James Merlin's Editions of the Councils, who lately published Isidore Hispalensis for a good Record, which is now detected, and proved to be a Forgery.

James Merlin's pains was to publish Isidore, with some Collections and Additions of his own. He positively affirmeth him to be that Famous Isidore of Hispalis, a Saint, a Bishop, and a Father of the Church: though as Blondel and Dr. Reynolds accurately observe, S. Isidore of Hispalis was dead 40, 50, 60 years, before some things came to pass that are mentioned in that Book of the Councils.

Blondel in a Book of his, called Pseudo-Isidorus, or Turrianus Vapulans, Cap. 2. observes, how the lowest that write of Isidores death, fix it on the year 647. as Vasæus in his Chronicle: Others on the year 643. as Rodericus Toletanus Hist. lib. 2. cap. 18. Or on the year 635. as the proper Office of the Saints of Spain: or on the year 636. when Sinthalus entered his Kingdom, as Redemptus Diaconus, an eye-witness, De Obitu Isidori.

Brauleo Bishop of Cæsar-Augustana, Lucas Tudensis, Baronius the great Annalist, Mariana, Grialus, and others, agree with the last; which is eleven years sooner than Vasæus. So that the general prevailing Opinion is, that Isidore of Hispalis died in the year 636. However, that we may deal most fairly with them, we will allow them all they can desire, and calculate our affair by the last Account, which is most for their advantage.

Admit Vasæus in the right, that Isidore lived till the year 647. yet the Book which is Fathered upon him, can be none of his; for it mentions things which came to pass long after.

It is observed by Blondel, that Honoratus, who succeeded Isidore in the See of Hispalis, is found in the sixth Council of Toledo: whereas this pretended Isidore makes mention of the eleventh Council in the same place. He talks of the sixth Oecumenical Council, in the year 681. no less than 46 years after his own death, by the lowest account. He writes of Boniface of Mentz, slain as Baronius observes, in the year 755.