rst in rank, so also was the
chief offender.

The evidence being inconclusive, we are driven to follow _a priori_
considerations, and these point to Elipandus as the author. According to
Neander,[4] he was a violent, excitable, bigoted man; and he certainly
uses some very strong language in his writings against his opponents,
and stands a good deal on his dignity as head of the Spanish Church. For
instance, speaking of his accusers, Etherius, Bishop of Osma, and
Beatus,[5] a priest of Libana, he says of the former that he wallows in
the mire of all lasciviousness;[6] that he is totally unfit to officiate
at God's altar;[7] that he is a false prophet[8] and a heretic; and,
forgetting the courtesies of controversy, he doesn't hesitate, in
another place, to call him an ass. Beatus also he accuses of gross
sensuality, and calls him that iniquitous priest of Astorga,[9]
accusing him of heresy, and giving him the title Antiphrasius, which
means that instead of being called Beatus, he should have been named the
very opposite.[10]

[1] See "Froben Dissertation," Migne, vol. ci. p. 305.

[2] "Annals," 792.

[3] Alcuin, "Epist. ad Leidradum," says that the heresy arose
in Cordova, and he appeals to Elipandus' letter to Felix after
the latter's recantation.

[4] Neander (v. p. 217) seems to infer these qualities from his
writings. An author, quoted by Enhueber (Tract, de Primata
Eccl. Tolet), describes him as "parum accurate in sacris
litteris versatus."

[5] Died in 798. Fleury v., p. 236.

[6] Elipand. Epist., iv. 2, "Carnis immunditia fetidus."

[7] "Ab altario Dei extraneus." Neander, v., p. 226, takes this
to mean that he was deposed.

[8] He gave the Revelation of St John a Moslem application: and
prophesied the end of the world in the near future. See letter
of Beatus, book i., sec. 23--"Novissima hora est ... nunc
Antichristi multi facti sunt. Omnis spiritus qui solvit Jesum
est illius Antichristi, quem audistis quoniam venit, et nunc in
mundo est." See also Alcuin's letter to the Spanish bishops.

[9] "Elipandus and bishops of Spain to those of Gaul," sec. 1.

[10] This practice of punning on names is very common in these
writers. "Infelix Felix" is a poor witticism which constantly
occurs. So Samson says of Hostegesis that he ought to be called
"hostis Jesu"; and in the account of the Translation of the
bodi