Lestorie des Engles solum la translacion Maistre Geoffrei Gaimar

The oldest surviving metrical chronicle in vernacular French, written in the twelfth century and published in 1888.

Written by Anglo-Norman historian Geoffrei Gaimar (fl.1136–7), this text is both the oldest surviving metrical chronicle in vernacular French and the first secular account of the history of England. Published in two volumes in 1888–9, the work begins in 495 and ends with Henry I's death.Published in two volumes for the Rolls Series between 1888 and 1889, this is the oldest surviving metrical chronicle in vernacular French. It was written by the Anglo-Norman poet and historian Geoffrei Gaimar (fl.1136–7), who lived in England at a time when French was still used among the aristocracy. The text is largely based on the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and also draws on various French, English and Latin sources. Gaimar's unique perspective breaks with the tradition of religious chronicles by offering the first secular account of the history of England. Edited by archivist and antiquary Sir Thomas Duffus Hardy (1804–78) and Charles Trice Martin (1842–1914), Volume 1 presents the original text. It covers the period from the arrival of Cerdic in 495 to the death of Henry I and includes the story of Havelok the Dane.