of about 1450, acquires some notice in a MS.

of 1514, but is not published to the world until 1726.
Supposing it to have been a forgery, the labor of concocting it must have been enormous.

With all its defects, the 'Chronicle' would still remain a masterpiece of historical research, imagination, sympathy with bygone modes of feeling, dramatic vigor, and antiquarian command of language.

But who profited by that labor?
Not the author of the forgery, since he was dead or buried more than two centuries before his fabrication became famous.

Not the Compagni family; for there is no evidence to show that they had piqued themselves upon being the depositaries of their ancestors masterpiece, nor did they make any effort, at a period when the printing-press was very active, to give this jewel of their archives to the public.