The Siamese feared lest he should become too powerful; or that they might be ruled by a foreigner. The ministers replied that the enemy were about to make an assault on the other side of the town and that they needed all their available artillery to repel it.
The Englishman, annoyed by this act of faithlessness, determined to have no further dealings with a nation that neither knew how to fight nor to furnish one who was then friend with the wherewithal to protect them. But before setting sail he issued a manifesto against the King of Siam giving his reasons for deserting his post. He seized six Chinese ships of which one belonged to the King. The five other vessels coming to trade with Siam, were stopped in the gulf, and were considerably surprised to find themselves despoiled of their goods. The Englishman, in return for what he had taken, gave the captains bills of exchange drawn on the King of Siam to the value of the thirty eight bales of goods that he had deposited. Having thus taken his security and passed proudly before his foes who instead of being downcast at his retirement, were highly delighted to behold the departure of a rival who alone could hinder their success.
The Burmese, on his departure, again took the offensive and as they had merely feeble adversaries to consider, destroyed everything they could find. The temples were burnt and the lead found there was made into bullets. The enemy, for a considerable time master of the countryside, had issued strict orders that no cultivation was to be carried on. But the fertility of the soil caused an abundant crop that was not due to agricultural labours. The grains of rice fallen from the hands of the reapers of the previous year grew and came to maturity. This unexpected blessing was a great consolation for the people threatened with famine. But this, which should have been to their advantage, was considerably the reverse. The inhabitants went out to gather the rice, but were surprised by the Burmese, who led them captive to their camp.
While the Burmese, scattered over all the provinces, were carrying on a war against men and nature, the King and his superstitious ministers put all their trust in their magicians. The officers and soldiers followed their example and consulted them as to how they might render themselves invisible in order to attack the enemy unawares, and the hope of learning a secret so favourable to their cowardly nature, prevented them from going out to fight before it had been revealed to them.