[1] I. sec. 13.  “Et episcopus metropolitanus et princeps terrae pari certamine schismata haereticorum, unus verbi gladio, alter virga regiminis ulciscens, de terra vestra funditus auferantur.”  See on this passage Neander, v. 227, and cp. sec. 65, “haereticus tamen scripturarum non facit rationem, sed cum potentibus saeculi ecclesiam vincere quaerit.”

    [2] Elip. ad.  Albinum, sec. 7—­“Oppressione gentis afflicti non
    possumus tibi rescribere cuncta;” also, Ad Felic. “quotidiana
    dispendia quibus duramus potius quam vivimus.”

    [3] There are some doubts about this council.

    [4] Fleury, v. 236.  Hefele dates it 796.

    [5] See letter of Spanish bishops to Charles, asking for
    Felix’s restoration (794).

    [6] Leo III. said of him, at a council held in Rome (799): 
    “Fugiens ad paganos consentaneos perjuratus effectus est.” 
    See Froben, “Dissert,” sec. 24; apud Migne, ci, pp. 305-336.

In 792 Alcuin was summoned from England to come and defend the orthodox position.  He wrote at once to Felix a kindly letter, admonishing him of his errors, and acknowledging that all his previous utterances on theology had been sound and true.  Felix answered this letter, but his reply is not preserved.  To the same, or following, year belongs the letter of Elipandus and the bishops of Spain to Charles and the bishops of Gaul, defending their doctrine, and asking for the restoration of Felix.

In 794 was held another council at Frankfurt, at which Alcuin and other English clergy were present.  Felix was summoned to attend, and heard his heresy again condemned and anathematised, the decree to this effect being sent to Elipandus.[1] Alcuin’s book was read by Charles, and sent into Septimania by the hands of the abbot Benedict.

The next council was held at Rome in 798 to confirm the one at Frankfurt.[2] In 799 came out Felix’s answer to Alcuin, sent by him first to Elipandus, and, after being shewn to the Cordovan clergy, sent on to Charles.  Alcuin is charged to answer it, with Paulinus and the Pope as his coadjutors.

In the same year another council was held at Aix, where Alcuin argued for a week with Felix, and apparently convinced him, for Felix again recanted, and even wrote a confession of faith discarding the word adoption, but still preserving the distinction of predicates belonging to the two natures.[3] Alcuin’s book, after being revised by Charles, was published 800 A.D.  Previously to this he had written to Elipandus, who answered in no measured terms, accusing Alcuin, among other things, of enormous wealth.  This letter was sent through Felix, and, in answer, Alcuin wrote the book against Elipandus, which we now have, and which was the means of converting twenty thousand heretics in Gothic Gaul.[4] But in spite of Emperor or Pope, of the books of Alcuin, or the anathemas of the councils, neither Felix nor Elipandus really gave up his new doctrines, and even the former continued to make converts.  Elipandus, though very old[5] at this time (800 A.D.), lived ten years longer, and Felix survived him eight years;[6] and they both died persisting in their error.[7]