. Zigzag journeys in northwest lands. The Rhine to the Arctic . once, when he had enriched himself withspoils from some of the early Christian churches, the Bishop of Rheims desiredthat he would return a valued vase that had been taken from the cathedral. Follow us to Soissons, said Clovis ; there the booty will be divided. In the division of the booty, a high-spirited and selfish Frankish chieftainobjected to the bishops claim, and, to show his contempt for him and theChurch, struck the vase with his battle-axe. Clovis was offended. He gavethe bishop the vase, and soon after avenged the insul
. Zigzag journeys in northwest lands. The Rhine to the Arctic . once, when he had enriched himself withspoils from some of the early Christian churches, the Bishop of Rheims desiredthat he would return a valued vase that had been taken from the cathedral. Follow us to Soissons, said Clovis ; there the booty will be divided. In the division of the booty, a high-spirited and selfish Frankish chieftainobjected to the bishops claim, and, to show his contempt for him and theChurch, struck the vase with his battle-axe. Clovis was offended. He gavethe bishop the vase, and soon after avenged the insult by striking the chieftaindead with his own battle-axe, saying,— Thus didst thou to the vase at Soissons. His wife, Clotilde, was a Christian, and she often tried to persuade him toembrace the Christian faith. In 496 the Allemannians, a German confederation, who had been assailingthe Roman colonies on the Rhine, crossed the river, and invaded the territoryof the Franks. Clovis met the invaders near Cologne. A severe battle was hard THUS DIDST THOU TO THE VASE OF SOISSONS. EVENING THE THIRD. Ill He called upon his gods, but they did not answer him. He saw he was indanger of being utterly defeated and losing his army. He had with him a servant of the queen. My Lord King, said this man, believe only on the Lord of heaven,whom the queen, mymistress, preacheth. Clovis raised hiseyes in hope towardsheaven, — Christ Jesus,thou whom my queenClotilde calleth theSon of God, I havecalled upon my owngods, and they haveleft me. Thee I in-voke. Give me vic-tory, and I will be-lieve in thee, proclaimthee to my people,and be baptized inthy name. The tide of battlenow suddenly turned,the Allemannianswere beaten, and theirking was slain. When his queenhad learned of hisvow, she sent for theBishop of Rheims toinstruct him in Chris-tianity. He publiclyrenounced his gods,and his people at thesame time accepted the queens faith. Christmas Day, 496, will be ever memorab
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherbosto, bookyear1884