William of Malmesbury writes:
"... of Elward [Æthelweard], a noble and illustrious character, who attempted to arrange these chronicles in Latin, and whose intention I could applaud if his language did not disgust me, it were better to be silent."
Be that as it may, his access to otherwise lost material makes Æthelweard important.William of Malmesbury 'Gesta Regum Anglorum' translated by Rev. J. Sharpe, revised by Rev. J. Stevenson