_The Old Woman relates, that her Husband and Black-friend having killed
one another, she removes her lodging; and is brought to bed of a young
Black-more, which she likewise murthereth; and then again removing her
quarters, and passing for a maid, is married to a young Inn-keeper;
who, instead of her, had a maid servant for his Bed fellow; who being
both sleepy, she sets fire of the House; and then pretending to fetch
water at the Well, tumbles her in, where she is drowned._
Thus, said Mrs. _Dorothy_, did the old Hagg give me an account of her
mischievous beginning; and indeed, in the prosecution of her story, she
acquainted me with so many horrible actions, that I was agast; and
wondered that the Earth did not open, to swallow up a wretch so
monstrously wicked; but I think, said she, by what I have said, I have
told you enough to know her, and therefore shall pass over the rest of
her actions in silence: nay, said I, Mrs. _Dorothy_, since you have
begun to give us so fair an account of the foul actions of this your
wicked acquaintance, I shall desire you to take the pains to proceed
therein. Truly, said Mrs. _Mary_, although I have known many wretched
People in my dayes, yet I never heard of the like; and I suppose by what
you have already recounted, that all you have further to say will be
both remarkable, admirable, and pleasant (if we may account that
pleasant which is so mischievously, and wickedly witty;) and therefore
I, as well as our friend here, desire you to continue your relation; and
if you will take the pains, we will have the patience to hear you to the
least particular. Mrs. _Dorothy_ being thus requested by us both,
replyed, that she should be content to grant our desires, but then we
must have a great deal of patience, and pardon those impertinent
ignorances that she should be forced to recount, in relating so many
notable and various adventurous actions of another: We told her, we
should willingly attend, and excuse her in all; and thereupon she thus
continued.
Although (said this old Trot) my Husband, and my black friend had
quickly dispatch’t their business, by thus dispatching one another, yet
they were neither so sudden nor so silent, but I both heard and saw them
tilt at one another with their swords, which were bathed in each others
heart blood; and so they fell, grinning at each other with horrible
Countenances and they lay so close together, that they could catch hold
of one another, and fight with their hands, their swords being sheathed
in one anothers bodies; but this contest could not, neither did it last
long, their hearts being suffocated with Blood, and so in short time
they both expired; which I discovered by the noise of hollow groans: and
thus continued she, was I deprived of a Friend, and a Husband. I was
startled at the present, but considering what was to be done, went to
bed, and lay there till some of the house came and bounc’d at my Chamber
door; I suffered them to continue knocking for some time, as if I had
been asleep; but they growing more furious by reason of my silence, were
ready to break open the door, when I jumped out of my bed, and in my
smock opening the door, asked them what was the cause of their violent
knocking; they replyed, they were glad to see me alive, which they much
doubted, by reason of my silence, and having seen such a doleful sight
as was then in the Garden: I seeming ignorant of all, desired them to
explain themselves, and acquaint me with their meaning; they were not
long then ere they had told me, that my Husband and the Black-more who
quartered at my Fathers, were both dead in the Garden: I was amazed, ran
then to the window, and there beheld what I too well knew already; and
then cryed out, and in lamentable and furious manner threw my self on
the floor, tearing my hair, and making great lamentation; by this time
the Constable and other Neighbors were come, but could not get any thing
out of me to discover any knowledge of the fact. I seemed a stranger to
all; and so the Bodies being removed, word was sent to my Father and
Mother, who quickly came thither; but finding me, as the rest, to
pretend ignorance, nothing could be done; but the People conjectured
variously, and though they could not accuse me as the murtherer, yet I
was shrewdly suspected to be the cause; they judging the truth as it
was: but however, I was without the compass of the law, and therefore
escaped all trouble.
