Baring-Gould’s sources: From Ordericus Vitalis, who wrote in the 12th cent., we learn that the festival of S. Neot was ohserved in Normandy on July 30th; but according to Mabillon, in the abbey of Bee, it was celebrated on July 31st. Authority: — A contemporary hiographer existed. Asser, in his life of Alfred, speaks of King Alfred lying concealed from the Danes in a peasant's house “as is written in the Life of the holy father Neot." This original life no longer exists, but it may have formed the basis of the life by an anonymous writer of the 12th cent., which we have.] S. Neot was a kinsman of King Alfred, but what relation does not appear. The 12th century biographer is certainly wrong in making him the son of Ethelwulf, father of Alfred. He was perhaps a cousin. His early training was in Glastonbury Abbey. It is said that he was such a little man, that to stand at the altar and say mass he was obliged to have a stool placed for him to stand upon, whenever it was his turn to approach the altar. After a while, desirous of living a more retired life, he fled with one companion, named Barri, into Cornwall, and found a retreat where now stands the church of S. Neots, near Liskeard. There he spent seven years, and then made a journey to Rome. On his return he formed a monastery at the place of his retreat. There he ploughed the soil with oxen, but one night thieves stole his oxen, and next day red deer came from the forest and allowed him to plough with them.

King Alfred visited his kinsman, who rebuked him for some acts of severity he had committed, and warned him of the woes coming upon England. 1 S. Neot died in his monastery in Cornwall. His body was translated by Alfred to the place now called S. Neot; s 3 in Huntingdonshire, but then called Ainulfsbury.