Cautinus

Cautinus was bishop of Clermont about A.D. 562, previously deacon at Issoire. The first appearance of Cautinus after a reminiscence of his diaconate is at the death of St. Gallus, bishop of Clermont. He was at this time archdeacon. The people wished to have Cato for their bishop, but the archdeacon went by night to the king and obtained the episcopate for himself before the appearance of the messengers of his rival. Cautinus was well received by the greater part of the clergy and people of Clermont. There was nevertheless a schism in the see, and Cautinus at last took away from his opponents all Church property, restoring it only to those who became reconciled to him. We next find Cautinus seeking to obtain for Cato the see of Tours, on the death of Gunthas, the bishop. This offer Cato rejected, Cautinus was very intemperate, and finally became epileptic. The last mention of him is at the time of a pestilence which devastated Clermont, when he fled from place to place to escape disease; but returning at length to his episcopal city, he died, at Easter, of the plague. (See Greg. Turon. Hist, Franc.)