In any event, William would have had access to local traditions at Shaftesbury, since he probably wrote a now lost metrical Life for the community, a fragment of which he included in his Gesta pontificum: Ælfgifu of Exeter 40–53.
Under alle omstændigheder ville William have haft adgang til lokale traditioner i Shaftesbury, da han sandsynligvis skrev et nu tabt metrisk Liv for samfundet - et fragment, som han medtog i hans Gesta pontificum: Ælfgifu af Exeter 40-53.