[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 bodies of Aurelius, etc., we find Leovigild spoken of as a very “Leo vigilans.”

But in spite of outbreaks like these we must beware of judging the venerable Elipandus too hardly.  Alcuin himself, in his letter to the bishop, written, as he says, “with the pen of charity,” speaks of him as most blameless,[1] and confesses that he has heard much of his piety and devotion, an admission which he also makes with regard to Felix, in a letter to him.[2] Yet in his book against Elipandus, he exclaims, not without a touch of bathos:  “For all the garments of wool on your shoulders, and the mitre upon your brow, wearing which you minister to the people, for all the daily shaving of your beard[3] ... if you renounce not these doctrines, you will be numbered with the goats!” Another testimony (of doubtful value, however) in Elipandus’ favour is to be found in the anonymous life of Beatus,[4] where Elipandus is said to have succeeded Cixila in the bishopric of Toledo, because of his reputation for learning and piety, which extended throughout Spain.

    [1] “Sanctissime praesul,” sec. 1.  Cp. sec. 6, “Audiens famam
    bonam religiosae vitae de vobis.”

    [2] “Celeberriman tuae sanctitatis audiens famam.”  The “Pseudo
    Luitprand” calls him “Vir humilis, prudens, ae in zelo fidei
    Catholicae fervens.”

[3] Beards were the sign of laymen, see Alvar, “Ep.,” xiii., and probably the distinction was much insisted on because of the Moslem custom of wearing long beards.  For the distinctive dress of the clergy see the same letter of Alvar, ...  “Quern staminia et lana oviuin religiosum adprobat.”

    [4] See Migne, xcvi., 890 ff.