Learning of Alphonsus Pisanus. The counterfeit Epistles of Sylvester, and that Council. A Roman Council wholly counter-feited. Letters counterfeited in the Name of Pope Mark, and Athanasius, and the Bishops of Egypt, to defend the Forgeries that were lately added to the Nicene Council.

Binius hath the Code of the Nicene Council, fairly written in Greek, and at the end of it ΤΕΛΟΣ: or in Latine, FINIS.

After this, in another place, (by it self) under the name of Alphonsus Pisanus, with the Patronage of Francis Turrian, he bringeth in a whole Legend of Canons, to the number of fourscore, Fathered all upon the Nicene Council.

In the Code it self there are the Epistles of Alexander Alexandrinus, Constantine the Emperour, and the whole Synod, the Emperours Oration, the Recantation of Theognis and Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia, the Nicene Creed, and the 20 Canons of the Nicene Council. All curiously written in fair Greek.

Out of the Code, after Τἑƛος, there is a counterfeit List of the Bishops Subscriptions (but miserably depraved) to put the better face on the rest of the Forgeries: and like many other of the Frauds, written only in Latine. Then there is an humble Letter, whereby the Council submitteth it self to the Popes Censure; but in the Column on the other side (for there are 2 Columns in the Leaf) it is defaced with an empty Blank, for want of a Greek Copy.

For fear this Letter should not be seen often enough, he hath it again, with the Answer of Pope Sylvester thereunto; both recorded in another place, near to the Arabick Canons; detected by these marks: They are without any Greek Copy, are not among the Acts of the Council, are full of mistakes and Barbarismes, and clearly refelled by the Genuine Acts of the Council it self.

The Epistles are these.

‘Beatissimo Papæ Urbis Romæ, cum omni Reverentiâ colendo, Sylvestro; Hosius Episcopus Provinciæ Hispaniæ, Civitatis Cordubæ; Macarius Episcopus Ecclesiæ Hierosolymitanæ, Victor & Vincentius ex Urbe Romæ, Ordinati ex directione tuâ.