Excerpt from Geoffrey of Monmouth, 1640-1800The work of Thomas Fuller will be discussed later (see pp. 396 f.) in connection with his treatment of Geoffrey's account of the establishment of episcopacy in the island. Here it is sufficient to note his general attitude toward the Historia. In The Church - History of Britain (1655) he com ments on the Arthurian stories and, although he does not mention Geoffrey by name condemns the Hyperbolicall M onks whose lies have discredited Arthur, the British Hector, who could not defend that Troy, which was designed to destruction.37 But Fuller's attitude is not one of complete con demnation. Elsewhere in The C hureh-h istory, with the note Jefi'ery M on mouth defended, he has the following: He is the Welsh Herodotus, the father of ancient History, and fables; for, he who will have the first, must have the later. For, a translator tells a lie in telling no lie, if wilfully varying from that copy, which he promiseth faithfully to render.

38 This last refers to the dispute whether Geoffrey was the author or the translator of the H istoria. As we have seen, Spelman thought that he was the translator, and Ussher referred without comment to the Armorican book translated by Geoffrey. Fuller's opinion was slightly different in The History of the Worthies of England He translated and compiled the various British authors into one Volume.39 This is not entirely consistent, but Fuller's opinion of Geoffrey was inclined to be captious. (see below, p. He adds that it is unreasonable to condemn Geoffrey for singing the praises of his own nation. Livy mounts Italy to the skyes, and all other Authors respectively; and why should that be mortal in our Monmouth, what is but venial in others?40 This is a restatement of an attitude which has been noticed earlier and which was common to writers unwilling to throw over entirely the high antiquities of Britain.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books.

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