THE BREACH BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND THE USURPER.
The revolution was managed so adroitly, that there were no perceptible
changes in public affairs. The palace was the scene of some
disturbance, but outside, everything was peaceful. Pitracha who had
succeeded quietly to the throne went to the capital where he was
proclaimed King amid the shouts of the multitude. The chief offices of
state were held by men of his faction and scorning the baseness of
revenge, as soon as there appeared nothing more to fear from their
actions, he promoted all those of whom he had previously cause to
complain. The people were relieved and his alms to the needy won the
hearts of all. He married the daughter of the late King. At first this
Princess was averse to the union, but fired by ambition, she preferred
life rather than the death which would have been her portion in event
of a refusal.
The negociations with the French had been brought to a successful
termination and it was agreed that ships and sailors should be
provided to convey them to Pondicherry, and, as a guarantee of good
faith the King sent his two sons who had been at court up to that time
to the French commander. All the officers who had been arrested at
Louvo, were released and from them the details were forthcoming of the
humiliations that they and the Christians of different nationalities
had suffered. The Seminary had been give over to pillage; the
Christian virgins became the prey of the licentious soldiery, the most
favoured of them however being reserved for the harems. The missionary
priests were put in the pillory whence they gave an example to their
flock of how to suffer in silence.
While preparations were being made for the departure of the French;
their open-hearted generosity very nearly caused an awkward
complication of affairs. Madame Faulcon too weak to endure the
hardships of slavery, asked the Bishop of Métellopolis to gain the
interest of the French commander on her behalf, and to make
arrangements that she might take her departure on board one of their
ships. The Bishop spoke greatly in her favour, but Des Farges, with
more diplomacy than gratitude replied that he was obliged to wait
until the Siamese had supplied him with everything needful for the
voyage and that when all was ready, he would consider her request.
She, however, had grave reasons for hastening her departure and every
moment of delay was vital.
The son of the King, worn out by debauchery, had conceived a violent
passion for her. She would have considered herself guilty of the death
of her husband had she shared the couch of his murderer. To gain her
consent, in vain did he point out that by this act alone she could
regain her position and rescue her son from the vengeance of his
enemies. The brave woman replied. "Are you unaware who I was and how I
have lived. My religion forbids so sinful a marriage. I loved my
husband with all my soul, and, faithful to his memory, my heart is
closed against any new passion. My son is dear to me and I ought to
live for his sake, but I refuse to buy life at such a price as you
offer."
The young Prince, whose passions knew no restraint thought he would be
able to conquer her proud spirit by the most tempting promises. But he
met with so stubborn a resistance, that he showed his affection in a
tyrannical fashion. She was carried off to the palace where she had no
defence other than her tears and outcries.
The Prince, fearing that this abduction would reveal the secret of his
debauched life to his father, already annoyed at his disorderly
conduct, determined to send her back, saying, that as she still
persisted in her resistance, there was nothing left for her but to die
with her son. She took no notice of these threats, she preferred to
die in innocence than to live in guilt. Her grandfather aged 88 who
was a descendant of the famous martyrs of Japan, upheld her
resolution.
A slighted affection, often becomes cruel. The Prince in order to
frighten her, caused her to be arraigned on a charge of embezzlement.
She was summoned before a tribunal and the judge although convinced of
her innocence ordered her to receive 100 strokes with the rod. She was
delivered to her merciless executioners who seeing her faint under the
punishment; only administered one half of what had been ordered. Her
relations were also punished, she had to endure the agonising
spectacle of beholding two of her uncles, two aunts and her eldest
brother undergoing tortures before her eyes. Her grandfather would
have suffered likewise, had not mercy been shown to him on account of
his infirmities.
While this courageous woman seemed to have nothing but sorrow as her
portion for the future, Sainte Marie, a young French officer offered
to escort her in safety to Bangkok. She was too unhappy to listen to
prudent advice. She embarked with her son in secret on a vessel
belonging to this officer, determined to risk all if she could but
escape from her persecutors.
Her arrival at the fort was a signal for general rejoicing but the
commander alone showed his disapproval, and had the pusillanimity to
wish that she should be sacrificed, rather than that a drop of French
blood should be spilt in her defence. "Alas" she exclaimed, "is
Faulcon's widow, the sole person who will have failed to find
sanctuary under the flag of France."
