Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-01-17
py marriage-"another knot to bind the peace"
with Powhatan much stronger

with Powhatan much stronger.
April, in the Virginia peninsula, where the
English settlers first built q city, is one of the
loveliest months in the year. Then winter has
bidden final adieu to the middle regions of
America; the trees are robed in gay and fra
grant blossoms; the robin, the blue-bird, and
the oriole, are just giving the first opening pre-
ludes to the summer concerts in the woods,
and wild flowers are laughing merrily in every
hedge, and upon the green banks Of every
stream. s --
1t was day in charming April, in 1913,
when Rolfe and Pocahontas stood at the mar
riage altar in the new and pretty chapel at
jamestown, where, not long before, the bride
had received Christian baptism, and was named
the Lady Rebecca. The sun had marched
half way up toward the meridian, when good
ly company had assembled beneath the tenn
pie roof The pleasant odor of the "pews of
cedar" commingled with the fragrance Of the
wild flowers which decked the festoons of
evergreens and sprays that hung over the
nfair, broad windows" and the commandment
tablets above the chancel Over the pulpit of
black-walnut hung garlands of white flowers,
with the waxen leaves and scarlet berries of
the holly The communicable was covered
with fair white linen, and bore bread from the
wheat fields of jamestown, and wine from its
luscious grapes The font, "hewn hollow be-
tween, like canoe" sparkled with water, as
on the morning when the gentle princess ut
tered her baptismal VOWS.
Ofall that company assembled in the broad
space between the chancel and the pews, the
bride and groom were the central figures in
fact and significance Pocahontas was dressed
in simple tunic of white muslin, from the
looms of Dacca Her arms were bare even to
the shoulders; and, hanging loosely towards
her feet, was robe of rich stuff, presented by
Sir Thomas Dale, and fancifully embroidered
by herself and her maidens A gaudy fillet
encircled her head, and held the plumage of
birds and veil of gauze, while her limbs were
adorned with the simple jswelry of the native
workshops Rolfe was attired in the gay
clothing of an English cavalier Of that period,
and upon his thigh he wore the short sword of
gentleman of distinction in society. Hewas
the personifcation of manly beauty in form and
carriage; she of womanly modesty and lovely
simplicity; and as they came and stood before
the man of God, history dipped her pen in the
indestructible fountain of truth, and recorded
prophecy of mighty empires in the New
World. Upon the chancel steps, where no
railing interfered, the good Whitaker stood in
his sacerdotal robes, and, with impressive voice
pronounced the marriage ritual of the liturgy
of the Anglican Church, then first planted on
the Western continent. On his right, in a
richly carved chair of state, brought from En-
gland, sat the Governor, with his ever -atten-
dant haberdiers, with brazen helmets, at his
back
There were yet but few women in the colony,
and these, soon after this memorable event re-
turned to native England. The "ninety young
women, pure and uncorrupted," whom the
wise Sandys caused to be sent to Virginia, as
wives for the planters, did not arrive until sew
en- years later All then at jamestown were
at the marriage The letters of the time have
transmitted to US the names of some of them.
Mistress John Rolfe, with her child, (doubt-
less of the family of the bridegroom; Mistress
Easton and child, and Mistress Morton and
grandchild, with her maid-servant, Elizabeth
Parsons, who, on Christmas eve before, had
married Thomas Powell, were yet in Virginia.
Among the noted men then present, was Sir
Thomas Gates, brave soldier in many wars,
and as brave an adventurer among the Allan
tic perils as any who ever trusted to the ribs
of the ships of Old England. And Master
Sparkes, who had been co-ambassador with
Rolfe to the court of Powhatan, stood near the
old soldier, with young Henry Spilman at his
side. There, too, was the young George Per-
cy, brother of the powerful Duke Of Northum-
berland, whose conduct was always as noble
as his blood; and near him, an earnest specta-
tor of the scene, was the elder brother of Po-
cahontas; but not the destined successor to the
throne of his father. There, too, was young
er brother of the bride, and many youths and
maiGens from the forest shades; but one noble
fgure-the pride of the Powhatan confcderacy
the father of the bride was absent lie had
consented to the marriage with willing voice,
but would not trust himself within the power
of the English at jamestown. He remained
in his habitation at Weroworomcco, while the
ROSE and the forum were being welded, but
cheerfuly commissioned his brother, Opachis-
co, to give away his daughter. That prince
performed his duty well, and then, in careless
gravity, he sat and listened to the voice of the
Apostle, and the sweet chanting of the little
choristers. The music ceased, the benedction
fell, the solemn "Amen' echoed from the
rude vaulted roof, and thejoyous company left
the chapel for the festal hall of the Governor
Thus ''the peace" was made stronger, and the
ROSE of England lay uudisturbed upon the
HATCuET of the Powhatans, while the father
Of Pocahontas lived.
Nonths glided away. The bride and groom
''lived civilly andlovingly together" until Sir
Thomns Dale departed for England, in 1916,
when they with many settlers, accompanied
him. Iomocomo, one of the shrcwdcst of
Powhatan's councillors, went also, that he
might report. all the wonders of England to
his master. The Lady Rcbccca received great
attention from the court and all below it
"Shc accustomed herself to civility and carri-