hundred and fifty boys singing national airs led the pro-cession, while from wagons covered with skins and pro-tected by guards and dogs the populace were regaled with draughts of English beer. Other wagons, each drawn by five horses, led by servants in splendid livery, followed with the furniture of his chapel, bed-chamber and kitchen, his plate, wardrobe, and attendants. Then came twelve sump-ter horses each carrying a groom and monkey ; then the esquires, gentlemen's sons, falconers with hawks upon their wrists, officers of the household, knights and clergymen, and last of all Becket himself in familiar converse with a few friends. The French, when they saw an ambassador af-fecting a magnificence greater than their own sovereign could command, exclaimed, " What manner of man must the King of England be, when his chancellor travels in such state." The King of France received Becket with the most distinguishing courtesy, and committed the infant Marguerite to his care. Becket conveyed the little princess to Rouen, where the contract of marriage was solemnized, and the juvenile bride and bridegroom were committed to him for education, and Louis gave to Henry three cities as the dower of his daughter. But a misunderstanding arising with regard to the mat-ter, a fresh compromise was effected by another match. The death of the little princess of Arragon had left the hand of Richard again at liberty. This hand was given as a pledge of amity to Alice, the infant daughter of France, who was also conveyed to England for education. It was the policy of Henry to strengthen his government by powerful alliances : and these early marriages were followed in quick succession by similar unions between Geoffrey his third son and Con-stance the heiress of Bretagne, and his eldest daughter Matilda with Henry the lion Duke of Saxony. In the midst of these domestic and political arrange-ments Theobald, Archbishop of Canterbury, died ; and the king entered upon his long-meditated design of reforming the abuses of the church. He had loaded Becket with every demonstration of favor and affection, and counting 160 HEROINES OF THE CRUSADES.