Andrew John, surnamed Ryndacenus, of an ancient Greek family, went into Italy, after the taking of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453. He was well received by Laurence de Medicis, a distinguished protector of learned men; and was twice sent to Constantinople to collect the best Greek manuscripts, by which means numberless scarce and valuable treasures of literature were carried into Italy. At his return, Louis XII. king of France prevailed on him to settle in the university of Paris, and sent him twice ambassador to Venice. Ten years after, Cardinal John de Medicis being elected pope, under the name of Leo X. John Lascaris, his old friend, went to Rome, and had the direction of a Greek college. He died at Rome in 1535, at about the 90th year of his age. He brought into the west most of the fine Greek manuscripts that are now extant, and composed some epigrams in Greek and Latin.

Constantine, one of the Greeks who were principally concerned in the revival of learning in the West, retired into Italy in 1454, and taught polite literature at Milan, whither he was called by Francis Sforza; he afterwards went to Rome, where he was well received by Cardinal Beffarion. He afterwards taught rhetoric and the Greek tongue at Naples; and ended his days at Messina, leaving the senate of that city many excellent manuscripts which he had brought from Constantinople. He was interred at the public expense, and the senate of Messina erected a marble tomb to his memory. He wrote some grammatical works.