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BUT in refuting the false allegations against Macarius, he made use
of legal forms; taking exception in the first place to Eusebius and
his party, as his enemies, protesting against the injustice of any
man's being tried by his adversaries. He next insisted on its being
proved that his accuser Ischyras had really obtained the dignity of
presbyter; for so he had been designated in the indictment. But as
the judges would not allow any of these objections, the case of
Macarius was entered into, and the informers being found deficient of
proofs, the hearing of the matter was postponed, until some persons
should have gone into Mareotis, in order that all doubtful points
might be examined on the spot. Athanasius seeing that those very
individuals were to be sent to whom he had taken exception (for the
persons sent were Theognis, Maris, Theodorus, Macedonius,
Valens, and Ursacius), exclaimed that 'their procedure was both
treacherous and fraudulent; for that it was unjust that the presbyter
Macarius should be detained in bonds, while the accuser together with
the judges who were his adversaries, were permitted to go, in order
that an ex parte collection of the facts in evidence might be made.'
Having made this protest before the whole Synod and Dionysius the
governor of the province, and finding that no one paid any attention to
his appeal, he privately withdrew. Those, therefore, who were sent
to Mareotis, having made an ex parte investigation, held that what
the accuser said was true.
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