Page:Great & wonderful revolution in Siam (1690).pdf/16

 In the Month of May 1688, the King happened to fall Sick at his Royal Palace at Louvo, the report whereof was no sooner spread abroad, than the Conspiracy broke out, which was contrived by one of the Chief Ministers of State, Pitrachard by Name; who, besides his Quality of Great Mandarin, was Governor of the Palaces of Siam and Louvo, and dignified with the Honourable Title of Opra, which is one of the most Illustrious and distinguishing Marks of Honour that one is capable of in Siam. The discovery of this Plot, the progress it made, and the consequences of it, being the substance of several Letters writ from Siam in October 1688, are as follow:

On the 26th of May at Night, Opra Pitrachard caused a great many Troops to enter the Castle of Louvo, whereby he made himself presently Master of the Person of the King, seized his Adopted Son, and on his two Brothers, giving it out, and making every one of them in particular believe, it was to secure the King's Life from a desperate Conspiracy that lately had been discovered against him; but to the three young Princes he further said to every one of them apart, That the King was so ill that he was past all hopes of Recovery, and that he would make it his business to set the Crown on their Heads. This was done on purpose that they might let him go on, and not interrupt him in the execution of so plausible a Design; and it had all the success that he could have wished or hoped.

Monsieur Constance was no sooner acquainted with what had past, and was awas [sic] carrying on in the Castle, but he went immediately thither, accompanied with a numerous Train of his Friends, and particularly of the French, amongst whom were