In groping through this period of darkness, some glimmer ings of light may be borrowed from Bede, the contemporary writers Of Gaul, and perhaps from the Irish historians; and in compiling such a history, where authorities of the legendary kind must be consulted, a simple rule may be Observed, which, if does not always elicit the truth, will produce the mearest approximation to it, namely to take the story of the oldest writer, which also is generally found to be the most limited. The character of fable is progressive, and a story, which originally was true, is in most cases repeated with additions. This rule has been established with great clearness by the author Of Europe in the Middle Ages, (in Lardner's Cyclopaedia, vol. Iv. P. 67 observing the manner in which Nennius has been amplified by Geoffrey, he adds There is no greater difference between Geoffrey of Monmouth and Nennius, than between Nennius and Gildas. This fact is very instructive; it may enable the judicious investigator into the antiquities of ancient Britain, and of Britain even in the anglo-saxon period, to steer his way through the darkest path ever traversed by historian.