h maintain their factories among us in Amboyna, or in the
neighbouring plantations of Seran.

_Fisc._ Still I have news that tickles me within; ha, ha, ha! I'faith
it does, and will do you, and all our countrymen.

_Har._ Pr'ythee do not torture us, but tell it.

_Van Her._ Whence comes this news?

_Fisc._ From England.

_Har._ Is their East India fleet bound outward for these parts, or
cast away, or met at sea by pirates?

_Fisc._ Better, much better yet; ha, ha, ha!

_Har._ Now am I famished for my part of the laughter.

_Fisc._ Then, my brave governor, if you're a true Dutchman, I'll make
your fat sides heave with the conceit on't, 'till you're blown like a
pair of large smith's bellows; here, look upon this paper.

_Har._ [_reading._] _You may remember we did endamage the English
East-India Company the value of five hundred thousand pounds, all in
one year; a treaty is now signed, in which the business is ta'en up
for fourscore thousand._--This is news indeed: would I were upon the
castle-wall, that I might throw my cap into the sea, and my gold chain
after it! this is golden news, boys.

_Van Her._ This is news would kindle a thousand bonfires, and make us
piss them out again in Rhenish wine.

_Har._ Send presently to all our factories, acquaint them with these
blessed tidings: If we can 'scape so cheap, 'twill be no matter what
villanies henceforth we put in practice.

_Fisc._ Hum! why this now gives encouragement to a certain plot, which
I have been long brewing, against these skellum English. I almost have
it here in pericranio, and 'tis a sound one, 'faith; no less than to
cut all their throats, and seize all their effects within this island.
I warrant you we may compound again.

_Van Her._ Seizing their factories I like well enough, it has some
savour in't; but for this whoreson cutting of throats, it goes a
little against the grain, because 'tis so notoriously known in
Christendom, that they have preserved ours from being cut by the
Spaniards.

_Har._ Hang them, base English starts, let them e'en take their part
of their own old proverb--Save a thief from the gallows; they would
needs protect us rebels, and see what comes to themselves.

_Fisc._ You're i'the right on't, noble Harman; their assistance, which
was a mercy and a providence to us, shall be a judgment upon them.

_Van Her._ A little favour would do well; though not that I would stop
the current of your wit, or any other plot, to