Shortly after this, she and her son were condemned to the humiliation of slavery and she was set free that she might perform her duties.
The death of the King and his brothers had happened prior to the execution of Faulcon.
It was rumoured by some that the King had been poisoned, while others averred that the weariness of captivity was the cause of his death.
Pitracha, who held the fate of his master in his hands, and seeing that the King was on the point of death, thought it politic to compass the destruction of the King's brothers who might have put difficulties in the way of his succession.
He caused them to be put into velvet bags and handed them over to the executioners who beat them to death with clubs of sandalwood.
This method of death which had no disgrace attached to it, was reserved for Princes of the blood-royal.
The King shortly followed his brothers to the grave. This Prince, who had been so ardent a partisan of the French, has been depicted by them in glowing colours.
Though naturally of a warlike disposition, but a true friend of his people, he preferred to adopt a policy of pacification rather than to follow his inclinations which would have caused public misfortunes.
Though keeping his high spirit under control, he was none the less formidable to his neighbours who preferred to have him for an ally rather than for an enemy. As a monarch who took deep interest in all affairs of State, he allowed himself but little leisure; and his sole relaxation was the chase, the usual pastime of active persons and sometimes also of those weighed down by anxieties.
He showed an appreciation of science and art, several foreigners had been called in to be his instructors and had the soil been good, the harvest would have been fruitful.