CAP. IIII.
Howe that after the death of Georgius, Athanasius returninge vnto Alexandria, tooke agayne the gouernement of the bishopricke, of Luciser and Eusebius: and howe that Lucifer made Paulinus byshop of Antioche.
NOt longe after the people of Alexandria receaued with louinge and chearefull mindes* 1.1 their byshop Athanasius returninge from exile, at what tyme also the Arians were bani∣shed the Christian congregations, and the Church restored to the gouernment of Atha∣nasius. But the Arians meetinge in priuate houses, appoynted Lucius to succeede Georgius in the byshopricke. At that tyme thus went the affaires of Alexandria. * 1.2 In the meane whyle Lucifer and Eusebius by the Emperours edict were called home from banishment. Lucifer was byshop of Caralitanum a citie in Sardinia: Eusebius (as I sayde before) was byshop of Vercellae a ci∣tie of the Ligurian Italians. Both they returninge from the hygher countries of Thebae, con∣sulted together by what meanes they myght recouer their byshoprickes without preiudice to the canon and decree of the churche. * 1.3 Wherefore after aduisement taken it seemed good that the one of them (I meane Lucifer) shoulde goe to Antioche in Syria: the other, that is Eusebius, shoulde take his voyage to Alexandria, where by the meanes of Athanasius a Councell myght be cal∣led together, and the canons of the church therein confirmed. Lucifer sent thither a Deacon, si∣gnifyinge by him that he woulde subscribe vnto the decrees of the Councell. He him selfe went to Antioche, where he founde the state of the churche very troublesome. For the multitude was deuided, and the congregations at variance, not onely by reason of Euzoius hereticall opinion, but also (as I sayde before) because that the sect of Meletius, for the singular fauour they bare vnto him, seuered them selues from the faithfull. Lucifer therefore when he had ordayned Pauli∣nus to be byshop of that seae, departed thence.