A Full and True Relation of the Great and Wonderful Revolution That Hapned Lately in the Kingdom of Siam in the East-Indies/Preface
The Preface to the Reader.
F or the better understanding of the following Relation, I think it not amiss to acquaint the Reader, That the first Solemn Embassy that the French King sent to the late King of Siam, was in the Year 1685, by Monsieur de Chaumont, who went in Quality of Ambassador Extraordinary, whereof there are two Relations publisht; One, of the Embassy done by the Ambassador himself; The other, of the Voyage done by Father Tachard, one of the six Jesuits that accompany'd Monsieur de Chaumont in that Voyage, by the French King's particular Command. Both are Translated into English, Illustrated with Sculptures, and Printed about two Years ago.
The second Embassy was performed in the Year 1687, when the Siam Ambassadors that came into France the Year before with Monsieur de Chaumont, return'd back again into Siam, by Messieurs de la Loubere and Ceberet, who carry'd over with them twelve French Jesuits, all Mathematicians, to teach the Christian Religion, an d the Mathematical Sciences in the two Royal Cities of Siam and Louvo, and a considerable Body of Officers and Soldiers that the French King sent to the King of Siam. The Relation of this second Voyage is publisht only in French about six Months ago, by the same Father Tachard, who went back into Siam with the Siam Ambassadors, and return'd from Thence into France with the Character of the King of Siam's Envoy Extradorinary to the French King, and to the Pope. He arrived at Paris in November, 1688. and had an Audience of the French King: And in January, 1689. he came to Rome, and had his Audience of the Pope. In March following he was to have Embarqued the third time for Siam; but what is become of him since, is not yet known.
In all these three Relations there is mention made of a young Princess, Daughter to the late King of Siam, that was then alive, whereof there is no Notice taken in the following Account of the late Revolution; but in other Letters that are come into France from other hands, we find a no less Tragical Account of her Death, than that of her Unkles, and adopted Brother, the manner whereof they say was this: Opra Pitrachard having dispatched the King's two Brothers, and adopted Son, who were the only Princes that stood in his way to the Crown, caused the young Princess, the King's only Daughter, to be taken and thrust into a large velvet Sack, and her Brains to be knockt out with great Bars of the sweet and so much esteem'd Wood in all the Indies call'd Aquila and Calamboar; and then thrown into the River, it being accounted a prophane thing, and a violation of the Sacred Respect due to a Princess of the Royal Blood of Siam, to be put to Death in the usual manner that others are; and therefore they did it with great Deference and distinguishing Ceremonies becoming her Quality, not suffering her Royal Person to be polluted with the touch of any vulgar Hand, or Instrument of Mortality.
The King of Siam that died lately was about 59 years of Age; the Character that is given of him in all the printed Relations of the French is very advantageous: They say he was, without Contradiction, the greatest Prince that ever Reign'd in Siam. He was of stature somewhat under the middle size, but strait and well shap'd. He had an engaging Air, a sweet and obliging Carriage, especially to Strangers. He was active and brisk, an Enemy of Idleness and Laziness, which seems to be so natural to the Eastern Princes, and is accounted by them as the Noblest Prerogative of their Crown. This Prince, on the contrary, was always either in the Woods a hunting of Elephants, or in his Palace minding the Affairs of his Kingdom. He was no Lover of War, because it ruin'd his People, whom he tenderly lov'd; but when his Subjects rebell'd, or his neighbouring Princes offer'd him the least Affront, or violated that Respect that was due to him, there was no King in all the East that took a more conspicuous Revenge, nor appeared more passionate for Glory. He was desirous of knowing every thing, and having a pregnant and piercing Wit, he easily became Master of what he had a mind to learn. He was magnificent, generous, and as true a Friend as could be desired. These were the Illustrious Qualities which acquired him the Respect of his Neighbours, the Fear of his Enemies, the Esteem and Love of his Subjects, that was nothing short of Adoration. He was never addicted to those Vices which so commonly reign amongst the Princes of the East; nay, he did often severely punish the most considerable Mandarins, and principal Officers of the Crown, for being too much given to their Pleasures: So that the most unconquerable Obstacle to the Conversion of those Indian and Idolatrous Princes, was not to be found in him, namely, the immoderate Love of Women.
