The auncient ecclesiasticall histories of the first six hundred yeares after Christ, wrytten in the Greeke tongue by three learned historiographers, Eusebius, Socrates, and Euagrius. Eusebius Pamphilus Bishop of Cæsarea in Palæstina vvrote 10 bookes. Socrates Scholasticus of Constantinople vvrote 7 bookes. Euagrius Scholasticus of Antioch vvrote 6 bookes. VVhereunto is annexed Dorotheus Bishop of Tyrus, of the liues of the prophetes, apostles and 70 disciples. All which authors are faithfully translated out of the Greeke tongue by Meredith Hanmer, Maister of Arte and student in diuinitie. Last of all herein is contayned a profitable chronographie collected by the sayd translator, the title whereof is to be seene in the ende of this volume, with a copious index of the principall matters throughout all the histories

CAP. XXI.

How Arsenius (whose hand they said had bene cutt of) was found out, and brought before the barre, to the confusion of Athanasius accusers, which then fledd away for shame: and how that Athanasius being other∣wise parcially dealt withall of the councell, appealed vnto the Emperour.

THe diuine prouidence of God brought to passe, that Arsenius also came to Tyrus. For he quite forgetting the lessons geuen him by those false accusers, that bribed him for the pur∣pose, came thither as it were by stelth, to knowe what newes there were in those coasts. It fell out that the seruants of Archelaus a Senator, hearde say in a certaine tipplinghouse, that Ar∣senius whome they reported to haue bene slayne, was there and hidd him selfe in a certaine house of the towne. When they hearde these thinges, and eyed well the authors of this report, they reueale the whole matter vnto their lord and maister. He forthwith laying all delayes aside, sought out the man, being sought founde him, being founde he layd him fast by the heeles, and biddes Athanasius be of good cheere: that Arsenius was come thither aliue. Arsenius being in holde, denieth him selfe to be the man. But Paulus Bishop of Tyrus, who knewe him of olde, affirmed plainely that he was Arsenius in deede. These thinges being thus rightly disposed by the wisedome and prouidence of God: Athanasius not long after is called before the councell, in whose presence, the accusers bring forth the hande, and charge him with the haynous offence. He behaueth him selfe wisely and cir∣cumspectly, and demaundeth first of them all that were present, and also of his accusers: whether any of them did euer knowe Arsenius. When that diuers of them had aunswered, that they knewe him very wel, he caused Arsenius to be brought before them, with his hāds couered vnder his cloke, and then againe demaundeth of them: Is this fellowe that Arsenius which lost his hande? at the sight of the fellow, some of them that were present (except them that knew whence the hand came) were astonied: some others thought verily that Arsenius wanted a hande, and gaue diligent eare, to see what other shift Athanasius had to saue him selfe. But he turning vp the one side of Arsenius his cloke, shewed them one of his handes. Againe when some did surmise that his other hande was cutt of: Athanasius at the firste paused a while and in so doing brought their mindes into a greate doubt: but in the ende without any more adoe he casteth vp vpon his shoulder, the other side of his cloke, and sheweth them the seconde hande, saying vnto all that behelde it: you see that Arsenius hath two handes, now let mine accusers shewe vnto you, the place where the thirde hande was cutt of. * 1.1 This treachery of theirs toutching Arsenius, being thus come to light, the dealing was so shamefull, that the accusers coulde finde no where as much as visards to couer their faces. Achaab otherwise called Iannes, the accuser of Athanasius, crept by stelth from the barre, thrust him selfe a∣mong the throng, and priuely ranne away. Thus did Athanasius cleare him selfe of this sclaunder, vsing exception agaynste no man. for he doubted not at all, but that the very presence of Arsenius woulde astonish the sclaunderers, to their vtter shame and ouerthrow. * But for the wiping away* 1.2 of the crimes layde to Macarius charge, he tooke the benefitt of the lawe, vsinge such exceptions as were lawefully prescribed for the defendant. And first of all he excepteth against Eusebius and his adherents, as open enemyes, saying: by lawe it was not permitted for the enemyes to be iud∣ges. Secondarily he requireth that they shewe vnto him, whether Ischyaas the accuser, had lawful∣ly receaued orders and priesthoode, for so it was layd downe in the bill of enditement. But the iud∣ges considered nothing of these circumstances, the lawe proceedeth against Macarius. When the accusers were to seeke for proofe, the sute is delayd vpon this consideration, that certayne chosen men shoulde goe in commission to Mareôtes, and there sitt vpon this matter. When that Athanasi∣us perceaued, such as he had excepted against, to haue bene pricked in the commission (for Theognis Maris, Theodorus, Macedonius, Valens, & Vrsacius were sent) he exclaymed, that there was deceat, & double dealing in the handling thereof. He pronounced that it was open wrong, for to keepe Ma∣carius the Priest in fetters and close prison, and to suffer his accuser, to accompany such iudges as were knowen to be his professed enemies. He sayd moreouer, that it was for no other ende, but that records, and the doings of the one side might be knowen, the other vnknowen: the one quitted, the other condenmed. When that Athanasius had sounded out these and the like sentences: when that he had both called the whole assembly to wittnesse, and also opened this lamentable plight before Dionysius the Senator, and no man pityed the case: he pryuily conueyed him away. Such as were

sent into Mareôtes recorded onely the Actes of one side, and looke what the accuser reported, the same was iudged to be most true. * 1.3 As soone as, Athanasius was gone and straight way taken his iourney to the Emperour: he was first of all condenmed by the councell, the party being absent, and the cause vnknowen. Next, when as the dealings in Mareôtes were ioyned with these, they agree vpon his deposition: many sclaunders are contumeliously fathered vpon him, at the recitall of the causes, which moued them to depose him: but not a worde of the sclaunderers, for they runne them ouer with silence that of malice falsely accused him, and were shamefully foyled them selues, Arse∣nius who afore was reported to haue bene slayne, is nowe entertayned of them. And he who afore time was counted a Bishop of the Meletian sect, euen then subscribed to the deposition of Athana∣sius, and called him self Bishop of Hypsepolis. And that which seemeth incredible, he that was said to haue died vnder the handes of Athanasius, is now aliue, and deposeth Athanasius.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cap. 30. in ••e greeke▪ ••he accuser •• Athanas〈◊〉〈◊〉 ranne a∣•…•…ay for shāe.
• * 1.2

  Cap. 31. in ••••e Greeke.
• * 1.3

  Cap. 32. in the Greeke.