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                                  TRUST UNDER
                            THE MARKEL CORPORATION
                 1989 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN


     THIS AGREEMENT made this 1st day of February, 1999 by and between Markel
Corporation (the "Company") and Steven A. Markel ("Trustee");

     WHEREAS, Company wishes to establish a trust (hereinafter called "Trust")
and to contribute to the Trust assets that shall be held therein, subject to the
claims of Company's creditors in the event of Company's Insolvency, as herein
defined, until paid to Plan participants and their beneficiaries in such manner
and at such times as specified in the Plan;

     WHEREAS, it is the intention of the parties that this Trust shall
constitute an unfunded arrangement and shall not affect the status of the Plans
as an unfunded plan maintained for the purpose of providing deferred
compensation for a select group of management or highly compensated employees
for purposes of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974;

     WHEREAS, it is the intention of Company to make contributions to the Trust
to provide itself with a source of funds to assist it in the meeting of its
liabilities under the Plan;

     NOW, THEREFORE, the parties do hereby establish the Trust and agree that
the Trust shall be comprised, held and disposed of as follows:

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF TRUST

     (a)  Company hereby deposits with Trustee in trust 100 shares of common
stock of the Company, which shall become the principal of the Trust to be held,
administered and disposed of by Trustee as provided in this Trust Agreement.

     (b)  The Trust hereby established is irrevocable by Company.

     (c)  The Trust is intended to be a grantor trust, of which Company is the
grantor, within the meaning of subpart E, part I, subchapter J, chapter 1,
subtitle A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and shall be
construed accordingly.

     (d)  The principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon shall be held
separate and apart from other funds of Company and shall be used exclusively for
the uses and purposes of Plan participants and general creditors as herein set
forth. Plan participants and their beneficiaries shall have no preferred claim
on, or any beneficial ownership interest in, any

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assets of the Trust. Any rights created under the Plans and this Trust Agreement
shall be mere unsecured contractual rights of Plan participants and their
beneficiaries against Company. Any assets held by the Trust will be subject to
the claims of Company's general creditors under federal and state law in the
event of Insolvency, as defined in Section 3(a) herein.

     (e)  Company, in its sole discretion, may at any time, or from time to
time, make additional deposits of cash or other property in trust with Trustee
to augment the principal to be held, administered and disposed of by Trustee as
provided in this Trust Agreement. Neither Trustee nor any Plan participant or
beneficiary shall have any right to compel such additional deposits.

SECTION 2. PAYMENTS TO PLAN PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR BENEFICIARIES.

     (a)  Company shall deliver to Trustee a schedule (the "Payment Schedule")
that indicates the amounts payable in respect of each Plan participant (and his
or her beneficiaries), that provides a formula or other instructions acceptable
to Trustee for determining the amounts so payable, the form in which such amount
is to be paid (as provided for or available under the Plan), and the time of
commencement for payment of such amounts. Except as otherwise provided herein,
Trustee shall make payments to the Plan participants and their beneficiaries in
accordance with such Payment Schedule. The Trustee shall make provision for the
reporting and withholding of any federal, state or local taxes that may be
required to be withheld with respect to the payment of benefits pursuant to the
terms of the Plan and shall pay amounts withheld to the appropriate taxing
authorities or determine that such amounts have been reported, withheld and paid
by Company.

     (b)  The entitlement of a Plan participant or his or her beneficiaries to
benefits under the Plan shall be determined by Company or such party as it shall
designate under the Plan, and any claim for such benefits shall be considered
and reviewed under the procedures set out in the Plan.

     (c)  Company may make payment of benefits directly to Plan participants or
their beneficiaries as they become due under the terms of the Plan. Company
shall notify Trustee of its decision to make payment of benefits directly prior
to the time amounts are payable to participants or their beneficiaries. In
addition, if the principal of the Trust, and any earnings thereon, are not
sufficient to make payments of benefits in accordance with the terms of the
Plan, Company shall make the balance of each such payment as it falls due.
Trustee shall notify Company where principal and earnings are not sufficient.

