In Act 3 Scene 1, Eyre's purchase of the heavily discounted cargo from the Dutch skipper reveal the theme of insider capitalism. Eyre is able to purchase the cargo at a bargain because of "the love he shipowner bears to Hans." However, acknowledging the historical context reveals other motivations. Towards the end of the 16th century London suffered sharp increases in food and rent prices which drastically increased the citywide proportion of poverty. Meanwhile, immigrant populations rose which created significant tension. Specifically, the Dutch were seen as a threat to the "whole commercial and maritime sector of the English economy." These circumstances imply that "ealth is a fixed pie; an increase in one's position depends upon the diminution of another's." Eyre prioritizes honest dealing in order to foster a longer-term trade relationship, but he also seeks to maximize gain. This calculated investment decision is a "triumph of capitalist enterprise."