The History of the Kings of Britain

Geoffrey of Monmouth expresses surprise at how difficult it was to gather information on the kings of Britain, both before and after the birth of Christ, especially because “the deeds of these men were such that they deserve to be praised for all time” (37). Their deeds were orally transferred via memory, until Walter, Archdeacon of Oxford, gave Geoffrey “a certain very ancient book” that narrated the deeds of kings from Brutus to Cadwallader, the first and last kings respectively that Geoffrey discusses (37). Geoffrey professes to be translating the book into Latin and keeping it in his “own homely style” to ensure readers are not distracted by “high-flown rhetorical figures” (38).

Geoffrey describes the stellar qualities of his two patrons. He dedicates the book to Robert, Earl of Gloucester—whom Geoffrey asks to help elevate the book in importance—and Waleran, Count of Mellent. Geoffrey asks the latter to be the book’s patron, guiding it towards popularity among the public, and protecting Geoffrey from envy so that “I may be able in peaceful harmony to make music on the reed-pipe of a muse who really belongs to you” (39).