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Of the Council of Tella, or Zella, and of some other Councils of Africa.
AMong the African Councils, is reckoned one held the 22d. of February in the Year 418. at * 1.1 Tella or Zella; whereof a Decree is produced which confirms the Fourth Letter attributed to Pope Syricius, and under whose Name some Canons are found in the Collection of Ferrandus the Deacon. They do not agree about the Name of the place where this Council was celebrated. It is said in the beginning, That it was Assembled at Tella; some think that it should be Zella▪ instead of Tella; because some Canons are quoted under that Name by Ferrandus.
Sirmondus thinks that we should read Telepta, because Donatianus of Telepta presided; yet all Editions constantly call this the Council of Tella, and we read in the Notitia, of the Pro-consular Province of Africa, that there was a City called Tella in that Province, which was a Bishops See. This City differs from Telepta, and from Zella, which were in the Province of Byzacena. And though Ferrandus citeth Canons under the Name of a Council of Tella and Zella, yet it doth not follow, that he believed it to be the same Council; on the contrary, it is probable, that the Canons Registred in his Collection under different Names, were made by different Councils.
But it is very likely, as Father Quesnel hath observed, That both the Council of Tella, and the Canons Registred in Ferrandus under that Name, are Supposititious.
For, First, Tella being a City of the Proconsular Province, what likelihood is there that a Council of the Province of Byzacena should be called there? and that Donatianus the Metropo∣litan of Byzacena should Preside in it?
Secondly, Is it credible, That a numerous Council should be Assembled in February, at a time that a General Synod of Africa was Summoned for the Month of May?
Thirdly, Wherefore do they suppose that the Legates of the Proconsular Province should assist at a Council of the Province of Byzacena?
Fourthly, This Council is supposed to have been Assembled to receive the Fourth Letter of Pope Syricius. This Letter is Spurious as we have shewed, and though it were not, How un∣likely is it, that the Africans would go about to confirm it so late? Is there any Example of their so doing? What reason had they to do it? Why should they make use of the Pope's Letter written several Years before to make Regulations by?
In the Fifth place, Some of the Canons in Ferrandus's Collection, under the Name of the Council of Tella do not suit with the African Customs. That in the 6th. Ch. forbids ONE Bishop alone to ordain another Bishop, except the Bishop of Rome. The African Bishops had been far enough from approving this Exception so contrary to the Canons, and to Custom. The others are taken out of Syricius's Epistle against the African's pertinaciousness, who did not own the Canons of other Churches, except those of the Council of Nice, and such as had been made in African Councils. As for the other Canons cited under the Name of the Council of Tella, or Zella, they may be true, and it is probable that they are of another Council; namely, Those that are in the 3d. 16th. 65th. 68th. and 218th. Chapters. The others are in the 4th. 6th. 30th. 138th 174th. Chapters.
There is mention in this Council, of another Council held at Thisdry, under whose Name there are two Canons in Ferrandus the Deacon's Collection, Ch. 76th, and 77th. In this Colle∣ction there are likewise some Canons of other African Councils, of which we have no other knowledge. The Learned Baluzius collected them in his new Collection of such Councils as were omitted in the preceding Collections. Vol. 1. Page 366. and 367.