Besides, he acted as a Bishop after he had been deposed by a Synod; which he would have hardly attempted, had he not been countenanced by some Bishop of Rank and Dignity. Be that as it will, the Churches of _Leon_, _Astorga_, and _Merida_, applied, in this their Distress, to the Bishops of _Africa_, imploring, both by Letters and Deputies, their Advice and Assistance. The Deputies were the Two new Bishops _Felix_ and _Sabinus_; and their Deputation was backed by a pressing Letter from _Felix_, Bishop of _Saragosa_, whom St. _Cyprian_ styles a Propagator of the Faith, and Defender of the Truth[421]. [Sidenote: Martial _of_ Merida _excommunicated by the Bishops of_ Africa, _tho’ admitted by_ Stephen _to his Communion_.] These Letters being read at _Carthage_, in a Council of 28 Bishops, with St. _Cyprian_ at their Head, it was concluded, that _Basilides_ and _Martial_ ought not to be acknowleged as Bishops; that it was not lawful to communicate with them; that such Bishops as did, ought to be excommunicated themselves; and, finally, that their imposing upon _Stephen_, instead of giving them any kind of Right to the Sees they had forfeited by their Wickedness, added to their Guilt. By the same Council, the Election of _Sabinus_ and _Felix_ was confirmed, and they acknowleged by all the _African_ Bishops as their Collegues[422]. [Sidenote: _Appeals to_ Rome, _no Proof of the Pope’s Supremacy_.] It is surprising, that _Bellarmine_, _Baronius_, _Davidius_, and other Advocates for the Pope’s Supremacy, should lay so much Stress as they do, on the Recourse to _Rome_ of the Two deposed Bishops. If their recurring, or appealing, as they are pleased to style it, to the Bishop of _Rome_, is any Proof of his being acknowleged by them for the Head of the Church, the Appeal of the other Bishops of _Spain_ from him to St. _Cyprian_, and their acquiescing to his, and not to the Judgment of _Stephen_, will be a stronger Proof of St. _Cyprian_’s being acknowleged by them for the Head of the Church. Had _Basilides_ and _Martial_ recurred not to _Rome_, but to _Carthage_, had the Bishops of _Spain_ appealed from St. _Cyprian_ to _Stephen_, as they did from _Stephen_ to St. _Cyprian_, and acquiesced to his Judgment, no Notice had been taken of the Appeal of the Two Apostates; that only of the Catholic Bishops had been set forth with great Pomp and Flourish of Words. But, as the Case stands, they must be satisfied with the Evidence of the Apostates, and leave the Catholic Bishops to bear Testimony for us, which we shall not misuse; we shall not build upon it the Supremacy of the Church of _Carthage_; we shall not set up St. _Cyprian_ for a Judge, to whose Tribunal all Appeals must be brought; in short, we shall not make him an universal Judge, an universal Pastor, a Pope; though, to the Testimony of the _Spanish_ Bishops, that of _Gregory Nazianzene_ should be added, and I defy the Champions for the See of _Rome_ to allege one in their