Page 227 - A History of Siam

A HISTORY OF SUM 213
The King was induced, at the request of all the leading
to P'ra to act as
officials, appoint P'etraja Regent during
his illness. P'ra P'etraja at once assumed control over
the and as he had the at his back
palace guards, army
he was able to do as he wished.
exactly
P'ra Pia was first out of the He was enticed
got way.
out of the and murdered.
King's apartments ruthlessly
This deed opened the eyes of the dying monarch to the
around but he was the re-
treachery him, helpless ;
with which he assailed P'ra and
proaches P'etraja Luang
Sarasak were not to turn them from their
likely purpose.
Phaulkon now sent to Des
Bangkok begging Farges
to bring up the French troops there to his assistance.
Des Farges set out, but was told that the King was
dead, and was persuaded to return to Bangkok.
Phaulkon was arrested on a of
charge treason, and
after being treated for several days with great cruelty,
was executed on June 5th, 1688. He died bravely,

protesting that he was innocent, and that his whole
had been directed three motives the
policy by glory
of God, the service of the King, and the interests of the
State.
Thus ended the earthly career of one of the most
remarkable of European adventurers in the East.
In his short life of Phaulkon
only forty years, rose,
from the of on a small to be
position cabin-boy ship,
a Chao of Siam, a Count of
P'ya France, addressed as
friend by Kings and Popes, and entrusted with the
destinies of a powerful Kingdom. True to his name, he
soared and it must be admitted that he was a
high, great
man, and may have had noble aims. It has never been
that he intended to Siam under French
proved bring
dominion, though doubtless his policy was one which
in have had such a result.
might, time,