the complete writings-3-第59部分

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e　visit　（apparently　alone）　of　Pocahontas　and　her　capture　is　strong　evidence　that　she　was　not　at　this　time　married　to　〃Kocoum〃　or　anybody　else。

Word　was　despatched　to　Powhatan　of　his　daughter's　duress；　with　a　demand　made　for　the　restitution　of　goods；　but　although　this　savage　is　represented　as　dearly　loving　Pocahontas；　his　〃delight　and　darling；〃　it　was；　according　to　Hamor；　three　months　before　they　heard　anything　from　him。　　His　anxiety　about　his　daughter　could　not　have　been　intense。　　He　retained　a　part　of　his　plunder；　and　a　message　was　sent　to　him　that　Pocahontas　would　be　kept　till　he　restored　all　the　arms。

This　answer　pleased　Powhatan　so　little　that　they　heard　nothing　from　him　till　the　following　March。　　Then　Sir　Thomas　Dale　and　Captain　Argall；　with　several　vessels　and　one　hundred　and　fifty　men；　went　up　to　Powhatan's　chief　seat；　taking　his　daughter　with　them；　offering　the　Indians　a　chance　to　fight　for　her　or　to　take　her　in　peace　on　surrender　of　the　stolen　goods。　　The　Indians　received　this　with　bravado　and　flights　of　arrows；　reminding　them　of　the　fate　of　Captain　Ratcliffe。　　The　whites　landed；　killed　some　Indians；　burnt　forty　houses；　pillaged　the　village；　and　went　on　up　the　river　and　came　to　anchor　in　front　of　Matchcot；　the　Emperor's　chief　town。　　Here　were　assembled　four　hundred　armed　men；　with　bows　and　arrows；　who　dared　them　to　come　ashore。　　Ashore　they　went；　and　a　palaver　was　held。　　The　Indians　wanted　a　day　to　consult　their　King；　after　which　they　would　fight；　if　nothing　but　blood　would　satisfy　the　whites。

Two　of　Powhatan's　sons　who　were　present　expressed　a　desire　to　see　their　sister；　who　had　been　taken　on　shore。　　When　they　had　sight　of　her；　and　saw　how　well　she　was　cared　for；　they　greatly　rejoiced　and　promised　to　persuade　their　father　to　redeem　her　and　conclude　a　lasting　peace。　　The　two　brothers　were　taken　on　board　ship；　and　Master　John　Rolfe　and　Master　Sparkes　were　sent　to　negotiate　with　the　King。　Powhatan　did　not　show　himself；　but　his　brother　Apachamo；　his　successor；　promised　to　use　his　best　efforts　to　bring　about　a　peace；　and　the　expedition　returned　to　Jamestown。

Long　before　this　time；〃　Hamor　relates；　〃a　gentleman　of　approved　behaviour　and　honest　carriage；　Master　John　Rolfe；　had　been　in　love　with　Pocahuntas　and　she　with　him；　which　thing　at　the　instant　that　we　were　in　parlee　with　them；　myselfe　made　known　to　Sir　Thomas　Dale；　by　a　letter　from　him　＇Rolfe＇　whereby　he　entreated　his　advice　and　furtherance　to　his　love；　if　so　it　seemed　fit　to　him　for　the　good　of　the　Plantation；　and　Pocahuntas　herself　acquainted　her　brethren　therewith。〃　　Governor　Dale　approved　this；　and　consequently　was　willing　to　retire　without　other　conditions。　　〃The　bruite　of　this　pretended　marriage　＇Hamor　continues＇　came　soon　to　Powhatan's　knowledge；　a　thing　acceptable　to　him；　as　appeared　by　his　sudden　consent　thereunto；　who　some　ten　daies　after　sent　an　old　uncle　of　hirs；　named　Opachisco；　to　give　her　as　his　deputy　in　the　church；　and　two　of　his　sonnes　to　see　the　mariage　solemnized　which　was　accordingly　done　about　the　fifth　of　April　＇1614＇；　and　ever　since　we　have　had　friendly　commerce　and　trade；　not　only　with　Powhatan　himself；　but　also　with　his　subjects　round　about　us；　so　as　now　I　see　no　reason　why　the　collonie　should　not　thrive　a　pace。〃

