OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

accusation, would direct the proceeding, and chap.pronounce the sentence. He prudently declin-,.,** 1 ^,ed the tribunal of his enemies, despised the sum-mons of the synod of Caesarea; and, after along and artful delay, submitted to the peremp-tory commands of the emperor, who threatenedto punish his criminal disobedience if he refusedto appear in the council of Tyre. m Before A . d. 33s.Athanasius , at the head of fifty Egyptian pre-lates, sailed from Alexandria, he had wisely se-cured theallianceofthemeletians; andArseniushimself, his imaginary victim, and his secretfriend, was privately concealed in his train. Thesynod of Tyre was conducted by Eusebius ofCaesarea , with more passion, and with less art,than his learning and experience might promise;his numerous faction repeated the names of ho-micide and tyrant; and their clamours wereencouraged by the seeming patience of Athana-sius , who expected the decisive moment toproduce Arsenius alive, and unhurt, in the midstof the assembly. The nature of the othercharges did not admit of such clear and satis-factory replies ; yet the archbishop was able toprove, that, in the village, where he was accusedof breaking a consecrated chalice, neither churchnor altar nor chalice could really exist. Thearians, who had secretly determined the guiltand condemnation of their enemy, attempted,

™ Athanas. tom. i, p. 788 ; Socrates , I. i, c. 28 ; Soromen, 1. ii, c. 25.

The emperor, in his epistle of convocation (Enscb. in Vit. Constant.

I. iv, c. 42), seems to prejudge some members of the clergy, and it vrasmore than probable that the synod would apply those reproaches toAthanasius .