_Eng. Wom.._ I wish they did not merit much worse of me, than I can say of them.--Well, we sailed forward with a merry gale, till near St Helen's isle we were overtaken, or rather waylaid, by a Holland vessel; the captain of which ship, whom here I see, the man who quitted us of all we had in those rich parts before, now fearing to restore his ill-got goods, first hailed, and then invited us on board, keeping himself concealed; his base lieutenant plied all our English mariners with wine, and when in dead of night they lay secure in silent sleep, most barbarously commanded they should be thrown overboard. _Fisc._ Sir, do not hear it out. _Har. Sen._ This is all false and scandalous. _Tow._ Pray, sir, attend the story. _Eng. Wom._ The vessel rifled, and the rich hold rummaged, they sink it down to rights; but first I should have told you, (grief, alas, has spoiled my memory) that my dear husband, wakened at the noise, before they reached the cabin where we lay, took me all trembling with the sudden fright, and leapt into the boat; we cut the cordage, and so put out to sea, driving at mercy of the waves and wind; so scaped we in the dark. To sum up all, we got to shore, and in the mountains hid us, until the barbarous Hollanders were gone. _Tow._ Where is your husband, countrywoman? _Eng. Wom._ Dead with grief; with these two hands I scratched him out a grave, on which I placed a cross, and every day wept o'er the ground where all my joys lay buried. The manner of my life, who can express! the fountain-water was my only drink; the crabbed juice and rhind of half-ripe lemons almost my only food, except some roots; my house, the widowed cave of some wild beast. In this sad state, I stood upon the shore, when this brave captain with his ship approached, whence holding up and waving both my hands, I stood, and by my actions begged their mercy; yet, when they nearer came, I would have fled, had I been able, lest they should have proved those murderous Dutch, I more than hunger feared. _Har. Sen._ What say you to this accusation, Van Herring? _Van Her._ 'Tis as you said, sir, false and scandalous. _Har. Sen._ I told you so; all false and scandalous. _Isab._ On my soul it is not; her heart speaks in her tongue, and were she silent, her habit and her face speak for her. _Beam._ Sir, you have heard the proofs. _Fisc._ Mere allegations, and no proofs. Seem not to believe it, sir. _Har. Sen._ Well, well, we'll hear it another time. _Mid._ You seem not to believe her testimony, but my whole crew can witness it. _Van Her._ Ay, they are all Englishmen. _Tow._ That's a nation too generous to do bad actions, and too sincere to justify them done; I wish their neighbours were of the same temper. _Har. Sen._ Nay, now you kindle, captain; this must not be, we are your friends and servants.