46
A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN LITERATURE
second and third books of his work, on the other hand, As he writes at the Cosmas claims perfect accuracy. end of the first book : " Henceforth, with the aid of God and of St. Adalbert, we intend to narrate those events which we have either seen ourselves or truthfully gathered from those who saw them." This statement is not absolutely true, for Palacky, who critically examined the writings of the early Bohemian historians, has discovered numerous errors, particularly in the chronology of the second book. The third book, which begins with the year 1092, and was continued by Cosmas up to the year of his death in 11 25, is the most valuable and also the most interesting part of the work. As already stated, Cosmas often accompanied the bishops of Prague on their travels through Germany, Lorraine, Italy, and Hungary, and this part of his work gives many interesting details referring to the social and pohtical conditions of his times. The work of Cosmas immediately obtained great and deserved success, and its popularity continued for a very considera,ble period. This is proved by the very numerous MSS. of the Chronicon Boemorum that are It is therefore not surprising that still in existence. Cosmas found many imitators and continuators. They belonged, as he had, to the ecclesiastical calling, and, like him, wrote in Latin. The works of these writers are of interest only to students of Bohemian history; it will therefore here be sufficient to mention a few of the most important chronicles. The earliest of these chroniclers is the writer known to us as the "Canon " of Vysehrad ; ^ his chronicle continues the work of 1
The VySehrad hill, now part of the city of Prague, was the site of
of the oldest Bohemian monasteries.
one
