78 



of Western Europe evinced very little ardour in sustaining the cause of 

 literature and the arts. 



But a brilhant era was approaching, when the clouds of ignorance 

 began to pass away. In the republics of Italy there rose a number of 

 persons — ^laymen as well as ecclesiastics — who became animated with an 

 ardent zeal for the revival of learning; and, thus inspired, they were 

 content to sacrifice in many cases their own ease and even renown, to 

 their anxiety for preserving and multiplpng the works of the great 

 masters of antiquity. Petrarca and Bocaccio led the way in the four- 

 teenth century, and, after some lapse of time, were succeeded by Poggio, 

 Bracciolini, Filelfo, and other literati, who gave themselves up to the 

 study of these writings, and spared no pains or expense in obtaining 

 copies. In search of manuscripts, we find them rummaging the 

 neglected turrets and corners of religious houses, and after dragging 

 these precious treasures from the dust and mould in which they were 

 obscured, frequently copying them with their own hands. Many tran- 

 scripts thus made are to be found in the great libraries of Paris and 

 other places. Petrarch and Poggio describe in vivid colours the journeys 

 which they undertook, the expenses they incurred, and the missions sent 

 by them in furtherance of their views, more especially for the discovery 

 of works supposed to have been lost. A noble consummation was the 

 result. The Medico-Laurentian Library was founded at Florence by 

 Lorenzo, and the Library of the Vatican was established by Pope 

 Nicholas V. The invention of printing, which was contemporaneous, 

 superseded the labours of the scribe, and sw^ept away the barriers 

 which stiQ impeded the free range of human intellect. 



V. The Means of Ascertaining their Age and Authenticity. 



The fifth and last division of our subject brings us to consider the 

 means of ascertaining the age and authenticity of Manuscripts. This 

 has been denominated, by MabiUon and the French writers who 

 succeeded him, the science of Diplomatics ; but it goes more generally 

 and more properly under the name of Paleography. To the great 

 importance of this science learned men have at all times borne the 

 most ample testimony ; and accordingly it has been a paramount object 

 with princes and public bodies to collect and deposit among their 

 archives such antient manuscripts as contain records of national tran- 

 sactions in peace or in war — of disputed or vested rights in property or 

 franchise — and of the descent and achievements of illustrious individuals. 

 Here, then, may be descried the landmarks, as it were, which are to serve 

 as guides to the historian, the priest, and the theologian. Without 

 these, everything that occurred prior to the invention of printing would 