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SECTION 3. TRUSTEE RESPONSIBILITY REGARDING PAYMENTS TO TRUST BENEFICIARY WHEN
           COMPANY IS INSOLVENT.

     (a)  Trustee shall cease payment of benefits to Plan participants and their
beneficiaries if the Company is Insolvent. Company shall be considered
"Insolvent" for purposes of this Trust Agreement if (i) Company is unable to pay
its debts as they become due, or (ii) Company is subject to a pending proceeding
as a debtor under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

     (b)  At all times during the continuance of this Trust, as provided in
Section 1(d) hereof, the principal and income of the Trust shall be subject to
claims of general creditors of Company under federal and state law as set forth
below.

          (1)  The Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer of Company
     shall have the duty to inform Trustee in writing of Company's Insolvency.
     If a person claiming to be a creditor of Company alleges in writing to
     Trustee that Company has become Insolvent, Trustee shall determine whether
     Company is Insolvent and, pending such determination, Trustee shall
     discontinue payment of benefits to Plan participants or their
     beneficiaries.

          (2)  Unless Trustee has actual knowledge of Company's Insolvency, or
     has received notice from Company or a person claiming to be a creditor
     alleging that Company is Insolvent, Trustee shall have no duty to inquire
     whether Company is Insolvent. Trustee may in all events rely on such
     evidence concerning Company's solvency as may be furnished to Trustee and
     that provides Trustee with a reasonable basis for making a determination
     concerning Company's solvency.

          (3)  If at any time Trustee has determined that Company is Insolvent,
     Trustee shall discontinue payments to Plan participants or their
     beneficiaries and shall hold the assets of the Trust for the benefit of
     Company's general creditors. Nothing in this Trust Agreement shall in any
     way diminish any rights of Plan participants or their beneficiaries to
     pursue their rights as general creditors of Company with respect to
     benefits due under the Plan or otherwise.

          (4)  Trustee shall resume the payment of benefits to Plan participants
     or their beneficiaries in accordance with Section 2 of this Trust Agreement
     only after Trustee has determined that Company is not Insolvent (or is no
     longer Insolvent).

     (c)  Provided that there are sufficient assets, if Trustee discontinues the
payment of benefits from the Trust pursuant to Section 3(b) hereof and
subsequently resumes such payments, the first payment following such
discontinuance shall include the aggregate amount

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of all payments due to Plan participants or their beneficiaries under the terms
of the Plan for the period of such discontinuance, less the aggregate amount of
any payments made to Plan participants or their beneficiaries by Company in lieu
of the payments provided for hereunder during any such period of discontinuance.


SECTION 4. INVESTMENT AUTHORITY.

     Trustee may invest in securities (including stock or rights to acquire
stock) or obligations issued by Company. All rights associated with assets of
the Trust shall be exercised by Trustee or the person designated by Trustee, and
shall in no event be exercisable by or rest with Plan participants, except that
voting rights and dividend rights with respect to Trust assets will be exercised
and rest with the Company. Company shall have the right, at anytime, and from
time to time in its sole discretion, to substitute assets of equal fair market
value for any asset held by the Trust. This right is exercisable by Company in a
nonfiduciary capacity without the approval or consent of any person in a
fiduciary capacity.

SECTION 5. DISPOSITION OF INCOME.

     During the term of this Trust, all income received by the Trust, net of
expenses and taxes, shall be accumulated and reinvested.

SECTION 6. ACCOUNTING BY TRUSTEE.

     Trustee shall keep accurate and detailed records of all investments,
receipts, disbursements, and all other transactions required to be made,
including such specific records as shall be agreed upon in writing between
Company and Trustee. Within 90 days following the close of each calendar year
and within 45 days after the removal or resignation of Trustee, Trustee shall
deliver to Company a written account of its administration of the Trust during
such year or during the period from the close of the last preceding year to the
date of such removal or resignation, setting forth all investments, receipts,
disbursements and other transactions effected by it, including a description of
all securities and investments purchased and sold with the cost or net proceeds
of such purchases or sales (accrued interest paid or receivable being shown
separately), and showing all cash, securities and other property held in the
Trust at the end of such year or as of the date of such removal or resignation,
as the case may be.

