The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-09-23
fHE STORY OF THOMAS 4 BECK EFT.
~ CHARLIE II,hI.N~.

one iir 'iiu.ht"r. who fell in love with the
merchant and " llo told him tlia: she wanted
TO become Christian. and was willing to
marry him If they could llv to Christian
country. The merchant returned her love.
until he found an opportunity to escape. when
he did NJ" trouble himself about the Saraccn
lady. bui escaped with his servant Richard,
who lad lrcn taken prisoner along with him.
and arri,c'! in England and forgot her. The
Saraccn la''y. who was more loving than The
mere hant. lief; Ecr fathers house in diSoui>c
to follow him, and made her way, under ma
ny haid>hii'>. 20 the sea->horc. The mcr-
chant had taa.il. her oM! Y two English words
(for suppose he must have learnt ih' sara
cen to"guc himself, ali l..aic love in TIA!
= language. Of which Lo,doa wa one. am! hi
own La l.c. GiL.t1. the other she went
among the >li|>. saving. London. London y
over AID over again, uMiil ilc sailors uudcr-
stood that >nc wanted to find an '.,n.i9l YES
sci that would carry her there; 50 they show
> Z" hcr such ship. and >hc PAID lor her pas
$a@r with som" Of l,r jewels. &Ud .ai!t,! away.
Wei, The merchant was sitting in H. ca#.i-
TING house in London one day. vl,en he beard
a great nose in the street: and p>,>on;lv
H,clar, came running il, from tie warehouse
with lii eyes wide open aAl liz breath almost
zone, >a,n., "Ma>Icr, master, here is the
>araccn lady Tie ,lc, liant thought he
was mad hut he said. No. master. rs |
i've. tie Saraccn lad! is Going up ana down
the city. calling Gilbert. Gilbcrt,," When
ihc mcr liant saw her, and thought o!tlc ten
,lcrncs> She had shown him in his ca;,i,i-
tv, ana Of her con>tanry. lis heart was moved
AID hc Ia. down INTO tie street ar! She >lw
him coming. and with great cry tainted in
his arms. They were married without loss
of time. anl Richard (who was an excellent
man) danced with joy the whole day of The
Ncdling; and 'hcy all i've! happy ever after
ward.
This merchant ard this Saraccn l,ly had
one son. Thomas Beckett. lie it was who
became Tie Favo:itc of king Henry the Sec
ond
lie hal become Chancellor. when the
kin4 thought Of max inc him Archbishop
He was clever. gay. wcl-clucatyd. brave ::
had fought in several battles in France Lad
defeated "A French kiigh in single c.n!hat
and brought lis horS, away a> a ;o!.on Of We
tory. he lived in nolc pa'Y-c, lie was
The tu-cr cfthr younE prince N,nFv. he wa
>cr.rG l.y one hundred and forty knights. his
him as his amia> -a!or 10 France: and the
Frcnch lcopic. lcholjling in what state he
travelled. cried cut in the streets. How
srlcndi, must Tie King Of ENGLAND be-.
when this is only tie Chanccilor." They
had rood reason to wonder at the nanniii-
ccncc Of Thomas a Herkct tcr when hc en-
tered Il French town, his lro~e. ION VIZ
headed by two lUndrc'' and fly singin@
BOYS; hen. came hi, lo;:n,i> in couples thcn
eight WAGONS. each drawn lv five horses ,ri-
ven iv five drivers. two OF the WAGONS filled
with strong ale to he Given away to the pco-
pie: four. with Ii, gold and silver plate and
stately c.o;hr>: tive, with the dresses Of lis
numerous servants. Thcn came twelve tor-
ser. each with monkey on lis back: them
q train Of people hearing shields and iralin.
fine war-hortHs ~rlcnli'Ny equipped; then.
faconor> with hawks upon their wrists; then.
a host o kni@it> AID gentlemen anl priests ::
then. th' Chancellor with his brilliant car
menr> FISHING in the >un. and all the people
cal~riu, and ,hou'ing with delight.
The Kin Wa well ;lca~cd wiki all this
thinking. that it Only made himself the n.orc
magnificent to have 50 magnificent a i,voriir
bat he sometimes ic>,etI with the Chancellor
upon h- >picn1or 100. Once, when they
were riding together through Tie street, Of
London in ha:d winter weather. they saw a
sli' clinr O!l man in idgs. Look at the
POOR object =" sad hc King. "Woiild it no.
!c a charitable act to give that accd nam a
comfortable warm cloak :" Undoubtedly
it wouli," said ThoMas Beckett. .and Won
do well. >:. TO ;inl: Of sucll Christian duticS'
Come" cried the King. then givc lin
vour Cioak 1t was made Of rich crimson
trimmed with crminc. The King tried TO pall
il o:l, the Chancellor tried to keep it on, both
We're near rolling from their saddles in the
mud. wien tie Chancellor submitted. and the
King rave the cloak TO the old bcsgar: much
70 the hr-gar> a>toni,lmcnt. and much 10
Tie melrimcnt Of all lhc oourticrs in ati,n-
dance For coulicrs are not only eager to
laugh when ;!.c Kin. la@.h<, but they really
% enjoy a laugh against Favoritc.
i will make" thought King Henry the
Second, this Chancellor OF mine, Thomas a
Beckett Archbishop OF Canterbury. He will
then be the head of the Church. and. being
devoted to me. will help ne to correct the
Church. He has always upheld my power
against the power Of the clergy. and once
publicly told some bishops Q remember )that
men of the Church were equally bound to me
with men of the sword! Thomas Beckett is
the man, of all other men in England to help
me in my great design SO the King re-
-ardle>s OF all objection. either that he was a
frlf l,, J. Al