Page:Great & wonderful revolution in Siam (1690).pdf/14

 was first to bring the Kingdom under the French Domination, and then to change the establisht Religion of the Country; towards the attainment of which Ends, the said Greek had so far prevailed on the King, who having no Sons of his own to succeed him, but two Brothers, as to get him to adopt a young Nobleman that had been bred up in that Christian Religion that the Jesuits teach and propagate in the Indies, to be his Heir and Successor. It was under this Successor that the Conspiracy was to take Effect.

The French were already become Masters, and in possession of the two chief places that open a passage into that Kingdom; the one is call'd Bancock, which is a great and strong Fortress on the Mouth of the River of Siam; Margen is the other place situated on the Frontiers: And as if this had not been enough to please and oblige them, the King allow'd them to have a Command in the Guards about his own Person.

It was with much Impatience and Resentment that the Officers of State, and the great Men of the Kingdom suffered those pernicious Intrigues to be carry'd on. They could not but well observe, that those great French Squadrons, so fill'd with Numbers of Men, and so plentifully provided with Ammunition, and all Warlike Preparations, aimed at something else, besides the securing of the Trade and Commerce of the French Company of Merchants, all whose Stock was not of that Importance, as to occasion the Charges and necessary Expence of one of those Squadrons; neither were they so filly, or unacquainted with the Affairs abroad, as to believe that those mighty and rich Presents that came so frequently from France, were sent for no other End, than to make and preserve a strict Friendship and Amity betwixt the Kings of both Nations. They could Rh