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William of Malmesbury's humorous anecdote illustrates both the character of Eriugena and the position he occupied at the French court. The king having asked, Quid distat inter sottum et Scottum? (What separates a sot [drunkard] from an Irishman?), Eriugena replied, Tabula tantum (Only a table).[11] William of Malmesbury is not considered a reliable source on John Scotus Erigena by modern scholars. For example, his reports that Erigena is buried at Malmesbury is doubted by scholars who say that William confused John Erigena with a different monk named John. William’s report on the manner of Erigena’s death, killed by the pens of his students, also appears to be a legend. “It seems certain that this is due to confusion with another John and that the manner of John’s death is borrowed from the Acts of St. Cassian of Imola. Feast: (at Malmesbury), 28 January.”[12][13][14][15] But see the beginning of this article for an interpretation of William's account as having metaphoric meaning, whether factually based or not.