SECTION 7. RESPONSIBILITY OF TRUSTEE.

     (a)  Trustee shall act with the care, skill, prudence and diligence under
the circumstances then prevailing that a prudent person acting in like capacity
and familiar with such matters would use in the conduct of an enterprise of a
like character and with like aims,

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provided, however, that Trustee shall incur no liability to any person for any
action taken pursuant to a direction, request or approval given by Company which
is contemplated by, and in conformity with, the terms of the Plan or this Trust
and is given in writing by Company. In the event of a dispute between Company
and a party, Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve
the dispute.

     (b)  If Trustee undertakes or defends any litigation arising in connection
with this Trust, Company agrees to indemnify Trustee against Trustee's costs,
expenses and liabilities (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees and
expenses) relating thereto and to be primarily liable for such payments. If
Company does not pay such costs, expenses and liabilities in a reasonably timely
manner, Trustee may obtain payment from the Trust.

     (c)  Trustee may consult with legal counsel (who may also be counsel for
Company generally) with respect to any of its duties or obligations hereunder.

     (d)  Trustee may hire agents, accountants, actuaries, investment advisors,
financial consultants or other professionals to assist it in performing any of
its duties or obligations hereunder.

     (e)  Trustee shall have, without exclusion, all powers conferred on
trustees by applicable law, unless expressly provided otherwise herein,
provided, however, that if an insurance policy is held as an asset of the Trust,
Trustee shall have no power to name a beneficiary of the policy other than the
Trust, to assign the policy (as distinct from conversion of the policy to a
different form) other than to a successor trustee, or to loan to any person the
proceeds of any borrowing against such policy.

     (f)  Notwithstanding any powers granted to Trustee pursuant to this Trust
Agreement or to applicable law, Trustee shall not have any power that could give
this Trust the objective of carrying on a business and dividing the gains
therefrom, within the meaning of section 301.7701-2 of the Procedure and
Administrative Regulations promulgated pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code.

SECTION 8. COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF TRUSTEE.

     Company shall pay all administrative and Trustee's fees and expenses. If
not so paid, the fees and expenses shall be paid from the Trust.

SECTION 9. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF TRUSTEE.

     (a)  Trustee may resign at any time by written notice to Company, which
shall be effective 45 days after receipt of such notice unless Company and
Trustee agree otherwise.

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     (b)  Trustee may be removed by Company on 45 days notice or upon shorter
notice accepted by Trustee.

     (c)  Upon resignation or removal of Trustee and appointment of a successor
Trustee, all assets shall subsequently be transferred to the successor Trustee.
The transfer shall be completed within 30 days after receipt of notice of
resignation, removal or transfer, unless Company extends the time limit.

     (d) If Trustee resigns or is removed, a successor shall be appointed, in
accordance with Section 10 hereof, by the effective date of resignation or
removal under paragraphs (a) or (b) of this section.  If no such appointment has
been made, Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a successor or for instructions.  All expenses of Trustee in
connection with the proceeding shall be allowed as administrative expenses of
the Trust.

SECTION 10. APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

     (a)  If Trustee resigns or is removed in accordance with Section 10(a) or
(b) hereof, Company may appoint any third party, such as a bank trust department
or other party that may be granted corporate trustee powers under state law, as
a successor to replace Trustee upon resignation or removal. The appointment
shall be effective when accepted in writing by the new trustee, who shall have
all of the rights and powers of the former Trustee, including ownership rights
in the Trust assets. The former Trustee shall execute any instrument necessary
or reasonably requested by Company or the successor trustee to evidence the
transfer.

     (b)  The successor trustee need not examine the records and acts of any
prior Trustee and may retain or dispose of existing Trust assets, subject to
Sections 6 and 7 hereof. The successor trustee shall not be responsible for and
Company shall indemnify and defend the successor trustee from any claim or
liability resulting from any action or inaction of any prior Trustee or from any
other past event, or any condition existing at the time it becomes successor
trustee.

SECTION 11. AMENDMENT OR TERMINATION.

     (a)  This Trust Agreement may be amended by a written instrument executed
by Trustee and Company.

