_Har._ Bring them in; I'll try if we can face them down by impudence, and make them to confess. _Enter_ BEAMONT _and_ COLLINS, _guarded._ You are not ignorant of our business with you: the cries of your accomplices have already reached your ears; and your own consciences, above a thousand summons, a thousand tortures, instruct you what to do. No farther juggling, nothing but plain sincerity and truth to be delivered now; a free confession will first atone for all your sins above, and may do much below to gain your pardons. Let me exhort you, therefore, be you merciful, first to yourselves and make acknowledgment of your conspiracy. _Beam._ What conspiracy? _Fisc._ Why la you, that the devil should go masked with such a seeming honest face! I warrant you know of no such thing. _Har._ Were not you, Mr Beamont, and you, Collins both accessary to the horrid plot, for the surprisal of this fort and island? _Beam._ As I shall reconcile my sins to heaven, in my last article of life, I am innocent. _Col._ And so am I. _Har._ So, you are first upon the negative. _Beam._ And will be so till death. _Col._ What plot is this you speak of? _Fisc._ Here are impudent rogues! now after confession of two Japanese, these English starts dare ask what plot it is! _Har._ Not to inform your knowledge, but that law may have its course in every circumstance, Fiscal, sum up their accusation to them. _Fisc._ You stand accused, that new-year's day last past, there met at captain Towerson's house, you present, and many others of your factory: There, against law and justice, and all ties of friendship, and of partnership betwixt us, you did conspire to seize upon the fort, to murder this our worthy governor; and, by the help of your plantations near, of Jacatra, Banda, and Loho, to keep it for yourselves. _Beam._ What proofs have you of this? _Fisc._ The confession of two Japanese, hired by you to attempt it. _Beam._ I hear they have been forced by torture to it. _Har._ It matters not which way the truth comes out; take heed, for their example is before you. _Beam._ Ye have no right, ye dare not torture us; we owe you no subjection. _Fisc._ That, sir, must be disputed at the Hague; in the mean time we are in possession here. _2 Dutch._ And we can make ourselves to be obeyed. _Van Her._ In few words, gentlemen, confess. There is a beverage ready for you else, which you will not like to swallow. _Col._ How is this? _Har._ You shall be muffled up like ladies, with an oiled cloth put underneath your chins, then water poured above; which either you must drink, or must not breathe. _1 Dutch._ That is one way, we have others. _Har._ Yes, we have two elements at your service, fire, as well as water; certain things called matches to be tied to your finger-ends, which are as sovereign as nutmegs to quicken your short memories. _Beam._ You are inhuman, to make your cruelty your pastime: nature made me a man, and not a whale, to swallow down a flood.