He wrote the "Dissertation on the Epistles of Phalaris" (1699), his major academic work, almost accidentally. In 1697, William Wotton, about to bring out a second edition of his "Ancient and Modern Learning", asked Bentley to write out a paper exposing the spuriousness of the "Epistles" of Phalaris, long a subject of academic controversy. The Christ Church editor of Phalaris, Charles Boyle, resented Bentley's paper. He had already quarrelled with Bentley in trying to get the manuscript in the royal library collated for his edition (1695). Boyle wrote a response which was accepted by the reading public, although it was much later criticised as showing only superficial learning. The demand for Boyle's book required a second printing. When Bentley responded, it was with his dissertation. The truth of its conclusions was not immediately recognised, but it has a high reputation.