Paris

Paris, MATTHEW, chronicler, who probably inherited his family-name (then not uncommon in England), was born about 1200. In January 1217 he entered the Benedictine monastery of St Albans, grew up under the eye of Roger de Wendover, and in 1248 was sent by the pope's recommendation on a mission to repair the financial disorders in the Benedictine monastery on Monk's Island (Holm) near Trondhjem in Norway. In July 1251 he was in attendance at the court at Winchester, six months later he witnessed the marriage at York of Henry's daughter to Alexander II. of Scotland, and in March 1257 he had much conversation with the king during his week's visit to the monastery. His death occurred about the middle of 1259. Matthew Paris's principal work is his Historia Major, or Chronica Majora, a history from the creation down to the year 1259. The original edition is that published in 1571 under the authority of Archbishop Parker; but the authoritative edition of the work is that edited by Dr Luard in the Rolls series (7 vols. 1872–83). His conclusion as to its authorship is that down to the year 1189 it was the work of John de Cell, abbot of St Albans from 1195 to 1214; that from that point it was continued by Roger of Wendover down to the year 1235—the whole work to this point being often ascribed to him alone, and known as the Flores Historiarum; that Matthew of Paris next transcribed, corrected, and extended (by interpretation rather than interpolation) the work, which, moreover, from 1235 down to 1259 is entirely his own. As a historian he is vigorous, vivid, and accurate, and his pages are aglow with patriotic fervour. His Historia Anglorum is abridged from the greater work by the omission of what relates to foreign affairs. It was edited by Sir F. Madden in the Rolls series (3 vols. 1866–69). Other works are the Abbreviatio Chronicorum (1100–1255); Liber Additamentorum or Supplementorum; the dubious Duorum Offarum Merciorum Regum Vitæ; and the valuable Viginti trium Abbatum S. Albani Vitæ. See an article by Dr Jessopp in the Quarterly Review (1886).