my Beam. As I shall reconcile my sins to heaven, in last article of life, I am innocent. Col. And so am I. Har. So, you are first upon the negative. 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 circumstancé, 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 meantime we are in possession here. 2 Dutch. And we can make ourselves 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. Har. You will grow a corpulent gentleman like I shall love you the better for it; now you are but a spare rib. me; Fisc. These things are only offered to your choice; you may avoid your tortures, and confess. Col. Kill us first; for that we know is your design at last, and 'tis more mercy now. Beam. Be kind, and execute us while we bear the shapes of men, ere fire and water have destroyed our figures; let me go whole out of the world, I care not, and find my body when I rise again, so as I need not be ashamed of it. Har. 'Tis well you are merry; will you yet confess? Beam. Never. Har. Bear them away to torture! Van Her. We will try your constancy. Beam. We will shame your cruelty; if we deserve our tortures, 'tis first for freeing such an infamous nation, that ought to have been slaves, and then for trusting them as partners, who had cast off the yoke of their lawful sovereign. Har. Away, I'll hear no more.-Now who comes the next? [Exeunt the English with a Guard. Fisc. Towerson's page, a ship-boy, and a woman. Har. Call them in. [Exit a Messenger. . Van Her. We shall have easy work with them. Fisc. Not so easy as you imagine, they have endured the beverage already; all masters of their pain, no one confessing. Har. The devil's in these English! those brave boys would prove stout topers if they lived. Enter Page, a Boy, and a Woman,led as from torture. Come hither, ye perverse imps; they say you have endured the water torment, we will try what fire will do with you :-You, sirrah, confess; were not you knowing of Towerson's plot, against this fort and island? Page. I have told your hangman no, twelve times within this hour, when I was at the last gasp; and that is a time, I think, when a man should not dissemble. Har. A man! mark you that now; you English boys have learnt a trick of late, of growing men betimes; and doing men's work, too, before you come to twenty. Van Her. Sirrah, I will try if you are a salamander, and can live in the fire. Page. Sure you think my father got me of some Dutchwoman, and that I am but of a half-strain courage; but you shall find that I am all over English, as well in fire as water. Boy. Well, of all religions, I do not like your Dutch. Fisc. No? and why, young stripling? Boy. Because your penance comes before confession. Har. Do you mock us, sirrah? To the fire with him! Boy. Do so; all you shall get by it is this; before I answered no; now I'll be sullen and will talk no more. Har. Best cutting off these little rogues betime; if they grow men, they will have the spirit of revenge in them. Page. Yes, as your children have that of rebellion. Oh that I could but live to be governor here, to make your fat guts pledge me in that beverage I drunk, you Sir John Falstaff of Amsterdam! Boy. I have a little brother in England, that I intend to appear to when you have killed me; and if he does not promise me the death of ten Dutchmen in the next war, I'll haunt him instead of you. Har. What say you, woman? Have compassion of yourself, and confess; you are of a softer sex. Wom. But of a courage full as manly; there is no sex in souls; would you have English wives shew less of bravery than their children do? To lie by an Englishman's side, is enough to give a woman resolution. Fisc. Here is a hen of the game too, but we shall tame you in the fire. Wom. My innocence shall there be tried like gold, till it come out the purer. When you have burnt me all into one wound, cram gunpowder into it, and blow me up, I'll not confess one word to shame my country. Har. I think we have got here the mother of the Maccabees; away with them all three! [Exeunt the English guarded.] I'll take the pains myself to see these tortured. [Exeunt HARMAN, VAN HERRING, and the two Dutchmen with the English: Manet FISCAL. Jul. Oh Enter JULIA to the FISCAL. you have ruined me! you have undone me, in the person of my husband! Fisc. If he will needs forfeit his life to the laws, by joining with the English in a plot, it is not in me to save him; but, dearest Julia, be satisfied, you shall not want a husband. Jul. Do you think I'll ever come into a bed with him, who robbed me of my dear sweet man? Fisc. Dry up your tears; I am in earnest ; I will marry you; i'faith I will; it is your destiny. Jul. Nay, if it be my destiny-but I vow I'll never be yours but upon one condition. Fisc. Name your desire, and take it. Jul. Then save poor Beamont's life. Fisc. This is the most unkind request you could have made; it shews you love him better: therefore, in prudence, I should haste his death. Jul. Come, I'll not be denied; you shall give me his life, or I'll not love you; by this kiss, you shall, child. Fisc. Pray ask some other thing. Jul. I have your word for this, and if you break it, how shall I trust you for your marrying me? Fisc. Well, I will do it to oblige you.-But, to prevent her new designs with him, I'll see him shipped away for England, strait. [Aside. Jul. I may build upon your promise, then? Fisc. Most firmly: I hear company. Enter HARMAN, VAN HERRING, and the two Dutchmen, with TOWERSON, prisoner. Har. Now, Captain Towerson, you have had the privilege to be examined last; this on the score of my old friendship with you, though you have ill deserved it. But here you stand accused of no less crimes than robbery first, then murder, and last, treason: What can you say to clear yourself? Tow. You're interested in all, and therefore partial. 'I have considered on it, and will not plead, Because I know you have no right to judge me; For the last treaty betwixt our king and you |