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[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.
CHAP. XXIII.
Latroon and his Comrades about to leave Bantam and go to Surrat, having done lading their Vessel, shew some tricks to prevent suspition of marching off, He sets sail from thence and meets with an Enemy, an account of a most desperate and horrible fight with him. He gives you an exact account or journal of that Voyage from Bantam to Surrat.
Having buried our dead, we resolv’d upon a General Counsel, to see what we had done, and what we had left undone. We found that half our ready money was disburst, and that we had above half as much goods upon Credit, as our whole sum amounted to, and now resolving to make a final and speedy dispatch of all, I got all my Estate aboard not leaving any thing valuable behind me, excepting only what was in the house for the accommodation of my Guests, having an happy opportunity of conveying my own Goods with the Captains, and others that were concern’d with us the Scrivener, and the rest did the like.
That very day that we intended to set sayl, we were all merry at my house with the Bannian, and promising that the next day we would pay him what was in arrears, and also lay out five hundred peices more ready money; he seem’d highly pleas’d, leaving him, we shew’d our selves through the whole Factory with much Gallantry. The reason that we did not take in our whole loading in this Port, was the great number of Dutch Vessels which lately came into the road, and more daily expected, which we knew would not only obstruct our Credit, but raise the Commodities of that place. We were fain to scuffle hard among our Country-men for what we had already, there being at that time at Anchor in the harbour several ships. And having ready money pretty store we resolved to take in the rest at Surrat, which place would secure us well enough, and what we had deceitfully got. Having spent most part of the day in shewing our selves in the Town, about Three of the Clock in the afternoon, it being the fourteenth day of July, we got aboard, as if we intended to feast it, for there was none of the whole Factory, or our Bannian especially would think us so indiscreet to set sayl with half our fraught, that was my policy, and being unsuspected upon that account we might with the greater facility and security march off. Getting all our Anchors aboard in a trice, we loost our Sayls away we steer’d between the Main and Paulo pan jan, all the next day till six in the Evening, being then athwart the South-salt-hill, we steered South-west and by west, and west and by south, but from that hill we steer’d west south west, having the wind for the most part at East south east with much rain, which afflicted me grievously, for my fears of some pursuing us would not let me quit the Decks till I thought we were out of all danger in being followed. The sixteenth of this moneth at noon we espy’d Hippins Island Eastward ten leagues off, having steer’d all night West south west. Latitude about 6 Degrees 38 and Longitude from South-salt-hil 6 Degrees 44 West, the wind at south-east with the help of a Currant for twenty four hours, from the sixteenth to the twenty ninth of this month, we had the winds between the south-east, and east north east, with most intolerable rains at Noon, being in latitude 11 degrees 59 south, and longitude 20 Degrees 35 West, the variation about 12 Degrees 35 Westerly; we sailed this month on several Courses, four hundred ninty six miles.
Mistress Dorothy being indifferently well recovered though a bad spectacle to look on by reason of the skin of her body all coming off with her nails, such was the malignity of the Venome; I say, speaking as well as she could, desired me to write some lines on her dearly beloved dead Comrade, knowing that my fancy did ever incline to measure lines, and so to please my self, more than to give her satisfaction, I composed these Verses.
On the death of his Indian wife, and his old
Wench.