JOHN, ARAUSIUS, HELLADIUS, JUSTUS, NONNITUS and CONAN∣TIUS, Bishops of Spain.
JOHN, an Abbot, and afterwards Bishop of Saragosa, Braulio's Brother, flourished towards the year 620. Ildephonsus assures us, That he was well read in the Holy Scripture, and that * 1.1 he laboured to instruct by his Discourses more than by his Writings; That nevertheless he had elegantly written some Prayers to be sung in Divine Service, and also a Table to find out Easter-day every year. We have nothing now of this Author.
The same Ildephonsus ranks among Ecclesiastical Authors, Arausius Bishop of Toledo, and his Successor Helladius; but seeing he confesseth, they have writ nothing, it was needless to encrease the number of Authors with them. This last, had for his Disciple and Successor, one named Justus, a witty and a worthy Man, who had written a Letter to Richilan, Abbot of the Monastery of Agali, in which he shewed him, That he ought not to leave his Flock. These three Bishops governed the Church of Toledo from the year 606, to 634, or 635. This last signed the Council of Toledo, held under Sisenand in the year 633. and was but 3 years Bishop.
S. Ildephonsus puts also in the rank of Ecclesiastical Authors Nonnitus, Bishop of Gironde, who lived in the same time, but he speaks of none of his Works.
He speaks, lastly, of Conantius, Bishop of Palenzo, as of a Man as Prudent and Grave, as Eloquent and Learned; and he saith, he applied himself to regulate the Order of Divine Service; That he had made Hymns to new Tunes, and a Book of Prayers taken out of the Psalms. We have not now those Works.