_Har._ Which we have so increased each year upon them, we being in power, and therefore judges of the cost, that we exact whatever we please, still more than half the charge; and on pretence of their non-payment, or the least delay, do often stop their ships, detain their goods, and drag them into prisons, while our commodities go on before, and still forestall their markets. _Fisc._ These, I confess, are pretty tricks, but will not do our business; we must ourselves be ruined at long run, if they have any trade here; I know our charge at length will eat us out: I would not let these English from this isle have cloves enough to stick an orange with, not one to throw into their bottle-ale. _Har._ But to bring this about now, there's the cunning. _Fisc._ Let me alone awhile; I have it, as I told you, here; mean time we must put on a seeming kindness, call them our benefactors and dear brethren, pipe them within the danger of our net, and then we'll draw it o'er them: When they're in, no mercy, that's my maxim. _Van Her._ Nay, brother, I am not too obstinate for saving Englishmen, 'twas but a qualm of conscience, which profit will dispel: I have as true a Dutch antipathy to England, as the proudest _he_ in Amsterdam; that's a bold word now. _Har._ We are secure of our superiors there. Well, they may give the king of Great Britain a verbal satisfaction, and with submissive fawning promises, make shew to punish us; but interest is their god as well as ours. To that almighty, they will sacrifice a thousand English lives, and break a hundred thousand oaths, ere they will punish those that make them rich, and pull their rivals down. [_Guns go off within._ _Van Her._ Heard you those guns? _Har._ Most plainly. _Fisc._ The sound comes from the port; some ship arrived salutes the castle, and I hope brings more good news from Holland. [_Guns again._ _Har._ Now they answer them from the fortress. _Enter_ BEAMONT _and_ COLLINS. _Van Her._ Beamont and Collins, English merchants both; perhaps they'll certify us. _Beam._ Captain Harman van Spelt, good day to you. _Har._ Dear, kind Mr Beamont, a thousand and a thousand good days to you, and all our friends the English. _Fisc._ Came you from the port, gentlemen? _Col._ We did; and saw arrive, our honest, and our gallant countryman, brave captain Gabriel Towerson. _Beam._ Sent to these parts from our employers of the East India company in England, as general of the voyage. _Fisc._ Is the brave Towerson returned? _Col._ The same, sir. _Har._ He shall be nobly welcome. He has already spent twelve years upon, or near, these rich Molucca isles, and home returned with honour and great wealth. _Fisc._ The devil give him joy of both, or I will for him. [_Aside._ _Beam._ He's my particular friend; I lived with him, both at Tencrate, Tydore, and at Seran. _Van Her._ Did he not leave a mistress in these parts, a native of this island of Amboyna?