The chronicle of the kings of Britain /
Geoffrey,of Monmouth, Bishop of St. Asaph,1100?-1154.
Roberts, Peter,1760?-1819.
Tysilio,Saint,-approximately 640.
Gildas,516?-570?
Lampeter : Llanerch,
2000.
Although this chronicle has been attributed to Saint Tysilio, who lived in the 7th century, the Dictionary of National Biography calls it "A late compilation, of which no manuscript is known of earlier date than the fifteenth century." The chronicle states that "I, Walter, Archdeacon of Oxford, translated this book from the Welsh into Latin, and have agin translated it from the Latin into Welsh."
The editor believes that Walter gave the original Welsh ms. (which he attributes to Gildas) to Geoffrey of Monmouth and that the latter translated and adapted his "Historia" from it. Some scholars agree with him; some regard the "Brut Tysilio" as a translation and adaptation of Geoffrey's work; others think that both derive from earlier sources.
"In translating the Chronicle, that copy [i.e., version] which is entitled Brut Tysilio, has been made the text. This copy is taken from the Red Book of Hergest, and is that of the Library of Jesus College, Oxford."
"This work has been taken from a larger one of which the contents are indicated on the sub-facsimile of the title page.
Originally published: London : Printed for E. Williams, 1811.