<i>Vel maiorum relatio uel librorum reuolutio</i>: oral informants and information in the works of William of Malmesbury

Abstract This paper explores the information provided by William of Malmesbury’s oral informants that he recorded in his works. It argues that older monks and the transmission of oral traditions at his own monastery, ecclesiastics from the host communities which he had visited, Norman nobles with whom he was familiar and common people he had encountered during his travels were all important oral sources for his writings. His interaction with his different informants brought both advantages and disadvantages, but William was still cautious about relying on hearsay and possible rumours, which shows his ‘subjective initiative’ in dealing with oral materials.