Supposed author of a chronicle among the Cottonian manuscripts in the British Museum (Vesp. D. IV. 73) which Tanner states to be only a copy of a chronicle written by Alfred of Beverley in the twelfth century, but which, according to Sir Thomas Hardy, is almost entirely based on that of Geoffrey of Monmouth. It is a valueless compilation, describing English history from the Saxon invasion to the year 1129. From the fact the manuscript bears the name "Godfridusde Malmesbury", it was originally conjectured that it was written by Godfrey of Malmesbury a native of Jumièges, who became Abbot of Malmesbury in 1081. As he founded the library of that abbey he was regarded as a man of literay tastes, but his authorship of the manuscript was sufficiently disproved, apart from its identity with Alfred of Beverly, by the fact that his death took place in or before 1107, when Edulf became abbot. Probably the signature merely indicates previous ownership. It is said that a fifteenth-century Italian writer, Baptista Fulgosus, includes the work of "Gotfredus Anglus Historicus" among the authorities he had consulted.
APA citation. (1910). The Monk of Malmesbury. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09573a.htm
MLA citation. "The Monk of Malmesbury." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09573a.htm>.
Transcription. This article was transcribed for New Advent by Joseph P. Thomas. Dedicated to Felix FitzPatrick.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. October 1, 1910. Remy Lafort, Censor. Imprimatur. +John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is webmaster at newadvent.org. Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.