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CAP. II.
VVhen Ʋalentinianus abode in the VVest, the Macedonians repayred vnto Valens at Con∣stantinople and obtayned of him to summone a councell. How that Valens being an Arian persecuted the true Christians.
THe Emperour Valentinian tooke his iorney with all speede into the West, whither he was constrained by reason of earnest busines to remoue. But Valens as he remayned at Constan∣tinople was visited of the Bishops which were of the sect of Macedonius, and requested to summone an other synode for the establishing of the true faith. The emperour thinking verily they were of one opinion with Acacius & Eudoxius, gaue them licence to call a councell together. They from euery where cited the bishops to meete at Lampsacum. But Valens with all celerity gott him* 1.1 to Antioch in Syria, fearing lest the Persians should breake the league of thirty yeares made in the raygne of Iouianus, and inuade the Romaine dominions, where he founde that the Persians were quiet and meant no harme. The Emperour therefore liuing in peace and enioying quietnes raised great and grieuous persecution against them which embraced the faith of one substance. And al∣though he molested not Paulinus the Bishop, for his rare vertues and singuler giftes, yet banished he Meletius. but others of the Churches of Antioch that woulde not communicate with Euzoius, he vexed diuersly and plagued with sundry penalties and punishments. It is reported moreouer that he threwe many into the riuer Orontes which runneth by the citie, and there drowned them.