1873.] 
Sir Arthur P. Phayre —The History of Peg it. 
151 
collected numerous boats to convey stores of all kinds for the army on its 
inarch clown to the capital. The commander under the emperor was Binya 
Bala, through whom all orders were issued. A portion of the army 
remained in the upper Menam to plant rice when the rain began to fall, in 
ease there should be a scarcity lower down. The army invested the capital 
without any resistance. The emperor had determined to reduce it by 
famine. But after four months, that is, in May 1569, little or no effect had 
been produced. At this time the old king of Siam died, and his son 
Bramahin made some overtures for surrender, but these were not accepted. 
The losses in the Burmese army had been very severe, and the emperor 
becoming anxious, put two of his superior officers to death for neglect of 
duty. At this time, the king of Leng-dzeng approached with an army to 
relieve the capital. The emperor leaving Binya Bala in command, himself 
proceeded with the crown-prince and other officers, and a battle was fought in 
which the Laos king was defeated. The king now returned to renew the siege. 
Affairs had become very serious and the emperor had recourse to a stratagem. 
One of his Siamese supporters, a noble of high rank, pretending to desert, 
entered the city with irons on his legs. He was received with joy by 
Bramahin, and appointed to a high command. In pursuance of his 
treacherous design, he maintained a correspondence with the emperor, and 
opening one of the city gates allowed the enemy to enter. The city was 
taken in August, 1569, after a siege of seven months. It was given up to 
plunder. The unfortunate king Brahmahin was made prisoner.* The 
emperor remained in the city of Yodaya for two months, and appointed 
Thaung-kyi, a member of the Zimme royal family, tributary king of Siam. 
In a council of all the principal officers, it was decided, that it was now 
essential that the king of Leng-dzeng should be followed up. Sending back 
all surviving disabled men to Pegu, and an immense quantity of plunder, 
the emperor himself proceeded up the Menam, and fixed his head quarters 
at Pithalauk. Prom thence the several divisions of the army marched 
eastward. After a long and tedious march, the emperor encamped on the 
right bank of the Mekong, opposite Maing-zan. Nothing had been heard 
of the corps commanded by the crown-prince and other generals. Orders 
were issued to fell trees, to prepare boats and rafts, to cross the river. 
A bridge of boats was at last made by which the army passed, and the enemy 
deserted Maing-zan. The other divisions, after great sufferings, had crossed 
the river some distance to the north, and now marched down to join the 
emperor. Maing-zan being made a depot for stores and the sick, the king of 
* Nothing more is said of this king in the Burmese history. Both that and 
the Tailing history dwell on the death of the old king and oi the generosity of tho 
conqueror in giving him a grand funeral. Ilis son, it would appear, committed 
suicide, as we learn from an old Venetian traveller quoted hereafter. 
