Indian Sculpture c12.115

c12.115

The study of history in the Middle Ages was not, however, confined to these popular works. There were also more serious historical writings, which aimed to record the events of the past with greater accuracy and critical judgment. Among these, the works of William of Malmesbury, Henry of Huntingdon, and Matthew Paris are particularly notable. William of Malmesbury, in his *Gesta Regum Anglorum* (Deeds of the Kings of the English) and *Gesta Pontificum Anglorum* (Deeds of the Bishops of the English), showed a remarkable critical sense and a desire to base his narrative on reliable sources. Henry of Huntingdon, in his *Historia Anglorum*, provided a lively and readable account of English history, while Matthew Paris, in his *Chronica Majora*, gave a detailed and often critical account of the events of his own time, particularly those concerning the relations between the papacy and the English crown.