The other grand Council that was held during the Pontificate of _Sylvester_ was that of _Nice_, so famous in the History of the Church: but the Bishop of the reigning City, says _Eusebius_[570], being prevented by his great Age from undertaking so long a Journey, he sent _Vitus_ and _Vincentius_, Two _Roman_ Presbyters, to supply his room[571], with Orders to agree in his Name to the Decisions of the Council[572]. In Process of Time such Orders grew out of Date, and the modest Name of _Roman_ Presbyters, given to those who were sent by the Bishops of _Rome_, either to Councils or Princes, was changed into the lofty Title of _Legates a latere_. [Sidenote: Osius _did not assist at the Council of_ Nice _as the Pope’s Legate_.] _Baronius_[573], and after him most Writers of the Church of _Rome_, maintain _Osius_, the celebrated Bishop of _Cordoua_, to have assisted, nay, and presided at the Council of _Nice_ as the Pope’s Legate. _Vitus_ and _Vincentius_, say they, represented the Person of the Pope; but _Osius_ held his Place, and the Place of all the Bishops of the West. That _Osius_ assisted at the Council with the Character of the Pope’s Legate, is affirmed, I own, by _Gelasius_ of _Cyzicus_, who flourished about the End of the Fifth Century[574]: but _Eusebius_, who was present, mentions only _Vitus_ and _Vincentius_ as sent thither by _Sylvester_. In like manner all the Historians, who have written of that Council after _Eusebius_ till the Time of _Gelasius_, in naming those Two Presbyters and _Osius_, which they all do, constantly distinguish the former by the Title of the Deputies, the Representatives, _&c._ of the Bishop of _Rome_, and never the latter. Besides, _Vitus_ and _Vincentius_, in subscribing to the Canons of the Council, declare, that they do it _in the Name of the venerable Pope_, or Father, _Sylvester their Bishop_[575]; whereas _Osius_ subscribes, like the other Bishops, in his own Name. As to his presiding at that great Assembly, his Name, 'tis true, is marked the first by _Socrates_[576], among those who subscribed to the Definitions and Canons of the Council; but yet I am inclined to believe that Honour not to have been conferred upon him, but upon _Eustathius_ Bishop of _Antioch_; [Sidenote: _Nor did he preside._] for _John_, Bishop of the same City, writing to _Proculus_ about the Year 435. styles him the first of the Fathers assembled at _Nice_[577], and _Facundus_ calls him the first of the Council[578]. In the Chronicle of _Nicephorus_ he is styled the Head of the Fathers of _Nice_[579]: and from _Theodoret_ we learn, that he sat the first on the Right-hand in the Assembly, and harangued the Emperor[580], which it was the President’s Province to do[N11]. ----- Footnote N11: