Herstmonceux.
_Becket's Mother._--I am, in truth, but a new subscriber, and when I wrote
the remarks on MR. FOSS's note (Vol. ii., p. 270.), had not seen your first
volume containing the communications of MR. MATTHEWS (p. 415.) and DR.
RIMBAULT (p. 490.). The rejection of the story that Becket's mother was a
Saracen rests on the fact that no trace of it is found until a much later
time, when the history of "St. Thomas of Canterbury" had been embellished
with all manner of wonders. MR. MATTHEWS may find some information in the
_English Review_, vol. vi. pp. 40-42. DR. RIMBAULT is mistaken in saying
that the life of St. Thomas by Herbert of Boshain "is published in the
_Quadrilogus_, Paris, 1495." It was one of the works from which the
_Quadrilogus_ was _compiled_; but the only entire edition of it is that by
Dr. Giles, in his _S. Thomas Cantauriensis_.