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WHILE the emperor Valentinian governed in peace, and interfered
with no sect, Damasus after Liberius undertook the administration of
the bishopric at Rome; whereupon a great disturbance was caused on the
following account. A certain Ursinus, a deacon of that church, had
been nominated among others when the election of a bishop took place;
as Damasus a was preferred, this Ursinus, unable to bear the
disappointment of his hopes, held schismatic assemblies apart from the
church, and even induced certain bishops of little distinction to
ordain him in secret. This ordination was made, not in a church, but
in a retired place called the Palace of Sicine, whereupon dissension
arose among the people; their disagreement being not about any article
of faith or heresy, but simply as to who should be bishop. Hence
frequent conflicts arose, insomuch that man), lives were sacrificed
in this contention; and many of the clergy as well as laity were
punished on that account by Maximin, the prefect of the city. Thus
was Ursinus obliged to desist from his pretensions at that time, and
those who were minded to follow him were reduced to order.
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