and their Danish allies in the camp of refuge at Ely. His successor at Malmesbury, Warin, alienated for his own profit the lands and the treasures which earlier benefactors had lavished upon the abbey, and showed his contempt for the old English abbots by turning the bones of every one of them, except Ealdhelm, out of their resting-places on either side the high altar, and thrusting them into a corner of one of the lesser churches of the town, with the mocking comment: “Whosoever is mightiest among them may help the rest!” William’s boyhood, however, fell in happier days. About the time of his birth Warin died, and the next abbot, Godfrey, set himself to a vigorous work of material, moral and intellectual reform which must have been in full career when William entered the abbey-school.[206] The bent of the lad’s mind showed itself in the subjects which he chose for special study out of the general course taught in the school. “Logic, which serves to give point to our discourse, I tasted only with my ears; to physic, which cures the diseases of our bodies, I paid somewhat closer heed. But I searched deeply into the various branches of moral philosophy, whose dignity I hold in reverence, because it is self-evident to those who study it, and disposes our minds to virtuous living;--and especially into history, which, preserving in a pleasing record the manners of times gone by, by example excites its readers to follow that which is good and shun that which is evil.”[207] Young as he was, his studious habits gained him the confidence of the abbot. Godfrey’s darling scheme was the formation of a library; and when at length he found time and means to attempt its execution, it was William who became his most energetic assistant. “Methinks I have a right to speak of this work,” he tells us with pardonable pride, “for herein I came behind none of my elders, nay, if it be not boastful to say so, I far outstripped them all. I rivalled the good abbot’s own diligence in collecting that pile of books; I did my utmost to help in his praiseworthy undertaking. May those who now enter into our labours duly cherish their fruits!”[208] [203] This conclusion, which seems the only one possible, as to the date of William’s birth is that of Mr. W. de Gray Birch, _On the Life and Writings of Will. of Malmesbury_, pp. 3, 4 (from _Trans. R. Soc. of Lit._, vol. x., new series). [204] Will. Malm. _Gesta Reg._, prolog. l. iii. (Hardy, p. 389). [205] _Ib._ prolog. l. ii. (Hardy, p. 143). [206] The history of Malmesbury is in Will. Malm.’s _Vita S. Aldhelmi_, i.e. _Gesta Pontif._, l. v. (Hamilton, pp. 332 _et seq._) [207] Will. Malm. _Gesta Reg._, prolog. l. ii. (Hardy, p. 143). [208] Will. Malm. _Gesta Pontif._, l. v. c. 271 (Hamilton, p. 431).