A History of Burma

1 14 The Second Burmese Empire wine. from various kinds of Burmese fruit, and in no time Tabin­ shwehti became inordinately fond of the new drink. There were whispers that the young king had become a common drunkard and was no longer capable of ruling the country. The ministers, both Mon and Burmese, met secretly and unanimously offered the crown to Bayinnaung, who declined ·it, however, promising that he would try to win back the king to his old sense of duty to his own king­ dom. Giving a substantial bribe, he prevailed upon the young Por­ tuguese to leave the country. But the scandal had already done its work. At Syriam a half-brother of the last Mon king of Pegu, who had been living �s a monk, left the Order and raised the standard of rebellion. Bayinnaung, before leaving Pegu to proceed to Syriam, left a strong personal bodyguard to protect the king, but during his absence the Mon governor of Sittang arrived to invite Tabinshwehti to an elephant hunt. Tabinshwehti summoned Bayinnaung's younger brother, the viceroy of Toungoo, to come and guard Pegu. Then he accompanied the governor of Sittang to the elephant hunt, and while he was asleep one night the governor assassinated him. On hearing the news, Bayinnaung's younger brother returned to To­ ungoo and declared himself an independent king. The governor of Sittang now declared Pegu an independent kingdom with him­ self as king. But the Mon ministers refused to accept him and placed the rebel from Syriam on the throne. Bayinnaung returned to Pcgu and marched around the city, and although the gates were shut in his face no Mon dared to come out and attack him. He marched to Toungoo but again the gates were closed in his face. The viceroy of Prome also declared himself independent. However, all was not lost to Bayinnaung. He held not a single fortified town, but his well­ disciplined army was still intact and loyal to him. Among the rebellious Mons themselves there was a struggle for power, and when the governor of Sittang was assassinated by the new Mon king, the followers of the governor thirsted for revenge and would not join hands with the king's followers. Above all, none