This　marriage　was　justly　celebrated　as　the　means　and　beginning　of　a　firm　peace　which　long　continued；　so　that　Pocahontas　was　again　entitled　to　the　grateful　remembrance　of　the　Virginia　settlers。　Already；　in　1612；　a　plan　had　been　mooted　in　Virginia　of　marrying　the　English　with　the　natives；　and　of　obtaining　the　recognition　of　Powhatan　and　those　allied　to　him　as　members　of　a　fifth　kingdom；　with　certain　privileges。　　Cunega；　the　Spanish　ambassador　at　London；　on　September　22；　1612；　writes：　〃Although　some　suppose　the　plantation　to　decrease；　he　is　credibly　informed　that　there　is　a　determination　to　marry　some　of　the　people　that　go　over　to　Virginia；　forty　or　fifty　are　already　so　married；　and　English　women　intermingle　and　are　received　kindly　by　the　natives。　　A　zealous　minister　hath　been　wounded　for　reprehending　it。〃

Mr。　John　Rolfe　was　a　man　of　industry；　and　apparently　devoted　to　the　welfare　of　the　colony。　　He　probably　brought　with　him　in　1610　his　wife；　who　gave　birth　to　his　daughter　Bermuda；　born　on　the　Somers　Islands　at　the　time　of　the　shipwreck。　　We　find　no　notice　of　her　death。　　Hamor　gives　him　the　distinction　of　being　the　first　in　the　colony　to　try；　in　1612；　the　planting　and　raising　of　tobacco。　　〃No　man　＇he　adds＇　hath　labored　to　his　power；　by　good　example　there　and　worthy　encouragement　into　England　by　his　letters；　than　he　hath　done；　witness　his　marriage　with　Powhatan's　daughter；　one　of　rude　education；　manners　barbarous　and　cursed　generation；　meerely　for　the　good　and　honor　of　the　plantation：　and　least　any　man　should　conceive　that　some　sinister　respects　allured　him　hereunto；　I　have　made　bold；　contrary　to　his　knowledge；　in　the　end　of　my　treatise　to　insert　the　true　coppie　of　his　letter　written　to　Sir　Thomas　Dale。〃

The　letter　is　a　long；　labored；　and　curious　document；　and　comes　nearer　to　a　theological　treatise　than　any　love…letter　we　have　on　record。　　It　reeks　with　unction。　　Why　Rolfe　did　not　speak　to　Dale；　whom　he　saw　every　day；　instead　of　inflicting　upon　him　this　painful　document；　in　which　the　flutterings　of　a　too　susceptible　widower's　heart　are　hidden　under　a　great　resolve　of　self…sacrifice；　is　not　plain。

The　letter　protests　in　a　tedious　preamble　that　the　writer　is　moved　entirely　by　the　Spirit　of　God；　and　continues：

〃Let　therefore　this　my　well　advised　protestation；　which　here　I　make　between　God　and　my　own　conscience；　be　a　sufficient　witness；　at　the　dreadful　day　of　judgment　（when　the　secrets　of　all　men's　hearts　shall　be　opened）　to　condemne　me　herein；　if　my　chiefest　interest　and　purpose　be　not　to　strive　with　all　my　power　of　body　and　mind；　in　the　undertaking　of　so　weighty　a　matter；　no　way　led　（so　far　forth　as　man's　weakness　may　permit）　with　the　unbridled　desire　of　carnall　affection；　but　for　the　good　of　this　plantation；　for　the　honour　of　our　countrie；　for　the　glory　of　God；　for　my　owne　salvation；　and　for　the　converting　to　the　true　knowledge　of　God　and　Jesus　Christ；　an　unbelieving　creature；　namely　Pokahuntas。　　To　whom　my　heartie　and　best　thoughts　are；　and　have　a　long　time　bin　so　entangled；　and　inthralled　in　so　intricate　a　laborinth；　that　I　was　even　awearied　to　unwinde　myself　thereout。〃

Master　Rolfe　goes　on　to　describe　the　mighty　war　in　his　meditations　on　this　subject；　in　which　he　had　set　before　his　eyes　the　frailty　of　mankind　and　his　proneness　to　evil　and　wicked　thoughts。　　He　is　aware　of　God's　displeasure　against　the　sons　of　Levi　and　Israel　for　marrying　strange　wives；　and　this　has　caused　him　to　look　about　warily　and　with　good　circumspection　〃into　the　grounds　and　principall　agitations　which　should　thus　provoke　me　to　be　in　love　with　one；　whose　education　hath　bin　rude；　her　manners　barbarous；　her　generation　accursed；　and　so　discrepant　in　all　nurtriture　from　myselfe；　that　oftentimes　with　feare　and　trembling；　I　have　ended　my　private　controversie　with　this：　surely　these　are　wicked　instigations；　fetched　by　him　who　seeketh　and　delighteth　in　man's　distruction；　and　so　with　fervent　prayers　to　be　ever　preserved　from　such　diabolical　assaults　（as　I　looke　those　to　be）　I　have　taken　some　rest。〃

