Page 232 - A History of Siam

A BISTORT OF SUM
2i8

was made with the Netherlands East India
Treaty
the of the trade in
Company, confirming monopoly
hides, granted by King Narai, and conceding, in addition,
a of the trade in tin.
monopoly
Hodges and Hill, the two Englishmen, who had been
forcibly brought to Ayut'ia in 1688, remained there for
some time. Hill left with the French, but Hodges
remained until when he returned to Fort
May 1689,
St. overtures for from
George bearing peace King P'etraja.
came of but this time both sides had
Nothing this, by
lost all interest in the war, which was only prosecuted in
a and half-hearted fashion.
desultory
At the end of 1689 Des Farges returned to Puket.
The was in that this was a
report spread Ayut'ia punitive
expedition against Siam, and some colour was lent to the
rumour by the fact that the French General was accom-
panied by three ships. As a result, the persecution of
the French and native Christians, which had been slack-
was resumed. The unfortunate of Metal-
ening, Bishop
who seems to have been the
lopolis, always principal
suffered and of the
scapegoat, many indignities, many
remaining Frenchmen lost their lives. Soon, however, a
letter came from Des that he desired to
Farges saying
conclude the Siamese
peace. At the same time, hostages
were sent back. All the French were then released, and
the missionaries were to continue their work.
permitted
Religious freedom was thus restored, in accordance with
the immemorial custom of the Kingdom.
Des was Father the
Forges accompanied by Tachard,
historian of de Chaumont's Tachard went
embassy.
to and that he was authorised
"Ayut'ia, proclaimed by
the King of France to conclude peace with Siam. Noth-
ing definite was settled, and Tachard left again at the end
of 1690.