The Picnic Incident
The incident took place on 10 December 1636 CE. A group of Dutch from the Dutch Lodge received a day off, as they were very busy for several months. The group went to 'Boeretiet', one of the three principal temples in and around the city, as Van Vliet wrote. 'Boeretiet' was situated on the other side of the river, a short distance inland, right opposite the Prince's palace (i.e., the Rear Palace). The group had a meal there and had made merry with a little drink. All of them, except two assistants, stepped back into the boat to return to the lodge. As there was a good footpath, the two Dutch - Joost Laurentsz and Daniel Jacobsz - wanted to walk back to the main river. Unfortunately, both were very drunk, going for a stroll and started acting belligerently. The two got into several altercations along the way. They called people bad names, rudely invaded homes, stole food, and eventually picked a fight with the heavily tattooed slaves of the prince (bras pintados - painted arms). Apparently, the two Dutch swiped away sabres and paddles and refused to return them. Daniel Jacobsz was immediately seized and taken to the palace for punishment. Joost Laurentsz escaped by jumping into the river, where he was later found still swimming – exhausted and unable to speak – by the other Dutchmen. The group ended up in front of the rear palace, trying to come to rescue their drunk companion. They were overpowered, stripped naked, tied hand and foot and taken to the Phra Khlang. King Prasat Thong ordered that both Dutch men be sentenced to death by elephant trampling. They were lashed to a pole in the hot sun awaiting execution. As a consequence, the king placed restrictions on the trading activities of the Dutch East India Company. Jeremias Van Vliet, the company director, tried to save their lives by giving expensive presents to influence persons at the court. Van Vliet was ultimately forced to bow in humiliation to King Prasat Thong and beg for their release. The two men were let go, but Dutch authorities severely reprimanded Van Vliet for the act of bowing to a foreign king. [4]
The Dutch calling of 'Boeretiet' could be a Dutchification of 'Worachet" or maybe another old name for this temple. 'Boeretiet', which literally means a ‘farmers' boob’, could also be used jokingly to describe the form of the prang. An important detail is the 'good footpath' from Wat Worachet to the main river, a path over 1.5 Km based on Kaempfer's observation and sketch, probably made on 22 June 1690 CE when he visited the northwest area of Ayutthaya and Phukhao Thong.
King Prasat Thong usurped the throne in 1629 CE. The king was intrigued by the upcoming millennial year 1000 Chulasakkarat (1638 CE), which fell on the year of the tiger. According to superstition, the millennial could turn into an age of darkness and calamity. He went even that far to propagate a new calendar era. To ‘survive' the 1000th year and avert disastrous consequences, the king built and restored temples on a massive scale. Van Vliet, the director of the Dutch VOC company in Ayutthaya, wrote: "He has built, renewed, and repaired more temples, towers, and pyramids than any of his predecessors." It is possible that early during King Prasat Thong's reign, Wat Worachet was either renewed or built. Jeremias Van Vliet wrote that 'Boeretiet' was one of the three principal temples in and around the city. He cites the Phra Klang, stating: "...Boeretiet is one of the holiest temples in Siam, a temple frequented by the King himself, who often goes there to pray and to make offerings both to the temple itself and to the Religious." It is thus evident that during Van Vliet's stay in Ayutthaya (1633-1641 CE), this temple situated west of Ayutthaya was of great importance. [5]