an attempt was
made to massacre in
every Englishman Mergui. Weltden,
who was ashore, had a narrow escape, being left for
dead. White got away, but Burnaby fell a victim,
with about other
together fifty Englishmen.
This it must be admitted, was not
incident, very
creditable either to the or the Siamese.
English
Weltden retired, and not long after he had left,
another English ship, the Pearl, arrived at Mergui,
having on board William Hodges and John Hill, who
had been to administer after
appointed Mergui its
expected capture. They found a French Governor
and some French stationed at and were
troops Mergui,
forced the French and Siamese to
reluctantly by proceed
to were at first
Lopburi. They imprisoned, together
with many other Englishmen, but were later released
by the King, who does not seem to have been at all
anxious for war, and hoped to use them as intermediaries
for a remained in Siam for
arranging peace. They
almost two
years.
On August nth, 1687, King Narai issued a declaration
of war the East India In it he accused
against Company.
White and Burnaby of treacherously assisting Weltden,
and threw on Weltden the sole for the
responsibility
massacre at Mergui. His Majesty carefully explained
that he did not consider himself to be at war with the
English Government. Many Englishmen, unconnected
with the East India Company, remained in Siam, and
do not to have been treated.
appear badly
The King was at that time preparing to receive the
second embassy of Louis XIV, which arrived at Ayut'ia
Os