By the sharpness of his Wit he had discovered the Erroneousness of the Religion of his Ancestors. And he did not believe an Annihilated God, according to the popular Opinion; or as some of theis Doctors say, A God, who weary of governing the Heavens, plunges himself in Repose, and for ever buries himself in the forgetfulness of what passes in the world; Nor a Thousand other Superstitions preached by the Talopins, who are the Preachers and Priests of the Kingdom. On the contrary, He believ'd that God is Eternal; that his Providence continually governs the World, and disposes of all things. To the same Immortal God he often made his Prayers, and implored his Divine Assistance with most profound Reverence at least twice a day, for two hours time, in the Morning after he was up, and at Night before he went to rest. Of the truth of this, there is a most Illustrious Monument in that Never-enough to be admired Speech of his to Monsieur Constance, in Answer to the French Ambassador's Memorial, when he press'd him much to declare himself a Christian; which, because of its singular worth, I think it not amiss to insert it here, as Father Tachard has deliver'd it to us in the 5th Book of his first Voyage to Siam, pag. 309. of the Paris Edition, in Quarto, which runs thus in English:
I N Answer to the French Ambassador, you shall tell him from me, That I think my Self extremely obliged to the King of France his Master, finding in his Memorial the marks of his most Christian Majesties Royal Friendship; And since the Honour that great Prince hath done me, is already made Publick all over the East, I cannot sufficiently acknowledge his Civility: But that I am extremely troubled that the King of France, my good Friend, should propose so difficult a thing unto me, wherewith I am not in the least acquainted; that I refer my Self to the Wisdom of the most Christian King, that he himself may judge of the Importance and Difficulty that occur in so nice a matter, as the Change of a Religion receiv'd and follow'd throughout my whole Kingdom, without Interruption, during the space of Two thousand two hundred and twenty nine years.
Besides, it is a matter of Astonishment to me, that the King of France, my good Friend, should so much concern himself in an Affair that relates to God, wherein it would seem God do's not at all interest himself, but leaves it wholly to our discretion; For could not the true God, that created the Heavens and the Earth, and all things that are therein, and hath given them so different Natures and Inclinations, when he gave to Men like Bodies and Souls, if he had pleased, have also inspired into them the same Sentiments for that Religion they ought to follow, and for that Worship which was most acceptable to him, and make all Nations live and die in the same Laws?
That Order amongst Men, and that Unity in Religion depending absolutely on Divine Providence, who could as easily introduce it into the World, as the diversity of Sects that in all times have been establisht in it; ought not one to think, that the true God takes as great pleasure to be honoured by different Worships and Ceremonies, as to be glorify'd by a prodigious number of Creatures, that praise him every one in their own way? Would that Beauty and Variety which we admire in the Order of Nature, be less admirable in the supernatural Order, or less beseeming the Wisdom of God?
However it be, continued he, since we know that God is the absolute Master of the World, and that we are persuaded that nothing comes to pass contrary to his Will, I wholly resign my Person and Dominions into the Arms of the Divine Mercy and Providence, and with all my Heart beseech his Eternal Wisdom to dispose thereof according to his good Will and Pleasure.
But after all this Character and Account of his Person and Humour, I cannot learn what his Name was, unless by the Inscription of the Letters he sent to the Pope, and to the French King in the Year 1688, mentioned in the second Voyage of Father Tachard: In his Letter to the French King he writes himself thus:
Som Det Pratchao Crung Thep
Pramha Ana Con Pujai.
To the Pope thus:
Som Det Pratchao Sia Jov Thia Pujai.
He never signs his Name in any Letters he writes; the Metal on which his Letters are writ, and which none else in his Kingdom is allow'd to use but himself, is accounted an authentick and unquestionable Proof that the Letters are the Kings. He writes on a Plate of Gold only when he sends Letters to great Kings; and when he writes to inferior and private Persons, it is commonly on Paper, to which his Seal is annex'd, which is of different bigness, according to the quality of the Person to whom he writes.
And as for Monsieur Constance, besides what is said of him in the following Discourse, I will add some few things taken of other Authors, that are entertaining enough, and deserve to be inserted here.