     (b)  The Trust shall not terminate until the date on which Plan
participants and their beneficiaries are no longer entitled to benefits pursuant
to the terms of the Plan. Upon termination of the Trust any assets remaining in
the Trust shall be returned to Company.

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SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS.

     (a)  Any provision of this Trust Agreement prohibited by law shall be
ineffective to the extent of any such prohibition, without invalidating the
remaining provisions hereof.

     (b) Benefits payable to Plan participants and their beneficiaries under
this Trust Agreement may not be anticipated, assigned (either at law or in
equity), alienated, pledged, encumbered or subjected to attachment, garnishment,
levy, execution or other legal or equitable process.

     (c) This Trust Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

SECTION 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.

     The effective date of this Trust Agreement shall be February 1, 1999.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Trust Agreement has been duly executed under seal by
the parties hereto, effective as of the day and year first written above.


                                   MARKEL CORPORATION




                                   By: ___________________________(Seal)

                                   Print Name:_______________________

                                   Date:_____________________________


ATTEST/WITNESS                     STEVEN A. MARKEL, Trustee


                                   __________________________________

                                   Date:_____________________________

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                                FIRST AMENDMENT
                                    TO THE
                              MARKEL CORPORATION
                 1989 NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS STOCK OPTION PLAN

     FIRST AMENDMENT, dated as of January 1, 1999 to the Markel Corporation 1989
Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") by Markel Corporation (the
"Company"). The Company maintains the Plan, and the Board has the power to amend
the Plan and now wishes to do so.

     NOW, THEREFORE, the Plan is amended as follows:

I.   The Plan is amended by adding a new Article XVII to read as follows:

     A.   Election To Defer Shares. Notwithstanding anything in the Plan to the
          contrary, an optionee may make an irrevocable election to defer any
          and all Shares received through exercise of an Option pursuant to this
          Article XVII. The deferral election must: (i) be made prior to the
          exercise of the Option, (ii) be made on a form provided by the
          Company, (iii) indicate the number of Shares the optionee wishes to
          defer; (iv) indicate the time when payment of the deferred Shares will
          be made from the Stock Account (e.g., termination of employment or a
          specified date in the future); and (v) indicate the form of payment.
          Upon such an election and subsequent exercise of an Option, the
          Company will deliver the Shares covered by the exercised Option to the
          Trust.

     B.   Accounting for Shares. A separate bookkeeping account (the "Stock
          Account") shall be established for each optionee who has made an
          election to defer Shares and has subsequently exercised an Option. The
          account shall be charged or credited with net earnings, gains, losses
          and expenses, as well as any appreciation or depreciation in market
          value during each Plan Year for the deemed investment in the Shares.
          The Company may charge or credit such earnings, gains, losses,
          appreciation and depreciation based on the actual investment
          performance of Shares that it has deposited into the Trust

     C.   Payment. A deferral election shall provide for payment of a Stock
          Account at a future date or dates elected by the Director. If a
          Director is entitled to receive payment of the Director's Stock
          Account, the Company shall distribute to the Director that number of
          whole shares of Company Stock equal to the value of the portion of the
          Stock Account be distributed. Payment shall be made first from the
          Trust. Except for an election made within 30 days of the Director's
          first deferral

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          election which shall be immediately effective, any election or
          revocation of an election by the Director as to the date of payment
          shall be effective six months after it is made.

     D.   Death Benefits. To the extent of undistributed amounts in a Director's
          Stock Account at the Director's death, the Director's beneficiary
          shall be paid in a single lump sum as soon as possible.

     E.   The following definitions shall apply to the Plan.

          1.   Stock Account. The book account established and maintained for
               -------------
               each Director to record the interest of a Director for Shares
               that have been deferred under the Plan.

          2.   Trust. The trust established by the Company in connection with
               -----
               the Plan.

II.  In all respects not amended, the Plan is hereby ratified and confirmed.

                             *   *   *   *   *   *

III. In WITNESS WHEREOF, this First Amendment to the Plan has been executed on
the date indicated below.


                                           MARKEL CORPORATION


                                           By:____________________________

                                           Date:__________________________

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