Van Her. Did he confess no more?
Fisc. You interrupt me. I told him, I was certainly informed the English had designs upon the castle, and if he frankly would confess their plot, he should not only be released from torment, but bounteously rewarded: Present pain and future hope, in fine, so wrought upon him, he yielded to subscribe whatever I pleased; and so he stands committed.
Har. Well contrived; a fair way made, upon this accusation, to put them all to torture.
2 Dutch. By his confession, all of them shall die, even to their general, Towerson.
Har. He stands convicted of another crime, for which he is to suffer.
Fisc. This does well to help it though: For Towerson is here a person publicly employed from England, and if he should appeal, as sure he will, you have no power to judge him in Amboyna.
Van Her. But in regard of the late league and union betwixt the nations, how can this be answered?
1 Dutch. To torture subjects to so great a king, a pain never heard of in their happy land, will sound but ill in Europe.
Fisc. Their English laws in England have their force; and we have ours, different from theirs at home. It is enough, they either shall confess, or we will falsify their hands to make them. Then, for the apology, let me alone; I have it writ already to a title, of what they shall subscribe; this I will publish, and make our most unheard of cruelties to seem most just and legal.
Har. Then, in the name of him, who put it first into thy head to form this damned false plot, proceed we to the execution of it. And to begin; first seize we their effects, rifle their chests, their boxes, writings, books, and take of them a seeming inventory; but all to our own use.—I shall grow young with thought of this, and lose my son's remembrance!