Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-07-02
FOCAHoNTAs's MARRIED LIFE.

way up toward the meridian. when a
goodly company had assembled beneath
the temple roof. The pleasant odor of
the cedar pews,' commingled with the
fragrance of the wild flowers which deck
ed the festoons of evergreens and sprays
that hung over the fair, broad Windows
and the commanding tablets above the
chancel. Over the pulpit of black wal
nut hung garlands of white flowers. with
the waxen leaves and scarlet berries of
the holly. The communion table 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 between, like a ca
noe, sparkled with water as on the morn
ing when the gentle Princess uttered the
baptismal vows.
Of all 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.
Pocahonias was dressed in a simple tunic
of white muslin, from the looms of Dac-
ca. Her arms were bare even to the
shoulders and hanging loosely towards
her feet was robe of rich stuff, pre-
sented by Sir Thomas Dale, and fanci.
fully embroidered by herself and maids.
A gaudy fillet encirclGd her head, and
held the plumage of birds and veil of
gauze, while her limbs were adorned
with the simple jewelry of the native
work shops. 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 dis
tincIiOn in society. He was the personi-
fcatiOn of manly beauty in form and
carriage she of womanly modesty and
simplicity and as they came and stood
before the man of God. History dipped
her pen in the indestruclible fountain of
truth, and recorded a prophecy of en-
pires in the New World. Upon the
chancel steps, where no railing inter-
fered. 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 England. sat the
governor, with his ever attendant hal
berdiers, with brazen helmets at his
back.
There were yet but few women in the
colony, and these soon after this memo
rable event, returned to native England.
The ninety young women, pure and un-
corrupted whom the wise Sandys caus-
ed TO be sent to Virginia as wives for the
planters, did not arrive for seven 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 Role with
her child, doubtless of the family of
the bridegroom } Mistress Easton and
her child, and Mistress Horton and
grandchild, with her maid servant, Eliza
beth Parsons, who, on a 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 At
lantic perils as any one who ever trusted
to the ribs of oak of the ships of old Eng
land. And Master Spaikes. who had
been co ambassador with Rolfe to the
court of Powhattan, stood Dear the old
soldier, with young Henry Spilman at
his side.
There, too, was the young George
Percy, brother of the powerful Duke of
Northumberland, whose conduct was al
ways as noble as his blood and near
him. an earnest spectator of the scene,
was the elder brother of Pocahontas, but
not the destined success or to the throne
Of his father. There, too, was young
er brother of the bride, and many youths
md maidens from the forest shades; but
,ne noble fgure-the pride of the Pow
haitian confederacy-the father of the
bride, was absent. He had consented
o the marriage with willing voice, but
would not trust himself in the power of
he English at jamestown. He remain
d in his habitation at Weroworomoco
Vile the Rose and the Totum were be- {
ng welded, but cheerfully commission i
d his brother Opachisco to give away {
lis daughter. That prince performed t
is duty well. and then, in careless t
ravity, he sat aud listened to the voice a
f the apostle, and the sweet chanting Of
be little choristers. The music ceased, t
he benediction fell, the solemn Amen C
choed from the vaulted roof, and the ]
oyous company left the chapel for the il
,stal hall of the Governor. Thus the h
eace was made stronger, and the Rose v
f England lay undisturbed upon the d