208 SOME SAXON SAINTS OF WIMBORNE. 



request Lioba was included in the number. With her went 

 a band of ten sisters, amongst whom were Agatha, Tecla, and 

 in all probability Cynehild. 



For more than thirty years Lioba worked in this new 

 sphere in what for the most part was a heathen land. She 

 was appointed abbess of Bischofsheim on the Tauber, and 

 Tecla became abbess of Kitzingen. Lioba gathered round her 

 many disciples, some number of whom were in process of 

 time elected themselves to preside over other German 

 convents. In her Wimborne days it had been recorded of 

 her that her time was entirely given up either to her monastic 

 duties or to heavenly learning, and that she was more devoted 

 to reading and hearing the Holy Scriptures even than to 

 working with her hands. And in her later life she is said to 

 have had the Scriptures continually in her hands and to 

 have both studied and taught them as well as the works of 

 the Fathers and the Latin language. 



" She had a pleasant speech," says her biographer, " with 

 a clear understanding and sound sense. In faith she was 

 most catholic, in hope most patient, in charity most large 

 hearted." She was beautiful in person and not less lovely 

 in spirit. And whilst she was wise and learned, she was at 

 the same time kind and humble. She was always thoughtful 

 for others, and would never expect them to do what she 

 was not willing to do herself. She ruled firmly ; but she 

 ruled by love. She was eminently practical and endued with 

 much common sense. She was careful about the health of 

 the sisters who were committed to her charge, and saw that 

 they had a sufficiency of both food and of sleep. Whilst 

 thoughtful for others, she was sparing about her own meals ; 

 and the small cup which she was accustomed to use was 

 named by the others, on account of its small size, " The 

 darling's little mug." She was careful not to have the 

 hours allotted to rest too much shortened ; because she 

 knew that, unless she slept soundly and for a sufficient time, 

 her mind would not be clear enough to understand and 

 profit by what she read. " Take away sleep and you take 



