The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

XVIII. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. S. Athanasius persecuted by Arians.

3.4.5. He is banish'd into the west: for his safety.

6.7. Arius conven'd before Constantin.

8.9. &c. His fearfull death.

10. Pope Iulius.

1. BVT the restlesse malice of the Arians against S. Athanasius,* 1.2 the principall defender of the Faith declared by the Nicene Councill, urged them to invent and forge new accusations against him, of breaking a Cha∣lice, of murdering a man and using enchant∣ments with his dead hand, of committing adultery by violence, &c. With these crimes they charged him before the Emperour im∣portuning him that he might be condemned and deposed.

2. Hereupon a Synod of Bishops being as∣sembled at Tyre, Athanasius his cause was there examined, and though in all particu∣lars his innocence was evidently declared, ye•• he was condemned by them. Which ma∣nifest injustice astonish'd Constantin, as appears by a Letter of his recorded by Saint Athanasius in his Apology.* 1.3

3. Notwithstanding these impious Bishps after they had consecrated at Ierusalem a ma∣gnificent Church built by Constantin, repai∣ring to Constantinople there renew'd their ac∣cusations, and probably by the favour of the Emperours Son Constantius infected with their Heresy, did so beseige Constantins eares, that S. Athanasius could scarce gett accesse to prove his own innocence. Insomuch as by their importunity the Emperour was even inforc'd to banish him into the West.

4. This certainly unjust Sentence Saint Athanasius himself excuses in a letter writ∣ten by him to the Egyptian Hermits, where we

read this passage, Constantin upon the calum∣nious accusation of the Eusebians removed for a time Athanasius into Gaule,* 1.4 that so he might be deliver'd from their cruelty who sought all opportunities treacherously to destroy him. For thus wrote his Son Constans of blessed Memory, as appears by his letters yet extant.

5. And the same charitable interpretation did his other Son Constantin who succeeded him in the western Empire, make of his Fathers action: For writing to the people of Alexandria,* 1.5 he saith: To elude the Savage cruelty of the Arians, whose iawes were opened to swallow him, Athanasius was ordered to withdraw himself: being commanded to live under my government. Thus he made his abode in this Citty of Triers, where nothing necessary is wanting to him. So that no just suspicion can be imputed to the Emperour, as if he wavered, or had deserted the Orthodoxe Faith.

6. This was further confirmed by a me∣morable accident hapning this year at Con∣stantinople. For the Emperour perceiving that Arius, though avoyded by all Catholicks, was defended as Orthodoxe by many others, com∣manded him to repair to his presence in that Citty:* 1.6 Whither being arrived, Constantin himself ask'd him, whether he did approve the Decrees of the Nicen Councill? He presently with a chearfull countenance answered, That he appro∣ved them. The Emperour not content with his affirmation and subscription, urged him to confirm this by oath: in which likewise he com∣plied. But all this was meere craft and impious subtilty. For whilst be made this Profession and oath, he held in his bosome a Paper containing his heresy, and swore that from his heart he belei∣ved as he had written Notwithstanding the Em∣perour being ignorant of his fallacy, beleived him Orthodoxe: and thereupon commanded Alexan∣der then Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into Communion.

* 1.77. S. Athanasius to this relation adds, That Constantin having heard what Arius professed and swore, said thus to him, If thy Faith be true and Orthodoxe, thou hast sworn well: But if it be impious, and yet thou hast thus sworn, may God condemne thee for thy perjury. Which imprecation wanted nor an effect, for presently God miraculously shew'd the impiety of Arius, and true Faith of Constan∣tin, in this manner:

* 1.88. Alexander Bishop of Constantinople being unwilling to admitt the Arch-heretick into his Communion, was threatned by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia that if he refused, he would present∣ly cause him to be deposed. But Alexander being much more solicitous for the true Faith, then his Bishoprick, had his recourse to Gods onely assi∣stance, and severall dayes and nights lying pro∣strate before his Altar in presence of his Sacra∣ments, pray'd in this manner, O God, I beseech thee to grant that if the opinion of Arius be true I may dye before the day of disputation come: But if the Faith which I professe be true, Let Arius the Authour of all these calamities, suffer just punishment for his impiety.

9. What was the fearfull successe of these fervent prayers,* 1.9 is thus related by S. Atha∣nasius: When the Bishop had thus ended his Prayers, he went away full of anxious cogitations: and presently a wonderfull and incredible thing hapned. The Eusebians threaten, the good Bishop prayes. As for Arius confiding in the power of the Eusebians, in his way to the Church he used many vain and boasting bablings: when on a sudden he was forced to retire into a common privy to exonerate nature: where suddenly, as it was written of Iudas, he ••ell on his face to the ground and burst asunder in the middle: Thus was he deprived both of life and Communion.

10. The consequents of this fearfull iudg∣ment Socrates thus further prosecutes, This being done, saith he, the Eusebian faction was struck with a wonderfull ••errour and consterna∣tion: and the fame therof was spread not through the Citty only, but the whole world almost. By this mean the Emperour likewise adhered still more firmly to the Catholick Faith: affirming that the Nicene Faith was now also visibly confirmed by Divine authority: and for this reason he much reioyced at the end of the Heretick Arius.

11. This same year dyed the Holy Pope Marcus the Successour of S. Silvester, after he had sate onely one year: in whose place suc∣ceeded Pope Iulius: whose first year is accoun∣ted the last of the Emperour Constantin: the circumstances of whose death are now to be related.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XVIII. CH
• * 1.2

  A. D. 355.
• * 1.3

  Athanas. Apol. 2. A. D. 3▪ 6.
• * 1.4

  Athanas. Ep. ad solitar.
• * 1.5

  Ap. T••••od. l. 2 c. 2.
• * 1.6

  Socrat. l. •••• c. ••5.
• * 1.7

  Ath••n. ad Se∣rapio ••.
• * 1.8

  Socrat. l. ••. c. 5.
• * 1.9

  Athan. ad. S••rapu••••.