[ 1 ]
Preface
by
His Royal Highness
Prince Damrong Rajanubhab.
Hluang Prasöt Aksornit[1] (Phë Barien) found in a private house the present "history" and presented it to the National Library on the 19th January, 1907.
From the book it appears that it was compiled in Chula 1042, in the reign of King Narayana. The contents agree to a certain extent with the summary prefaced to the edition of the History by Somdet Phra Baramanujit; but in many places there are differences, and in some instances it appears that the present version is the more correct one. Thus in the reign of Phra Paramatrailokanat the former versions state, that the King reigned in Ayuddhya, where he erected the temple Chulamani in which he entered as a priest and in which he remained for 8 months. Investigations made showed that no temple of the name Chulamani existed in Ayuddhya, and the temple could not be located. Now in the present version it is stated that Phra Paramatrailokanat proceeded to Phitsnulok, where he reigned and erected the temple Chulamani and entered the Priesthood and afterwards died, Now a temple Chulamani exists in Phitsnulok, and this may serve as a proof of the correctness of the present version.[2] Furthermore in the wars with the King of Pegu, in the reign of the King Mahacakravatti, the other histories do not record the name, so that it had to be inferred that only one King of Pegu waged war with Ayuddhya, The Burmese records speak, however, of two Kings, and our present version also speaks about two Kings in accordance with the Burmese annals.
[ 7 ]
