In the year 1616 the distinguished artist Simon De Passe engraved a portrait, small quarto size, with the following legend:

"Matoaka als Rebecka Filia Potentiss Princ: Powhatani Imp. Virginiæ."

And beneath :

"Matoaks als Rebecka daughter to the mighty Prince Powhatan, Emperour of Attanoughkornouck als Virginia converted and baptized in the Christian faith, and wife to the wor Mr. Joh: Rolff. Æ 21 Ao 1616."1

Chamberlain, in a letter to Carleton, Ambassador at the Hague, dated March 29, 1617, writes: "The Virginian woman whose picture I sent you, died this last week at Gravesend, as she was returning homeward." Her boy named Thomas, probably after Dale, was left in England, and the father of the child, John Rolfe, having been appointed secretary, was intimately associated with the unscrupulous Argall, now made Governor of Virginia, and arrived, May 15th, at Point Comfort. The Company, on August 23, 1618, wrote to the latter:

1 Notes and Queries, London, 2d series, vol. VII, p. 403.

2 In the Parish Register of Gravesend is this entry :

"1616 May 2j Rebecca Wrothe

wyff of Thomas Wroth gent

a Virginia lady borne, here was buried

in

ye chauncell."

Notes and Queries, vol. V, p. 123, 3d series.

"We cannot imagine why you should give us warning that Opechankano and the natives have given the country to Mr. Rolfe's child, and that they reserve it from all others till he comes of years except as we suppose as some do here report it to be a device of your own, to some special purpose for yourself."

Ben Jonson on Pocahontas.

The extravagant statements of John Smith in the General History, first published in 1624, called forth criticism, and he was charged with having written too much and done too little. In the preface to his Travels and Adventures, published in 1629, he states that "they have acted my fatal tragedies upon the stage, and racked my relations at their pleasure."

Jonson noticed his heroine, Pocahontas, in the Staple of News, first played in 1625. The following dialogue there occurs between Picklock and Pennyboy Canter:

Pick. "A tavern's as unfit too for a princess.

P. Cant. "No, I have known a Princess and a
great one,

Come forth of a tavern.

Pick. "Not go in Sir, though.

P. Cant. "She must go in, if she came forth:

the blessed

Pokahontas, as the historian calls her,1

And great king's daughter of Virginia,
Hath been in womb of tavern."

1 Smith, in his dedication of the General History to the Duchess of Richmond, says:

"In the utmost of many extremities that blessed Pokahontas, the great King's daughter of Virginia oft saved my life."

ROLFE INDEBTED TO LADY DELAWARE.

101

ROLFE SUSPECTED OF UNFAIR DEALING.

The minutes of the Company do not give a very high opinion of Rolfe's honesty.

"April 30, 1621, Sir John Dauers signified that it was the request of my lady Lawarre unto this Courte, that in consideration of her goods remayning in the hands of Mr. Rolfe in Virginia, she might receaue satisfaction for the same out of his tobacco now sent home.

"But forasmuch as it is supposed the said tobacco is none of the said Kolf's but belonged to Mr. Peirce, it was thought fitt that Mr. Henry Rolfe should acquaint my lady Lawarre of his brother's offer (as he informes) to make her La'p good and faithfull account of all such goods as remayne in his hands, upon her La'ps direction to that effect."

Three months later there is an entry as follows:

"July 10, 1621. It was signified that the Ladie Lawarr desyred the court would please to graunt her a comission dyrected to Sir Fraunces Wyatt, Mr. George Sandys and others to examine and certifie what goods and money of her late husband's, deceased, came to the hands of Mr. Rolfe . . . . . and to require the attendinge to his promise that she may be satisfied."

Rolfe's White Wife and Children.

During the year 1622 Rolfe died, leaving a wife and children, besides the child he had by Pocahontas. The

following statement appears in the books of the Company under date of October 7, 1622:

"Mr. Henry Rolfe in his petition desiringe the estate his Brother John Rolfe deceased, left in Virginia might be enquired out and conuerted to the best use for the maintenance of his Relict wife and Children and for his indempnity hauing brought up the Child his said Brother had by Powhatan's daughter w'ch child is yet liuinge and in his custodie.

"It was ordered that the Governor and Counsell of Virginia should cause enquiries be made what lands and goods the said John Rolfe died seized of, and in case it be found the said Rolfe made no will, then to take such order for the petitioner's indempnity, and for the mayntenance of the said children and his relict wife1 as they shall find his estate will beare (his debt unto the Companie and others beinge first satisfied) and to return unto the Companie here an Account of their proceedings."

Sick Indian Girl in England.

The Indian girls that accompanied Pocahontas to England, appear from the minutes to have been a care and expense to the Company. Under date of May 11, 1620, is the following entry :

"The Court takinge notice from Sr William Throgmorton that one of the maydes which Sir Thomas Dale brought

1 If the mother of his infant Bermuda Rolfe was dead, then this relict wife was the third Mrs Rolfe.