Chapter Fopling Flutter to Forgers and Forgeries of F by Brewer's Readers Handbook

done to literature and history by a Mr. Dryasdust, but great mischief to both is done by the fabrications of Robert Surtees, unless the forgeries are exposed.

(49) Theodosian Code (The), said to have been compiled by command of Theodosius the Younger, emperor of the East (401, 402–450). The reputed date of the code is 438. Hallam says—

Another edict … annexed to the Theodosian Code extended the jurisdiction of bishops to all causes which either party chose to refer to it, even where they had already commenced in a secular court; and (the edict) declared the bishop’s sentence not subject to appeal. This edict has already been proved to be a forgery.—Middle Ages, vol. ii. p. 211.

(50) Turpin’s Chronicle or Chronique de l’archevêque Turpin. Turpin was archbishop of Reims, contemporary with Charlemagne. The “Chronicle” referred to is, in fact, an historic romance, having Charlemagne for its hero, and is full of marvels, such as enchanted castles, winged horses, magic horns, incantations, and so on. As a history it is worthless, but has been misleading. It is probably two or three centuries later than the era of Charlemagne, and, of course, the archbishop had no hand in it. Woodhead, the queen’s librarian, tells us that pope Callixtus II. declared it to be authentic, but no scholar now believes it to be so.

(51) Vella (Giuseppe), a literary impostor, who confessed his frauds and was sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment in 1796. His forgery was the Codex Diplomaticus Siciliœ (1791). He died 1814.

This list, though long, is by no means exhaustive, and takes no notice of travellers’ tales, like those of sir John Mandeville.