Their Bodies were soon after buried, and I thought it absolutely
necessary to abscond my self, lest (the time of child bearing being near
approaching) I might be further discovered by the Complexion of the
child, which I did verily believe would be black; and therefore I left
my Fathers house, and went to an obscure Village about ten miles off; I
took up my lodging with an old Woman of my Mothers acquaintance,
pretending a great melancholly since the death of my Husband, and
therefore avoided all Company: I had all along attempted to destroy the
Child in my Womb, and to that end I had taken _Savine_, and many other
drugs and potions, and using to jump, and leap, and wrastle, to cause my
self to miscarry, but all in vain; so that in fine, I was forced to use
the same remedy I had done, and smother the Child so soon as it was
born; I had all possible conveniences to do it, whilst the Midwife, who
lived at some distance, was not much looked after, although it was
somewhat black, which was now taken to be so, only by reason of its
strugling for passage; and wanting a Mid-wife, I caused it to be quickly
nail’d up in a box, and so with little trouble passed over the
difficulty of this affair: my Mother soon came to me, and accommodated
me, with every thing fit for my condition, so that it was not long ere I
perfectly recovered; and I having no mind to return to my Fathers nor to
stay in that place, caused my Mother to provide me with a gentile habit;
and money in my pocket, and being thus fitted, went twenty miles
further, to the house of another of my Mothers acquaintance; and having
been so unfortunate with a Husband, was resolved not to own that ever I
had been married, but to pass for a maid; which I might well enough do,
not being yet above eighteen years of age. My beauty then was so
charming, that I quickly gained many adorers; and it being given out
that I was a Virgin, and of a good fortune, had many Sutors in earnest,
that woed me in the honest terms of marriage. Having the choice of
several, I was the more coy; but in the end, there was one, who was an
Inn-keeper, whose Father being lately dead, and left a handsome
competency, him I accepted of, but with great jealousie and suspition of
my self; lest he was a cunning youngster, should discover the want of my
Virginity. I was sensible it would be no difficult matter for him to
finde me out, but I was resolved to try my Wits, and prevent his
discovery: to this end I delayed my marriage for some time, till I could
bring my matters to pass; which (said she) I did in this manner.
There was a Servant-Maid in the House, whom I usually had for my
Bed-fellow, and with her I was very free in all my discourse,
acquainting her with all passages between me and my Sweethearts; and
many pleasing discourses we had upon those occasions, and commonly we
spent some hours every night when we were in Bed, in these Conferences:
I asking her which of my Sweet-hearts was the best, and likliest to
prove a good Husband; she and I both jumped in one mind, and she seemed
to rejoyce at the good Fortune I was likely to enjoy, in having so
handsome, and accomplish’d a Person, as he was with whom I was to be
Married; saying, that of all men breathing, she never saw one whom, she
thought, she could love better; and adding, that she would give all the
money in her Pocket to have my place on the Wedding Night. Well, thought
I, are you there? I’le be with you anon. Truly said she, I am a perfect
Maid, not having yet had to do with any Man; and for deed, nay, for
thought and word, untill this time, was a pure Virgin; but methinks,
since I saw your Sweetheart, I have such pleasing imaginations, that I
could willingly experiment the effects; but, continued she, I hope you
will take all this in good part, and not be jealous of me, for I shall
not in the least injure you, no, though your Sweet-heart should desire
it; besides, my Quality and condition is so much beneath yours, that it
would be but a folly to expect it: but shall wish you all happiness with
your beloved Bridegroom. She having opened her mind thus freely to me,
it was the thing I only aimed at, and above all things wish’d for; and
therefore, that I might now stricke while the Iron was hot, I thus
replyed; come, come, do not counterfeit more Modesty than needs, but
tell me truely, and sincerely, if I can find a way to compass your
desires; and be therewith content, and willing, will you obey me in what
I shall desire of you? This is a strange proposition, said she, and I
believe far from your heart to do, and only to try me farther; but I
pray let us talk no more of this matter.
