St Neot
St Neot began life in a royal household. His original name was Athelstan, and he was the eldest son of Ethelwulf, King of Kent. Through marriage, Ethelwulf became the step-father of the soon-to-be King Alfred. This meant St Neot became his step-brother.
The ecclesiastical journey of St Neot began after he took part in a heroic battle against the Danes. Within the year, he entered the monastery at Glastonbury as a novice. The battle probably had a significant impact on him.
Over time, he practiced a virtuous life and he was promoted to the priesthood.
The First Miracle
The first recorded miracle he experienced was when he was on door duty. The door of the monastery was always attended, in case someone turned up. On one occasion, St Neot was at the door and a stranger came to visit. The visitor knocked on the door, but St Neot was too short to reach the latch. There was no one around to help, and so he prayed. Miraculously, the latch dropped and he was able to reach it, opening the door.
The Second Miracle
After a time, St Neot sought greater solitude. He left the monastery with his friend, Barius. And after a three week journey, he came to a chapel next to a healing spring. They decided to stay.
One day, a hunted doe ran to the chapel and lied down at St Neot’s feet. In a flash, several hunting dogs turned up barking and baying for the doe. With one glance from St Neot, the dogs ran off into a thicket. The master huntsman came upon the scene and became overwhelmed by what he saw, falling to the floor. He returned home later that day, and hung up his hunting equipment and entered the monastery.
The Third Miracle
After seven years at the chapel, St Neot returned to the monastery. King Alfred frequently meet with him, always seeking his advise, prudent counsel and spiritual wisdom.
Another recorded miracle tells the story of when the four oxen who pulled the plough were stolen by local thieves. The monks rushed to St Neot for advise on what to do. He prayed for God’s help and out of the forest came four white stags. They became beasts of burden and pulled the plough instead of the oxen. The thieves were so dumbfounded by this turn of events, that guilt caused them to not only return the cattle and repent, but also seek to join the monastery.
The Three Visions
After St Neot’s death, he appeared to King Alfred in three visions. The first time was to deliver a prophecy. At the time, King Alfred was fighting against the Danes and his army was very much outnumbered. It looked like all was lost. But then St Neot gave a prophecy to the king in a vision:
“In the seventh week after the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the depths below, I will head thine army, then reassembled in the east, and in the power of the King Supreme, Who will fight for thee against the profane, I will give thee victory from Heaven."
The second time King Alfred saw him was in his tent, on the morning of the battle. St Neot reminded him of the prophecy and told him to not act in haste and then to seize the victory.
Alfred’s army did not make an all out attack, but waited in hiding. Then in a surprise attack, they overwhelmed the larger Danish force. But it wasn’t just King Alfred’s ingenious tactics which won the day. A third vision of St Neot holding Alfred’s flag was seen in the sky over the battlefield. This turned the war and England began its journey to be the dominate nation in the island of Britain.