And they were in secret so greatly moved against their abbot, the same John, that in the manner of the Jews they would have beset their lord with subtlety and have betrayed him. For they led away two young slaves of the same Gallic race by bribes, and wickedly instructed them to enter the open church armed at night, while all slept soundly in delightful peace of body. And they were to close this again after them in the usual way, and hidden in it to wait until the abbot came alone. And when, as his habit was, he should enter the church alone and privately, for the sake of prayer, and bending his knees to the earth before the holy altar, bowed himself, they should attack him and strive to slay him then and there. Then they should drag his dead body thence and cast it down before the door of a certain courtesan, as though he had been slain while in her company. So they plotted, adding crime to crime; as it is said, The last error shall be worse than the first.

HOW THE PLOT FAILED OF SUCCESS.

But, by the mercy of God, which is ever wont to help the guiltless, the evil plan of the wicked men was in great measure brought to nought, so that it did not altogether come to pass as they had intended.

Therefore all the evil learning was clearly explained by the evil teachers to the evil learners, and when the

appointed night came, giving opportunity and promise of impunity, they shut the two young robbers, armed, in the church to await the coming of the abbot. Then at midnight John, as his habit was, secretly and unknown to any one, entered the church to pray, and with bended knees bowed himself before the altar. And those two robbers suddenly rushed on him with drawn swords and afflicted him with cruel wounds. But he, as was his wont, was ever swift in thought, and, as I have heard some tell of him, was not unskilled in warlike arts, had he not given all his mind to better study. So, as soon as he heard the sound of the robbers, and before he saw them, he fell fiercely upon them, ere he was wounded, and crying as loudly as he could, resisted them, shouting again and again that they were devils and not men. did he know to the contrary, for he thought not that men would dare this deed. Yet was he wounded before his people came to his help.

Nor

Now his people were dumbfounded at this clamour, and especially when they heard the cry of "devils." And, terrified, and at their wits' end, they ran together from all sides to the doors of the church, and even those who were, in the manner of the Jews, betrayers of their Lord ran also.

But ere they came the robbers fled with haste to the lairs near at hand in the marsh, leaving the abbot half dead. Then the monks surrounded their scarce breathing master, and with groaning and sorrow bore

him home, while the guilty wept no less than the innocent.

Yet did not the mercy of God permit so great a crime to go unpunished. The robbers who had committed and all those who had incited to so great a wrong were caught and bound, and after many torments, died by a very evil death. And having thus related these things

I return to the point whence I set out.

HOW THE KING FOUNDED A NUNNERY AT SHAFTESBURY.

Moreover the same afore-mentioned king commanded a monastery for nuns to dwell in to be built without the east gate of Shaftesbury. In it he placed his own daughter Elgiva, a virgin dedicated to God, to be abbess. With her also many other noble nuns dwelt in the same monastery, serving God in the monastic life. These two monasteries he plentifully enriched with landed possessions and all wealth.

How ALFRED WAS DEVOTED TO THE SERVICE OF GOD.

When these matters had been so settled, as was his habit, he thought within himself what he could yet add which would be more profitable to pious contemplation; and that which was begun not foolishly, was wisely found and more wisely observed. For he had heard that which

was written of old time in the Law, that the Lord has promised to return His tithe many times over, and that this promise is faithfully observed, and that He will return his tithe many times over.

Then, moved by this example, and wishing to surpass the custom of his ancestors, this pious thinker promised that he would give the half of his service, both by day and night, to God, devotedly and faithfully, with wholehearted zeal, over and above the half of all his wealth, which, being gained with moderation and justice, was wont to come to him year by year. And this, as far as human understanding could know and observe it, he strove with craft and wisdom to fulfil. But, as was his habit, he was careful to avoid that which Holy Scripture warns man against, saying, If thou offerest rightly, but dividest not rightly, thou dost sin. He considered how he might rightly divide that which he had freely devoted to God. And, as Solomon has said, the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, that is, his counsel, so, being guided from on high, he commanded his officers to divide into two equal parts all the revenues of the taxes each year.

HOW HE PROVIDED FOR THE KING'S SERVICE.

And when the division had been so made, he assigned the first part to be devoted to secular matters, and this in

turn he ordered to be divided into three parts.

And the

first part under this division he distributed year by year to his warriors, and also to his noble thegns who were | resident in turn in the royal court, performing duties and in many offices.

Now the royal household was always so managed in three relays. The servants of the king were very wisely divided into three bands, so that the first band remained for one month in the king's court day and night performing its duties; and when the month was ended and another band was come, the first went home, and there remained for two months, every one caring for his own needs. And the second band, when the month was ended, and the third band was come, went home to remain there two months. And this last band, when the service of one month was ended and the first band was come, went home and there remained two months. And by this method of relays of this kind the work of service in the royal court was taken in turn all the days of this life.

How ALFRED GAVE GIFTS TO CRAFTSMEN AND TO
STRANGERS.

The first of these shares, then, did he distribute to such men, and to each according to his rank and according to his service. But the second share he distributed to the craftsmen whom he had gathered from all nations, and