MATTHEW OF WESTMINSTER, a Benedictine monk of the abbey of Westminster, author of a Latin chronicle of great value, probably flourished during the early part of the fourteenth century, though some place him near the end of it. His work, which is said to have been formed very much upon the plan of that of Matthew Paris of the previous century, begins with the creation of the world, and continues to the death of Edward I. of England. In his preface he aspires to write the history of the whole world; but after the Heptarchy he is content to limit himself almost exclusively to Britain. After abridging the Bible in the early part of his work, he gives us a brief sketch of the history of Rome, with occasional reference to Greece; records the fabulous traditions of our own early times; tells the sad story of "old King Leyr;" relates the prophecy of Merlin; and so conducts the reader to the times of authentic history. Down to A.D. 1238 Matthew was much indebted to Roger of Wendover, whose chronicle stops at that date; but for the succeeding seventy-two years of his work he seems to have drawn entirely upon his own resources. After the Conquest his record of English affairs is exceedingly minute, and displays much industry and care; and in his relation of the wars of his own time, he displays a strong spirit of nationality, and striking powers of description. His narrative is ordinarily characterized by singular simplicity and directness, written with a careful eye to order and chronology, but filled with copious accounts of Romish miracles and other marvellous legends which, if not true, are at least sometimes amusing. With Hume and other modern historians he stands high as an authority on matters of fact. His chronicle is entitled Flores Historiarum per Matthæum Westmonasteriensem collecti, præcipuè de rebus Britannicis, ab exordio
Mundi usque ad annum Domini 1307; folio, London, 1570. It was translated into English, by C. D. Yonge, for Bohn's Antiquarian Library, in 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1853.