Page:Great & wonderful revolution in Siam (1690).pdf/22

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And of the driving out of the French.
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been done in the two Cities of Siam and Louvo, which was like to have loft them all.

Opra Pitrachard having now taken his measures, and determined to destroy the French one way or other, and since he would not venture upon the doing of it by open force, was resolved to try what Cunning and Surprize could do. Wherefore he sent one Manpui, who had been the year before in France, in Quality of first Ambassador, and since his return was honour'd with the title of Barcalon, or Chief Minifter of State, to Bancock, to perswade Monsieur des Farges General of the French to come to him, and to tell him that it was the King's express pleasure that he should immediately come and confer with him about some Affairs of the last importance, and make what haste he possibly could to be at Louvo.

The General, that was altogether ignorant of what had been done in all this great and sudden Revolution, and suspecting no fraud, believed very readily what the Barcalon had told him, and that the King had sent for him, as on other occasions he had often done before; set out from Bancock the 7th of June, and went by Water; but he had hardly gone two Leagues from the place, when he perceived that some extraordinary business was in agitation, and apprehended there might be some design of putting some indignity upon him: For he could not imagine why he was surrounded with such a great number of Barges and Galleys, Arm'd with Stones and Field-Pieces, that perpetually accompani'd him till he came to Siam; where he no sooner arriv'd, but he was immediately taken out, and put into a Palanquin or close Litter, and carried to Louvo, being Guarded by several Troops of Armed Men; all this

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