do them mischief; but
they were first discoverers of this isle, first traded hither, and
showed us the way.

_Fisc._ I grant you that; nay more, that, by composition made after
many long and tedious quarrels, they were to have a third part of the
traffic, we to build forts, and they to contribute to the charge.

_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, go