the earlier historical works of Pubitschka, Pelzl and De Florgy are
superseded by Frantisek Palacky's _Geschichte von Bohmen_ (Prague,
1844-1867), which, however, ends with the year 1526. Rezek, Gindely
and others have dealt with the history of Bohemia posterior to the
year 1526. Professor Adolf Bachmann published (vol. i. in 1899, vol.
ii. 1905) a _Geschichte Bohmens_ up to 1526, which has a strongly
marked German tendency. Of French works Professor Ernest Denis's _Jean
Hus, et la guerre des Hussites_ (Paris, 1878), _Fin de l'independance
boheme_ (2 vols., 1890), and _La Boheme depuis la Montagne Blanche_ (2
vols., 1903), give a continuous account of Bohemian history from the
beginning of the 15th century. (L.)

LITERATURE

The earliest records of the Bohemian or Czech language are very ancient,
though the so-called MSS. of Zelena Hora (Gruneberg) and Kralodvur
(Koniginhof) are almost certainly forgeries of the early part of the
19th century. The earliest genuine documents of the Bohemian language
comprise several hymns and legends; of the latter the legend of St
Catherine and that of St Dorothy have the greatest value. Several
ancient epic fragments have also been preserved, such as the
_Alexandreis_ and _Tandarias a Floribella_. These and other early
Bohemian writings have been printed since the revival of Bohemian
literature in the 19th century. Of considerable historical value is the
rhymed chronicle generally though wrongly known as the chronicle of
Dalimil. The author, who probably lived during the reign of King John
(1310-1346), records the events of Bohemian history from the earliest
period to the reign of King Henry of Carinthia, the immediate
predecessor of John. A strong feeling of racial antipathy to the
Germans pervades the chronicle.

Old Czech literature.

It is undoubtedly to be attributed to the high intellectual level which
Bohemia attained in the 14th century that at that period we already find
writers on religious and philosophical subjects who used the national
language. Of these the most important is Thomas of Stitny (c.
1331-1401). Of his works, which contain many ideas similar to those of
his contemporary Wycliffe, those entitled _O obecnych vecech
Krestanskych_ (on general Christian matters) and _Besedni reci_ (in a
rough translation "learned entertainments") have most value. Stitny and
some of his contemporaries whose Bohemian writings have perished are
k