The King, on hearing of her escape, was convinced that she had carried
off a quantity of valuables with her. He at once sent two officials to
bring her back, and, in case of a refusal, to recommence hostilities.
As soon as the report of her arrival had spread, the French were
seized with a burning desire to fight to the death for her sake. The
tears of the unfortunate widow, the youth of her son, and the memory
of her husband who had been the protector of the French interests were
telling points in her favour. The officers and soldiers were
unanimous, and all declared that they would rather face death than the
shame of having betrayed the cause of a a distressed woman who had
thrown herself on their protection.
Des Farges, unshakable in his resolution to send her back to Siam,
made arrangements with M. de Métellopolis whose outspokeness and
skill well fitted him for the negociation of such delicate business.
The Bishop had need of all his urbanity to break such distressing news
to her. He found that she was firmly resolved not to return to Siam on
any account short of actual force. She waited for several days, her
mind wavering between hope and fear until one day a French officer
came to inform her that she must make her preparations for her
departure.
There was nothing for it but to obey, and she solemnly protested
against the violence which snatched her from the protection of the
French flag. The official who had been sent to bring her back came to
conduct her to the river side where a vessel was lying in readiness.
She was accompanied by her son, by one woman and a missionary whose
zeal sustained her drooping courage. Her distress became the more
acute the further she went from the spot from whence she had been
thrust forth, abandoned by the French whom she still could only regard
as friends. The sight of Siam rendered her grief more poignant; for
there lay the scene of the punishment of her husband and there that
she expected to undergo new tortures and to be parted for ever from
her son, the sole prop of her existance.
Her lot was happier than she had hoped. The son of the King, rebuffed
by her scorn, no longer desired her, or what is more likely was too
much afraid of his father to give rise to fresh scenes of violence and
scandal. She was appointed to the Royal Kitchens. In the opinion of
the Siamese, this is an honourable post and by no means a humiliation.
She had two thousand women under her orders, as palace servants. She
was entrusted with the care of the gold and silver plate, of the
King's wardrobe and of all the fruits served at table. Her lack of
self interest made her despise the valuable perquisites of her office
and, very different to her predecessors, handed over a considerable
sum every year to the royal treasury. The King of Siam, surrounded by
corrupt and rapacious officials was astonished to see such honesty,
and often said that only Christians could carry the scorn of wealth to
such a pitch.
Although she was not so unhappy as she had anticipated, she suffered
considerably from the fact that her son had been taken away from her.
For a long time she feared that his education had been entrusted to
the idolatrous priests, but she was much relieved to hear that he was
being brought up at the Seminary in charge of the Bishop and the
French missionaries.
Her son afterwards obtained a captaincy in the Siamese navy, on the
Coromandel coast. In 1749, he was entrusted with a mission to M.
Dupleix who at that time was Governor-General of the French
possessions in the East Indies.
The governor, a man of sound abilities though not brilliant,
remembered that he had to deal with the son of one who had been a
friend to his nation. He considered that it was his duty to give him
substantial proofs of the gratitude the French owed him, by granting
him exemption from all taxes levied on foreigners.
He sent him back, satisfied with the success of his mission and gave
him many valuable gifts. The name of Dupleix will ever be graven on
our annals devoted to citizens who have benefited their country.
Faulcon, on his return to Siam was favourably received. Having
inherited his father's abilities he might have risen to a high
position. But lavish as his father had been, he desired wealth merely
for the purpose of making presents to Princes and Kings. His bounties,
which ensured his favour at Court, exhausted his resources. He died in
poverty in 1754, leaving his wife a son and several daughters in
absolute want. One of his daughters married a Dutch shipmaster, who
was ruined by the loss of his vessel few years afterwards.
She soon lost her husband and when the Siamese were led in captivity
to Pegu, she was married again to a Portuguese half-caste by name
Jeanchi, a captain of Burmese regiment, He will be spoken of later.
The other daughters did not long survive their father. There remains
only a son named John Faulcon, married to a Portuguese in Siam. The
Burmese took him prisoner, but evading the vigilence of his guards,
escaped to Siam with his wife where they lived in obscurity.
