IX. by him and by his fellow-labourers. I subjoin the con- CHAP. cluding passage of this testimony: 'So that now we see to our comfort, the God of heauen found us out, and made us readie to our hands, able and fit men for the ministeriall function in this Plantation; all of them Graduates, allowed preachers, single men, hauing no Pastorall cures, nor charge of children; and, as it were, every way fitted for that worke. And because God would more grace this businesse, and honor his owne worke, he prouided us such men as wanted neither liuing, nor libertie of preaching at home: more in my judgment haue they to answer for, who wanting both, will not only not go themselves, but disparage and depraue them that go. Hereafter, when all is settled in peace and plentie, what marvell, if many and greater than they be willing to goe. But in the infancie of this Plantation to put their liues into their hands, and, under the assurance of so many dangers and difficulties, to deuote themselues unto it, was certainly a holy and heroical resolution, and proceeded undoubtedly from the blessed spirit of Christ Jesus, who "for this cause appeared that he might dissolve the works of the divell." And though Satan visibly and palpably raignes there, more than in any other knowne place of the world: yet be of courage, blessed brethren, "God will treade Satan under your feet shortly;" and the ages to come will eternize your names as the Apostles of Virginia 53. 53 Crashaw's Epistle Dedicatorie. CHAP. IX. Pocahuntas soner by the 1612. The foremost of these 'Apostles of Virginia' was now about to be associated with Sir Thomas Dale in a work, which is related by that officer, in the English, in letter already cited, and to which we have promised to call the reader's attention, namely, the conversion to the Christian faith of Pocahuntas, daughter of the King Powhatan. The name of this Indian princess is already known to the reader. About five years before, when she was only twelve years old, it will be remembered that she had seen Captain Smith, a prisoner in her father's hands, and the cruelties then inflicted upon him; and, when he was on the point of being put to death, had rushed forward, and, with her entreaties, had saved his life. At later periods, also, she had, once and again, risked her own safety, that she might bring succour to the English in their distress; warning them to flee from dangers of which they were not cognizant; and coming, in the darkness and stillness of night, to allay their hunger with the food which she had procured. It was a cruel and shameful act to ensnare and take captive one who had rendered such signal services as these; and, albeit in the end it was overruled for good, the contrivers of the scheme must still bear the burden of its reproach. During the time of Gates's government, in 1612, Capt. Argall,-desirous to regain from King Powhatan the prisoners, and arms, and working implements of which at various times he had gained possession,-ascended the river in a vessel of which he was commander, and, by a series of stratagems which IX. it is needless here to detail 54, succeeded in prevailing CHAP. upon Pocahuntas to come on board, and there made her prisoner. The object which he had in view,-namely, the surrender by Powhatan of the men and property in his possession, as the price of his daughter's freedom, -was for a long time delayed. But, in the following year, Dale appeared, accompanied by Pocahuntas, and a force strong enough to attack the natives, if necessary, and insisted upon the restitution of the English prisoners and their property. At first, the natives tried to baffle him, sometimes by fraud, and at others by open violence; but, finding resistance useless, and the sons of the Indian king, who had been permitted to visit their sister, having brought back a favourable report of the kindness with which she was treated, it was agreed to make peace, upon the terms announced by the English commander. the name of Pocahuntas, however, returned no more to her Baptized by own people. During the time which had already Rebecca. elapsed since her capture by Argall, Dale and Whitaker had been most careful and assiduous in bringing her to the knowledge of the Christian faith. She showed a great capacity, as well as an earnest desire for instruction; and, after the lapse of some months, made, at her own request, a public renunciation of the idolatry of her country, and was baptized, receiving the name of Rebecca. An attachment also had sprung up between her and an 54 They are given at length in Hamor's narrative, in Smith's Virginia, p. 112. IX. Married to CHAP. Englishman named John Rolfe, who is described as 'an honest gentleman, and of good behaviour;' and, John Rolfe, information of this circumstance having been comApril 1, 1613. municated, with the approval of Sir Thomas Dale, to her father Powhatan, that king sent an aged uncle of hers, Opachisco, and two of his sons, that they might bear the tidings of his consent to the marriage, and do what was required in his behalf for the confirmation of it. The marriage was celebrated on the first of April, 1613; and Dale, speaking of it in the letter which has been before cited, says: She liues ciuilly and louingly with him, and I trust will increase in goodnesse, as the knowledge of God increaseth in her. She will goe into England with mee; and were it but the gaining of this one soule, I will thinke my time, toile, and present stay well spent 55.3 Whitaker speaks in like terms of the marriage, in a letter written to a cousin of his, who was a clergyman in London; and,-adding in the language of most fervent gratitude, an eulogy upon Sir Thomas Dale, whom he calls their 'religious and valiant Gouernour,'-vindicates his character from the aspersions which some of the Colonists had tried to cast upon it. The letter closes with this remarkable passage: 'I maruaile much that any men of honest life should feare the sword of the Magistrate, which is unsheathed only in their defence. But I much more muse, that so few of our English Ministers that 55 Purchas, iv. 1769. See also Hamor's narrative, in Smith's Virginia, 112, 113; and Stith, 129. IX. were so hot against the Surplis and subscription, CHAP. come hither where neither are spoken of. Doe they not either wilfully hide their tallents, or keepe themselues at home for fear of loosing a few pleasures? Be there not any amongst them of Moses his minde, and of the Apostles, that forsooke all to follow Christ? But I referre them to the Iudge of all hearts, and to the King that shall reward euery one according to the gaine of his talent. But you, my cosen, hold fast that which you haue, and I, though my promise of three yeeres seruice to my Countrey be expired, will abide in my vocation here until I be lawfully called from hence. And so betaking us all unto the mercies of God in Christ Jesus, I rest for euer 56 1616, to with her God, husband and Sir the Thomas Dale, who government Yeardly. Having stated thus much of the conversion and Proceeds, in marriage of this the first Indian princess, who had England been brought to the knowledge of the true it may be well to anticipate, for a few moments, exact order of our narrative, and follow her brief leaves the story to the end. She accompanied her husband in charge of and Sir Thomas Dale to England, when that officer, -having placed the affairs of the Colony in good order, and left them under the charge of Mr. George Yeardly, deputy-governor,-returned home in 1616. They landed at Plymouth, on the twelfth of June in that year; and great interest was felt and shown, as might be expected, towards her who came, under such circumstances, a stranger to these shores. Among the first who welcomed her was Captain 56 Purchas, iv. 1770. |