CHAPTER IV. — Section 10

BRACCIOLINI AS A BOOKFINDER

I. Doubts on the authenticity of the Latin, but not the

Greek Classics.

II. At the revival of letters Popes and Princes offered large

rewards for the recovery of the ancient classics.

III. The labours of Bracciolini as a bookfinder.

IV. Belief put about by the professional bookfinders that

MSS. were soonest found in obscure convents in barbarous

lands.

V. How this reasoning throws the door open to fraud and

forgery.

VI. The bands of bookfinders consisted of men of genius in

every department of literature and science.

VII. Bracciolini endeavours to escape from forging the Annals by

forging the whole lost History of Livy.

VIII. His Letter on the subject to Niccoli quoted, and examined.

IX. Failure of his attempt, and he proceeds with the forgery of

the Annals.