The　good　man　was　desperately　in　love　and　wanted　to　marry　the　Indian；　and　consequently　he　got　no　peace；　and　still　being　tormented　with　her　image；　whether　she　was　absent　or　present；　he　set　out　to　produce　an　ingenious　reason　（to　show　the　world）　for　marrying　her。　　He　continues：

〃Thus　when　I　thought　I　had　obtained　my　peace　and　quietnesse；　beholde　another；　but　more　gracious　tentation　hath　made　breaches　into　my　holiest　and　strongest　meditations；　with　which　I　have　been　put　to　a　new　triall；　in　a　straighter　manner　than　the　former；　for　besides　the　weary　passions　and　sufferings　which　I　have　dailey；　hourely；　yea　and　in　my　sleepe　indured；　even　awaking　me　to　astonishment；　taxing　me　with　remissnesse；　and　carelessnesse；　refusing　and　neglecting　to　perform　the　duteie　of　a　good　Christian；　pulling　me　by　the　eare；　and　crying：　Why　dost　thou　not　indeavor　to　make　her　a　Christian？　　And　these　have　happened　to　my　greater　wonder；　even　when　she　hath　been　furthest　seperated　from　me；　which　in　common　reason　（were　it　not　an　undoubted　work　of　God）　might　breede　forgetfulnesse　of　a　far　more　worthie　creature。〃

He　accurately　describes　the　symptoms　and　appears　to　understand　the　remedy；　but　he　is　after　a　large…sized　motive：

〃Besides；　I　say　the　holy　Spirit　of　God　hath　often　demanded　of　me；　why　I　was　created？　　If　not　for　transitory　pleasures　and　worldly　vanities；　but　to　labour　in　the　Lord's　vineyard；　there　to　sow　and　plant；　to　nourish　and　increase　the　fruites　thereof；　daily　adding　with　the　good　husband　in　the　gospell；　somewhat　to　the　tallent；　that　in　the　ends　the　fruites　may　be　reaped；　to　the　comfort　of　the　labourer　in　this　life；　and　his　salvation　in　the　world　to　come。。。。　Likewise；　adding　hereunto　her　great　appearance　of　love　to　me；　her　desire　to　be　taught　and　instructed　in　the　knowledge　of　God；　her　capablenesse　of　understanding；　her　aptness　and　willingness　to　receive　anie　good　impression；　and　also　the　spirituall；　besides　her　owne　incitements　stirring　me　up　hereunto。；'

The　〃incitements〃　gave　him　courage；　so　that　he　exclaims：　〃Shall　I　be　of　so　untoward　a　disposition；　as　to　refuse　to　lead　the　blind　into　the　right　way？　　Shall　I　be　so　unnatural；　as　not　to　give　bread　to　the　hungrie；　or　uncharitable；　as　not　to　cover　the　naked？〃

It　wasn't　to　be　thought　of；　such　wickedness；　and　so　Master　Rolfe　screwed　up　his　courage　to　marry　the　glorious　Princess；　from　whom　thousands　of　people　were　afterwards　so　anxious　to　be　descended。　　But　he　made　the　sacrifice　for　the　glory　of　the　country；　the　benefit　of　the　plantation；　and　the　conversion　of　the　unregenerate；　and　other　and　lower　motive　he　vigorously　repels：　〃Now；　if　the　vulgar　sort；　who　square　all　men's　actions　by　the　base　rule　of　their　own　filthinesse；　shall　tax　or　taunt　mee　in　this　my　godly　labour：　let　them　know　it　is　not　hungry　appetite；　to　gorge　myselfe　with　incontinency；　sure　（if　I　would　and　were　so　sensually　inclined）　I　might　satisfy　such　desire；　though　not　wiihout　a　seared　conscience；　yet　with　Christians　more　pleasing　to　the　eie；　and　less　fearefull　in　the　o