Whilst he was in England, and a good while after he bad been setled in Siam, he was a good Protestant, but when he fell into the Jesuits hands, they soon perverted him, and made him embrace the Roman Catholick Religion, and espouse the French Interest, to that degree of Zeal that proved so Fatal to him at last. He lived some Years in the Family and Service of one Mr. White, a considerable East-India Merchant at Siam, who is now in London, and continued his Factor when he left Siam; by which means he gather'd some many, and then set up for himself: The first step he made, was to buy a Ship, and to put to Sea, but had the misfortune to be beat back by bad Weather, and was twice cast away in the Mouth of the River of Siam.
Putting to Sea once more, he was shipwrackt the third time, and much more unfortunately, upon the Coast of Malabar; there he was in danger of perishing, and could not save, of all he had, above Two thousand Crowns. In this sad Condition, being opprest with grief, weariness and sleep, a remarkable thing hapned to him: He had laid himself down upon the shore when, whether was asleep, or awake, he could not tell himself, he fancied he saw a person full of Majesty, who looking upon him with a smiling Countenance, most obligingly said to him, Return, Return, from whence you came. Which words so wrought upon him, as he did often protest to several of his Acquaintance since, That it was impossible for him to sleep all the rest of the Night, his Thoughts being wholly taken up about finding a way how to return to Siam.
Next Day, whilst he walked by the Sea-side, reflecting on what he had seen in the Night-time, and uncertain what to think of it, he saw a Man coming towards him dropping wet, with a sad and dejected Countenance: It was an Ambassador of the King of Siam, who, upon his Return from Persia, had been Cast away, without saving any thing but his Life; both of them Speaking the Siamese Tongue, they became soon acquainted with one anothers Adventures. The Ambassador discover'd himself, and told what extreme Necessity he was reduced to. Monsieur Constance condoling his Misfortune, offered to carry him back to Siam, and with the 2000 Crowns that he had saved, he bought a small Barque, Cloaths and Provision for their passage. This so obliging Behaviour charmed the Ambassador of Siam, who, from that time forward, endeavour'd all he could how he might testifie his Gratitude to him. When they arrived at Siam, and the Ambassador had given an Account of his Negotiation and Shipwrack to the chief Minister, he told him all the good Offices which he had receiv'd from Monsieur Constance, with so great Applause to his Merit, that the Minister had a mind to know him. He entertain'd him in Discourse, and liked him so well, that he resolved to keep him about him, in which Post he soon gain'd the Esteem and Confidence of his Master. This chief Minister was a Man of Wit, and well versed in Business; but he avoided Trouble as much as he could, and loved his pleasure. It was matter of exceeding Joy to him, to have found an able, faithful, and industrious Person, on whom he might repose the Cares of his place. The Barcalon dying not long after the King, would needs put Monsieur Constance in his place, but he declin'd it, and told his Majesty, That that Post would create to him the Envy of all the great Men, and therefore besought him not to raise him higher than he was, for that was the utmost Boundary of his Ambition, accounting himself happy enough, in that he stood fair in his Favours.
His Modesty, his Skill and Diligence in dispatching Affairs, his Fidelity in managing the publick Revenue, and his Disinterestedness in refusing both the Appointments of his Office, and all Presents from private People, did more and more increase the King's Confidence in him.
He was very Civil to the English on all Occasions, and did them all the friendly Offices that lay in his power. He was very desirous of setting a Trade betwixt that Nation and them, but it was obstructed.
About two Years ago he sent a very considerable Present to King James II. of all the Rarities and valuable Things that the East-Indies do produce, estimated to be worth about Six thousand pounds.
Now that I am talking of Presents, nothing could be more Magnificent, than those that the King of Siam sent to the French King in the Year 1685, valued at above Sixty thousand pounds: And, in Requital, the French King sent to the King of Siam of the Manufacture of France, in Rich Brocards, Looking-Glasses, Watches, Cloaks, and other valuable Things, to the value of above 300000 Crowns; yet nothing was lookt on as a greater Compliment to the King of Siam, than a very fine Caparason of Velvet all richly Embroydered with Silver, Gold, and Pearls, all the Buckles and Rings whereof were of Massy Gold that was sent for the White Elephant, the Palladiam, or Tutelar Deity of that Country.