The Journey of Rheinfrid 285

In the little town they lay, indoors and
out, and it was now that the Abbot got him-
self the name of the Great-hearted. For he
gave his monks orders that all should be
fed and cared for; and daily from his own
table he sent food for thirty wanderers whom
he named his guests, and daily in memory
of the love of Christ he washed the feet of
twelve others, and never shrank from the
unhappy lepers among them. But for all
his care the people died lamentably from
grief and sickness—on no day fewer than
five or six between prime and compline;
and these poor souls were buried by the
brethren. Of the little children that were
left to the mothering of the east wind, some
were adopted by the canons and priests of
the Abbey Church, and others by the
monks.

In his eagerness to help and solace, the
Abbot even sent forth messengers to bring
in the fugitives to refuge. Now on a. day
that Rheinfrid went out on this work of
mercy, he met at a crossway a number of
peasants fleeing before a dozen Norman
men-at-arms. He raised his-arm and called
to them to make a stand, but they were too