The appointment of William to, and his conduct as, abbot of the monastery of St Alban

Abbot William succeeded, who, as I have said, was elected and installed on the feast day of St Edmund, king and martyr. On St Andrew's day, the first Sunday in advent, William was solemnly consecrated before the high altar, as is the custom, by Eustace, bishop of Ely, and received the gift of benediction.

But straight after his election William turned his back on the society of his fellow monks and attached himself to his secular friends, living as a man of the world with much banqueting and bantering which his electors could not believe, nor could any of the monks of this church, for they had hoped that they had got the measure of him.

This behaviour was discussed by Prior Reimund, Master Walter of Rheims, Alexander de Langley, Alexander de Appleton, Fabian the sub-prior, Almaric, Hubert Ridel, John Scot and very many others, who complained bitterly about it and said, ‘We deserve to suffer this, for we sinned against our church when in our election of an abbot we feared the king more than the law.’ One of the electors, John Scot, wished to argue that their choice was justified, but Master Walter of Rheims said, ‘When Master William de Trumpington was as yet being presented before the king in London as abbot-elect, the king quietly asked, “Who is your abbot-elect and what is his name?” When he was told, “Master William de Trumpington,” the king said, “Aha! He is the very man I wanted myself. You have made a wise choice. I might have refused someone else. For your William is a kinsman of that most distinguished knight, Sir William de Trumpington. I believe he will follow in his footsteps.” So, having ascertained his name and family, the king welcomed him with a kiss. This conversation clearly shows that this election was not conducted purely with reference to God. But now let us put up with it calmly, and, to begin with, let us rebuke his excesses in a spirit of gentleness, and see if he is open to improvement. If this fails, we can proceed to severer measures.’