Latroon _in order to his returning to_ Europe _gets a great deal of
Goods, most on credit; he suspects his wife of some villanous Design,
discovers her wicked inclination, and hints at the common cause of
Cuckoldry. She under pretence of loving visit poyson’d one of the
supposed young-men, and had like to have dispatcht the other, and
afterwards kills her self: her Assistant in this Murther was found not
far distant from_ Bantam _torn to pieces by wild Beasts, three days
after the Fact._
In this Equipage our friends were in, whilst the Captain, and my self
were daily bringing in Grist to the Mill; the _Bannian_ according to his
promise, with speedy sedulity procur’d us what ever we desired, and to
encourage his Industry had daily (almost) encouragements for his quick
dispatch. Our business now ran on wheels, neither did the pleasures of
our new Houskeepers slacken in their carreer, they had every thing which
the Country afforded, and more, for they had two such matchless
_European_ girls, which all _India_ could not parallel, whose luster was
the brighter by reason of those dark and dusky foils which were always
near them.
But damn’d be that cursed instrument that totally eclipst the light of
those two _Wandring stars_, which must ne’er shine more in our
Hemisphere. Who would have thought a wife, after so much penitence and
submission (being obsequious beyond imitation) should renew her revenge,
and prosecute it to death. It is true, the found me remiss in the
cooling of her amorous Heats, but that from the first I used her to,
that she might not expect it when it came, as a duty, but a courtesie,
or a very signal favour, by reason hereof the was void of frequent
expectation; had the been as white, and as lovely fair as any of my own
Country-women, I would have serv’d her in the like manner; if I intended
to make my wife absolutely my own. For in my time I have observ’d at
least an hundred Examples of this nature; Women, whom I am confident
might have ran the Race of their lives in the way of modesty and
honesty, had they not been chafed or over heated at first by the
ostentatious humour of their hot brained Bride-groome, striving to
out-do himself, that he might purchase the esteem of being a lusty man
excelling others in strength and vigour; but when the wife shall finde
the satisfaction of her desires dis-continued, she will be apt to think
her husband was too prodigal at first, and so became Natures
Spend-thrift, and now thinks of no other thing than how she shall be
supplyed by others. Others again are like some childish appetites, who
feeding on some excellent Dish, they never tasted of before, and being
exceeding pleasant, eat beyond measure, thinking themselves never to be
satisfied, so getting a surfeit, ever after loath what they lov’d, the
very sight thereof will even nauseate their stomachs. I say by stinting
my wife after this manner, she could not suspect that by rambling
abroad, I disappointed her expectations at home, since custom made her
believe me indifferently honest. But her revenge was grounded on the
Basis of equity, for since she was so far from being jealous, that she
allowed me to make use of others, she judged I could not in reason
dis-allow her the enjoyment of one or so, especially of my own
complexion.
The removal of these two young men (as she supposed, and in that belief
courted them to her embraces) she verily believ’d was occasion’d by me,
and design’d that she might have no converse with them. Whilst they were
in sight of her, she pleas’d her self in viewing them, but being
depriv’d of that hourly happiness, she had not so much prudence as to
conceal the resentment of her loss, and the injury was done her by me,
but exprest (in her manner) to my very face things that carried with
them suspitions of a dangerous consequence.
For the prevention thereof, I seemingly show’d much kindness unto her,
giving her a many good words, & granting her with all leave to visit
those two young-men, with this proviso, she would not wrong me, and all
this was to pacifie for the present, till I was ready to go from the
implacableness of of her revengful spirit, which is an Inmate properly
not onely in her, but in all the _Indians_ her Countrey people. She
seem’d hereat to be very well satisfied, but so impatient she was to
have a review of them, that she went from me immediately to them, at the
sight of them she represented her joy in so many antick shapes, and
formes, that all which were present burst out into a great fit of
laughter, which she construed in favour of her self, supposing from
hence, they were over-joy’d to see her; and what made her believe it the
more, was their welcoming her to their new house, in the best manner
they could, drinking to her so often (in the best liquors they had) till
she was half Sea-over; the heat of the PERSIAN-wine she drank, gave fire
to the old train, which should kindle the Magazine of Love, which lay
covert in the Cole-pit of her hellish lust; and now breaking like a
Hand-granado, the pieces of the shell could not fly faster than her arms
did about their necks, there was no warding them, so that they were
forc’d to submit to the cruelty of her over-powerful affection. But when
she insisted upon the complement thereof, they bade her then desist, for
they were resolv’d never to wrong her Husband in that nature, and
threatned her, that if she would not be civil, they would acquaint him
therewith. Hearing them menace her after that fashion, she retreated and
sate down at a distance, and seem’d somewhat pensive, but having spoke
some few words to a Black that past by her in the _Indian_ tongue (which
I would have understood had I been by) to which there was a sudden
reply; she seem’d to throw off her melancholly and re-assume her jolly
attempt, telling them that the next day she would come again, if they
would make as much of her as they had done then; they told her they
would.
