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-menyoung-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 troubletrouble, 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.