Letter 47: So that nothing might be lacking to the eventual punishment of this wretched man — cast down by the power of God,...

Cornelius to his brother Cyprian, greetings. So that nothing might be lacking to the eventual punishment of this wretched man — cast down by the power of God, thanks to your expulsion of Maximus, Longinus, and Machaeus — he has risen again. As I mentioned in my earlier letter, which I sent by Augendus the confessor, I believe that Nicostratus, Novatus, Evaristus, Primus, and Dionysius have already arrived in your territory. Take care, therefore, that it be made known to all our co-bishops and brothers: that Nicostratus stands accused of many crimes — not only that he committed frauds and plundered his secular patroness whose affairs he had managed, but also, and this will follow him as a perpetual sentence, that he stole a substantial sum belonging to the Church and denied holding deposits belonging to widows and orphans. That Evaristus was himself the author of a schism, and that Zetus has been appointed in his place as bishop to the people he once served. But Evaristus continued to work worse mischief still through his malice and insatiable wickedness. You can see from all of this what kind of leaders and protectors that schismatic and heretic has always drawn to his side. I bid you, dearest brother, ever heartily fare well.

Epistle 47