Talk:Thurcytel
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[edit] Pseudo-Ingulf
The Catholic Encyclopedia article, never likely to be the acme of scepticism, says, talking of the source for this supposed person, "as this ... rests on the authority of the pseudo-Ingulf, it must be received with caution". Of pseudo-Ingulf, Knowles, et al, Heads of Religious Houses: England & Wales, I, p. 41, say: "It is certain that pseudo-Ingulf had access to a genuine list of abbots, and possibly to genuine tradition of the abbots' terms of office,; but if so, he misunderstood or garbled these beyond any possibility of recognition". Even in Riley's lifetime, people could write of "the small basis of truth upon which the pseudo-Ingulf's huge mass of lies was fabricated". Perhaps we should have an article on Pseudo-Ingulf, so that editors do not take his work seriously, but before that happens we should have an article on the real Ingulf, abbot of Crowland. Anyway, this presumes that people would read articles on medieval sources before citing them, which is perhaps optimistic. Angus McLellan (Talk) 22:11, 8 October 2007 (UTC)
In case anyone is interested, the Oxford DNB has an article. Thurcytel, abbot of Crowland, is "almost certainly the same" [Brooke, Churches and Churchmen in Medieval Europe, p. 153, note 46] person as Thurcytel, abbot of Bedford. His floruit is firmly in the reign of Edgar only. A move to Thurcytel (died 975), or Thurcytel, abbot of Crowland, or Thurcytel of Crowland, is probably advised. Angus McLellan (Talk) 22:28, 8 October 2007 (UTC)