I visiting them that evening, they acquainted me how welcome they had
made my wife for my sake, how she had renew’d her love, and how
preposterously she had manag’d it; in recital thereof we had good sport
over a Bowl of Punch: to avoid the dangers of going home late I bade
them goodnight. In the morning early coming down I found one of their
female Slaves close in discourse with my wife, who seeing me vanished; I
suspecting nothing, went to the _Bannian_ about my business, and that
day we had so much business to do, that it was near night, before I
could visit our friends, to acquaint them what progress I had made
therein, and how near it was brought to consummation. But I had no
sooner entred the doors, but my ears were entertain’d with the doleful
groans of my two disguised _Amazons_, who lay upon a Matt on the ground,
foaming at mouth with the Scrivener & Drugster, & _Gregory_ attending
them, offering their utmost assistance, which was to little purpose,
since they were ignorant of what they ail’d; as soon as I saw them, I
knew they were poyson’d, having seen several in the like condition (a
common practice among them upon the least suspition of an injury
design’d, or an offence already receiv’d) but knew not what remedy to
apply, and whilst I was in consultation with myself what was best to do,
I saw _Malls_ teeth drop out of her head, and _Gregory_ going to raise
her head, the skin and hair with it came off in his hands like a
Perriwig, so did the hair of the other; so strong was the poyson
administred, that _Mall_ died in less than half an hour after the
reception thereof; but _Dorothy_ escaped ever to a miracle.
This sad accident had like to have converted the house into a Bedlam,
for the three young men which had attended them in this disaster, were
so strongly distracted at the sight of what had happened, that I thought
the Devil had just then by a reentry took possession of them, or that
they had taken the same potion of Poyson, which was very near as bad;
believing it would work as subtlely and as nimbly on them as it had
already done, (_Principiis obsta_) I ran with might and main for some
Sallad-oyl, a Jarr where of I brought in the twinkling of an eye, Drink,
drink, said I, to them all, quickly, quickly, one after the other, as
fast as you can, which they did, not knowing any reason therefore, but
that I commanded them; having even gorg’d themselves with it, and being
not able to drink anymore, I poured it down their throats till I had
almost choak’d them, or rather drowned them therein, they cried out to
me, for the love of God to forbear, or I should kill them, judging me to
be mad indeed: as they were evacuating what they had too plentifully
received, the Captain whom I had left with the _Bannian_ to follow after
me, came in, who asking me what was the matter? I told him particularly.
He could not but shew something of trouble, but having been acquainted
with all sorts of losses and miseries from his Cradle in a manner by
traversing to and fro the Universe, he bore this with a patience
agreeable to his courage and Man-hood, and now our friends having
disembogu’d the Oyl that was within them, shew’d all the appearances of
perfect health; now seeing them in a condition to return an answer to
what questions I should propound to them, I ask’d what strangers they
had entertained at home to day? they reply’d, None; but, said _Gregory_,
let us first see whether a certain she-devil of ours be within, and then
I shall tell you what I have observed; upon this we search’d for her,
but could not find her, it seems the same Black I found in the morning
discoursing with my wife, when having done this execrable murder, by the
instigation of my other devil at home, was fled, as more plainly by and
by will appear. Said _Gregory_, not full an hour since; whilst we were
at the farther end of the house busied about our wares, Mistress _Mary_,
and Mistress _Dorothy_, commanded some wine to be brought them, which
was accordingly done by this female we now miss, and brought in a
midling Cocoa-nut bowl; they were just drinking the third time round, as
we came in, nay, now said _Mall_, my little merry _Grigg_, here’s to the
Mistress of thy affections, speaking to me, and drinking heartily, I
looking into the Bowl to see how much was left, this Black dasht the
Bowl out of my hand, and because there was but little in it, I judged it
onely to be an effect of her rude petulancy, and so did the rest, taking
no further notice. Presently our two friends grew extraordinary ill, and
though we were three to two yet they would have found work for as many
more had not death thus bound one of them hand and foot, and the other
seemingly dead for the present: I will lay my life, said I, I know where
there is another of the Conspirators, so taking the Captain with me
only, we made all the hast we could to my own house, and found by the
extraordinary number of people therein, that something more than
ordinary was the matter, and so there was, for my wife with her beloved
Dagger, had with one home stabb made a hole through her heart, wide
enough for half a score lives to go out a brest without jostling one the
other.
I was not troubled to see her thus weltring in her own blood, but that
she had not liv’d to be punish’d suitable to the crime she committed, if
any punishment could be invented. The President of _Bantam_ hearing of
this horrid Murder, sent for me, to whom I gave an ample relation as I
could by information, or otherwise, who seemed very much concerned, and
immediately dispatcht several in the search of the Coadjutrix to the
Murderess, about three days afterwards they found (some ten miles
distant from _Bantam_) a female Carkcass, turn all to pieces, the limbs
thereof were gnawed in that manner, that there was little flesh upon the
bones, onely the head was untouch’d, and some of the company that had
seen her before, would have sworn it was the same, and therefore it was
agreed upon to carry it to the President, which they did, and presently
order’d to be fastned on a long Pole, for a future terror to such like
Malefactors, especially the Natives.
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