CHAPTER XXXI

WHEN THE BISHOPS WILL NOT ADMIT HIS DEFENCE ON THE SECOND CHARGE, ATHANASIUS FLEES TO THE EMPEROR

BUT in refuting the false allegations against Macarius, he took legal exception to Eusebius and his party, as his enemies; protesting against the inequitableness of any man’s being tried by his adversaries. He next insisted on its being proved, that his accuser Ischyras had really obtained the dignity of presbyter; for so he had been designated in the indictment. But when the judges would not allow any of these objections, and the case of Macarius was entered into, on the informers being found deficient of proofs, the hearing of the matter was postponed, until some persons should have gone into Mareotis, in order that they might on the spot examine into all doubtful points. Athanasius seeing that those very individuals were to be sent to whom he had taken exception, (for the investigation was committed to Theognis, Maris, Theodoras, Macedonius, Valens and Ursacius,) exclaimed that their procedure was both treacherous and fraudulent; for that it was unjust that the presbyter Macarius should be detained in bonds, while the accuser together with the judges who were his adversaries, were permitted to go, in order that evidence of the facts might be obtained on one side of the question only. Having made this protest before the whole Synod and Dionysius the governor of the province, but finding his appeal wholly disregarded, he privately withdrew. Those therefore who were sent to Mareotes, having registered such circumstances only as might serve to countenance the charges of the accuser, returned to Tyre.