82 A LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS 



of Siam, Raja Api (or the faire King) died 1605 whome his 

 brother called the White King did succeed, hee dyed also 

 1620 and his second sonne inheritts who nowe liveth and vppon 

 whome many Kinges do make warres and do hope to put him 

 out of his Throane. Hereby wee may see the dangerous estate 

 wherevnto Siam is nowe brought, and the hazard which wee 

 doe beare in those places, concerning trade there nowe, it is 

 not great, but quietnes beeing obteyned through the victorie of 

 the one side or other, there will doubtles bee good trade againe, 

 and bee a good place for our Companie ; ffor this Countrey 

 venteth a good parcell of Cloth both of Bengal ie and Coro- 

 mandell, but of Cambaia cloth fat and faire the people nowe 

 beeing vsed to weare itt. This place venteth other kinde of 

 Cloth that Jaua or Malleya do and the people are verie 

 Curious of their Cloth especiallie painted, whereof those of 

 Set. Thorn re and Palliacatt haue the best trade, which 



sortes are not only vsed in 



game 



vallue Diamantes it hath non <-[c]onclude 



the revenues of this King is grea he liueth after 



the manner of the Persean Pomp and the Perseans 



do here dominere ouer the Geiit.il e that it is pittie to 



see and do eate and Consume the poore peoples with taxes and 

 violences, and if peradventure there ariveth a strange Shippe 

 here especiallie att Musilpatam, It is in the Governers 

 power to giue such safeconduct as it pleaseth him for forming 

 the gouerment, Hee is to pay great Summe of money, hee 

 bearing the gaine and losse, wherefore rather lett a shippe goe 

 away againe, hee will abate as much as is possible, and giue 

 you the fairest wordes hee can vntill hee haue you and all your 

 goodes on shoare, then hee will begin to sing annother song, 

 and will Invent a thowsand knaveries vntill you are wearied, 

 and glad to content him, which Contentment doth not consist 

 in giveing one or 200 pagados, but in dealing and contracting 



Jour. Straits Branch 



