As needy gallants in the scriveners' hands, Court the rich knave that gripes their mortgaged lands, The first fat buck of all the season's sent, And keeper takes no fee in compliment: The dotage of some Englishmen is such To fawn on those who ruin them--the Dutch. They shall have all, rather than make a war With those who of the same religion are. The Straits, the Guinea trade, the herrings too, Nay, to keep friendship, they shall pickle you. Some are resolved not to find out the cheat, But, cuckold like, love him who does the feat: What injuries soe'er upon us fall, Yet, still, The same religion, answers all: Religion wheedled you to civil war, Drew English blood, and Dutchmen's now would spare: Be gulled no longer, for you'll find it true, They have no more religion, faith--than you; Interest's the god they worship in their state; And you, I take it, have not much of that. Well, monarchies may own religion's name, But states are atheists in their very frame. They share a sin, and such proportions fall, That, like a stink, 'tis nothing to them all. How they love England, you shall see this day; No map shews Holland truer than our play: Their pictures and inscriptions well we know[1]; We may be bold one medal sure to show. View then their falsehoods, rapine, cruelty; And think what once they were, they still would be: But hope not either language, plot, or art; 'Twas writ in haste, but with an English heart: And least hope wit; in Dutchmen that would be As much improper, as would honesty. Footnote 1. Amongst the pretexts for making war on the states of Holland were alleged their striking certain satirical medals, and engraving prints in ridicule of Charles II. See his proclamation of war in 1671-2. DRAMATIS PERSONAE. _Captain_ GABRIEL TOWERSON. _Mr_ BEAMONT, } _English Merchants, his Friends._ _Mr_ COLLINS, } _Captain_ MIDDLETON, _an English Sea Captain._ PEREZ, _a Spanish Captain._ HARMAN _Senior, Governor of Amboyna._ _The Fiscal._ HARMAN _Junior, Son to the Governor._ VAN HERRING, _a Dutch Merchant._ ISABINDA, _betrothed to_ TOWERSON, _an Indian Lady._ JULIA, _Wife to_ PEREZ. _An English Woman._ _Page to_ TOWERSON. _A Skipper._ _Two Dutch Merchants._ SCENE--_Amboyna._ AMBOYNA. ACT I. SCENE I.--_A Castle on the Sea._ _Enter_ HARMAN _Senior, the Governor, the Fiscal, and_ VAN HERRING: _Guards._ _Fisc._ A happy day to our noble governor. _Har._ Morrow, Fiscal. _Van Her._ Did the last ships, which came from Holland to these parts, bring us no news of moment? _Fisc._ Yes, the best that ever came into Amboyna, since we set footing here; I mean as to our interest. _Har._ I wonder much my letters then gave me so short accounts; they only said the Orange party was grown strong again, since Barnevelt had suffered.