I quickly answered, that I was now in earnest, and would (if she would
swear to me to be secret) discover a secret that was of the highest
importance, and that then all things would be as she had wished; she
wondring what I meant, and being desirous (as all women are inquisitive
after secrets) to discover mine, soon made many protestations and vows,
to be secret in what ever I should impart to her; and thereupon I told
her, that indeed about twelve moneths since, being in my fathers house,
a Gentleman of quality lodging there, and having divers times courted
me; and I alwayes refusing to hear him; and being very obstinate,
notwithstanding all his endeavours by Presents, and otherwise; he, I
said being wholy impatient, and resolved to venture all for my
enjoyment, took his opportunity, and came to bed to me; I feeling him
near me, cry’d out but in vain, for my Lodging was at too great a
distance from any bodyes hearing; and so in the end, notwithstanding my
striving, and strugling, he had his will of me; and indeed, to tell you
the truth, the danger of the brunt being over, and I well knowing that
what was past could not be recalled, was, in the end, willing a second,
or third time, to permit him the same enjoyment; and so he went away in
the Morning well satisfied, and I better pleas’d than when he came to
me. I was resolved to keep this from the knowledge of my Parents, and
did so, though he offered me Marriage, which would have been
advantageous enough for me, he being, as I said, a Person of Quality;
but however, he continued his practice with me all the time of his stay
at my Fathers, which was two Moneths; and then he departing, promised a
sudden return, and that he would then discover himself to my Father, and
request me in Marriage; I trusted to his fair words, and permitted his
departure; but he had not been long absent ere I perceived my self to be
with Child: I kept this from the knowledge of all, so long as I could;
but in the end, my Mother suspecting me, charged me so roundly, that I
confessed the Fact; she thereupon took the best remedy she could, and
unknown to my Father, sent me away to a Friend of hers, where I lay in
of a Child, which soon after dying, and I recovered, I again removed
hither, where what hath befaln me you already know as well as I; and
now, my dear Friend, said I, the case being thus, you may do me a great
kindness, and please your self, as you say, by taking my place on the
Wedding-night; and he lying with you in my stead may be deceived, and
take me for a pure Virgin; whereas otherwise I am in much doubt to be
discovered, in regard, that not only I have lost my Maidenhead, but have
also lately had a Child.
My Bed-fellow gave diligent attendance to what I had related, and after
I had satisfied her how she should behave her self in every respect, she
consented to take my turn. My business being in this forwardness, I
quickly consented to clap up the bargain with my Sweet-heart; and the
Wedding-day being come, we were accordingly Married; and at Bed time I
went to Bed with my Bride-groom, but feigning Modesty, commanded all to
depart the Room; which they did, leaving one Candle burning; I seeing
the Company gone, leap’d out of the Bed to put the Candle out; which I
did, and then, according to appointment, the Maid, who was ready in her
smock behind the Hangings, quickly got into the Bed, and enjoyed my
place; I staid in the Chamber, and could well enough discover all
passages between them, and how she made some faint resistance; but not
long it was ere they fell a sleep, and slept so long, that I was at a
very great stand what to do, lest day-light should come ere she should
awake, and then be seen by my Husband, and I disgraced and lost for
ever; I ruminated in my mind many wayes; at last I was resolved to
proceed to violence, and hazard all, rather than lose my credit; and
therefore seeing they still slept on, I went out of the Chamber into the
next; where with the help of a Tinder-box, I struck a light; and getting
a Torch, and lighting it, set fire on some part of the house, which soon
encreased to a great flame; I then made no great difficulty to make a
noise, and cry out fire, fire; this was soon seen, smelt, and heard by
my drousie bedfellows, who both arose; and I being there, caught hold of
him, as if I had lain with him; and his bedfellow being now a little
come to her self, and seeing me, began to consider what she was to do;
and ran where her cloaths were, put them on, and then came to help me to
mine.
My Husband, and all the rest of the Family being thus raised, ran about
for water to quench the fire; I being left alone with my Husbands
Bed-fellow, could have found in my heart to have killed her with a Sword
there in the Chamber: because she had been the occasion of all this
mischief; and the thoughts of that, and remembring what hurt she might
do me hereafter, in discovering my secrets or, at least, in being my
Co-rival; these Considerations made me resolve to dispatch her into the
other world; and there-fore desiring her to go down with me into the
Yard to fetch water at the Well, she did so; where I spying my
opportunity, in the absence of the rest of the Family, as she was
stooping to draw Water, I turned her head forwards into the Well; where,
before any came to help her, she was dead. I pretended to bewail her
misfortunes; but the fire, by the asistance of some Neighbours, being
now quench’d, we all retired into that part of the House that was
unburn’d; where every one lamented, not only the misfortune of the fire,
but that of the Maids death; in which I alone was principally concerned.
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