Guillaume Le Wallon

Guillaume Le Wallon an abbot of St. Arnoul of Metz. It is believed that he received instruction at the school of Liege. On the conclusion of his studies he retired to a cloister. His teacher wrote him a letter, engaging him to leave his retreat and to enter the ranks of the secular clergy, but Guillaume continued in his chosen vocation. In 1050 he succeeded Warin at St. Arnoul as. abbot. In 1073 he was elected abbot of St. Remi at Rheims. Since the year 1071 that monastery had remained without a chief, and stood exposed to the ravages of archbishop Manasse. Guillaume had some warm disputes with the latter, and wished to resign. lie wrote to the pope, and, not receiving any answer, set out for Rome. The pope received him kindly, and on his return archbishop Manassd relieved him. Guillaume retired to Metz, and although devoted to bishop Herman, he was so weak as to allow himself to be consecrated in his place, when the emperor Henry IV had expelled the latter from his see in 1085. The following year Guillaume went to meet the bishop, and in the presence of the chief members of the Church renounced the episcopate, and retired to the abbey of Gorze. He was intrusted with the care of the children educated there, and after some time bishop Herman gave him the abbey of St. Arnoul. He died about 1089. There are extant of Guillaume le Wallon a collection of seven letters to divers persons, one to Gregory VII, and two to archbishop Manasse, in which he reproaches him severely on account of his many vices. To him also is ascribed a fine prayer in honor of St. Augustine. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.