and these Letters had at last the desired Effect; but not before _Novatus_, who had drawn them into the Schism, left _Rome_; which happened on the following Occasion: [Sidenote: Novatian _sends new Deputies into_ Africa.] _Novatian_, being informed that the Deputies he had sent into _Africa_ were every-where rejected and despised, resolved to send others, whom he judged, on account of their Rank and Authority, more capable of promoting his Design[381]. The Persons he pitched upon were _Nicostratus_, _Novatus_, _Evaristus_, _Primus_, and _Dionysius_. Of the Two last I find no farther Mention made in History; of _Novatus_ I have spoken above; and as for _Evaristus_ and _Nicostratus_, the former was a Bishop, and is supposed to have been one of the Three that ordained _Novatian_. _Nicostratus_ was a Deacon of the Church of _Rome_[382], and had been imprisoned with the Two Presbyters _Moses_ and _Maximus_, for the Confession of the Faith[383], which intitled him to a Place among the Confessors.[Sidenote: _Their Characters._] To these Three St. _Cyprian_ ascribes the excellent Letter, as he styles it, which the Confessors of _Rome_ writ to those of _Carthage_[384]. He was likewise one of the Confessors, who writ to St. _Cyprian_ himself, as appears from the Title of that admirable Letter, which runs thus: _The Presbyters_ Moses _and_ Maximus, _the Deacons_ Nicostratus _and_ Ruffinus, _and the other Confessors, who are with them, to Pope_ Cyprian[385]. [Sidenote: _The Name of Pope antiently common to all Bishops._] We may here observe, by the way, that the Name of _Pope_, which signifies no more than _Father_, was antiently common to all Bishops; but was afterwards, by a special Decree of _Gregory_ VII. appropriated to the Bishop of _Rome_. To return to _Nicostratus_, the Character given him by St. _Cyprian_ and _Cornelius_, bespeaks him quite unworthy of being joined with the others, who are named in that Letter, and were all Men of great Piety: for he had squandered away the Money belonging to the Church, that was lodged in his Hands, embezzled that of the Widows and Orphans, and defrauded a Lady, who had trusted him with the Management of her Affairs[386]. [Sidenote: _The Deputies are everywhere rejected in_ Africa.]