Such were the posterity of the celebrated Constantine Faulcon who, of
humble origin, raised himself to the steps of the throne.
The obstacle, to the conclusion of the negociations with the French
which had been caused by the flight of Madame Faulcon, was removed by
her return. Both parties were equally anxious to come to an agreement.
The French were desirous of leaving a land where they would only
encounter fruitless and inglorious perils. The Siamese could not but
be uneasy while they still retained guests, of whose heroic valour
they had had such an experience. I cannot refrain from citing two
examples of the intrepid courage of these brave men.
Saint Cri, a French captain was sailing downstream in a boat, the
Indian crew of which were all drunk and incapable, and he had only two
Europeans with him who were ready for any emergency.
The Siamese, seeing his defenceless condition made preparations to
board his vessel.
One of the two Europeans became terrified and swam off to parley with
them, but he was taken prisoner and loaded with chains. Saint Cri, too
weak to offer any resistance, feared lest he should fall into the
hands of these savages. Death appeared to be a preferable alternative
to slavery and brave to desperation as he had but one soldier with
him, put his powder and handgrenades on the bridge. He calmly waited
till a large number of Siamese had boarded his ship, and then, fired
his powder and blew his enemies into the air.
The ship, damaged by the explosion, ran aground.
The Siamese, thinking that all the powder had been used up, imagined
that it would be an easy matter to seize the vessel. But Saint Cri
gave them cause to repent their rashness. He fired some bags of powder
that he had kept in reserve and although he himself was among the
slain, this explosion was more deadly than the first. His companion,
sword in hand gained the shore. The savages fell upon him, and,
overwhelmed by numbers, he perished, but not before he had slain five
of his assailants.
Another case bore witness to the inflexible purpose of the French
commander, whose two sons had been retained as hostages in the
capital. The King made them write to their father saying, that if the
garrison were not brought to Louvo, they would be put to death. The
commander, although devoted to his children, remembered his duties to
the state. He replied "My children I Feel as much for your sad
condition as you do yourselves, I would willingly lay down my life in
order to save yours. I cannot but urge you to follow my example and to
be faithful to duty. If you perish remember that you are dying for
your God, your King, and your country and be sure that your deaths
will not be unpunished."
Such heroic conduct had made the name of Frenchmen to be feared, and
caused the Siamese to hasten their departure. They were supplied with
three frigates, and to ensure that the ships should be returned, the
Bishop of Métellopolis, the chief of the French trading company, and
the two sons of the commander were given over as hostages. The troops
marched out of the fortress on the first of November 1688, taking with
them two officials as sureties for the King's word. During the night
they sailed down to the mouth of the river.
The French commander invited the officials who had come with the
French hostages to a great feast. After the meal the Siamese hostages
were asked for, but Des Farges said that he would not return them
until the four vessels bearing the baggage, three officers and
fourteen soldiers, hove in sight. The officials, learning of this
refusal hastened to inform the Barcalon.
This official was highly incensed at the breach of faith on the part
of the French. He summoned M. de Métellopolis and said "These
careless officials will be severely punished for having released the
French hostages before receiving our own. You and I will both be
involved in the trouble. You will be considered as the accomplice of
the French treachery and I shall be punished for having confided the
matter to untrustworthy persons. Let us find some way of escape from
the danger common to us both."
The bishop, who had not been informed of the plans of Des Farges,
neither dared to lay the blame on him, nor to find excuses.
They agreed that if one of the hostages were given up, the Siamese
would deliver over a third part of what they were retaining and that
the remainder would set out for the mouth of the river whenever the
last of the officials should have set sail.
Des Farges released one official on the spot, but as he had given the
first example of bad faith, the Siamese considered that they were at
liberty to break their word also, and, instead of sending down the
ships, demanded with threats, that the other two hostages should be
restored.
M. de Métellopolis wrote a pathetic letter to the commander, pointing
out how his line of action would cause the ruin of the French and of
the growing Church. The inflexible resolution of Des Farges could not
be shaken and after having waited five days for the fulfilment of the
Barcalon's promises, he set sail for Malacca en route for Pondicherry
taking with him the hostages who were of no possible use to him.