_Damasus_ having thus, in the End, by the Favour of the Emperors, intirely got the better of the adverse Party, and secured his Dignity, he turned his Thoughts to Ecclesiastical Matters. In the West there were now but Three Bishops, who still maintained the Doctrine of _Arius_; _viz._ _Ursacius_ Bishop of _Singidunum_, _Valens_ of _Mursa_, and _Auxentius_ of _Milan_. [Sidenote: Ursacius _and_ Valens _condemned_. Auxentius _why spared_.] _Damasus_, however, convened a numerous Council at _Rome_; and there examined anew, and anew condemned, the Tenets of _Arius_, and all who held them, namely _Ursacius_ and _Valens_[1019]. _Auxentius_ was a pure, and no less zealous, _Arian_, than either of these Two; but as he was in favour with _Valentinian_, whom he had deceived by an equivocal Confession of Faith, _Damasus_, and his Council, thought it adviseable not to name him. The Council writ a synodal Letter to the other Bishops, acquainting them with what had passed; which was answered by _Athanasius_, and the Bishops of _Egypt_, then assembled at _Alexandria_. In their Answer they thank _Damasus_ for condemning _Ursacius_ and _Valens_; but, at the same time, express no small Surprize to find, that _Auxentius_ was not yet deposed, tho’ guilty not only of _Arianism_, but of many other Crimes, which they enumerate[1020]. _Damasus_ and his Collegues paid, no doubt, great Regard to the Remonstrances of _Athanasius_; but, as _Auxentius_ was supported by the Emperor, and they were better Courtiers than _Athanasius_, they never attempted to depose him; nay, they carried their Complaisance so far as to condemn _Ursacius_ and _Valens_, as if they had been the only _Arian_ Bishops in the West, without ever naming _Auxentius_. He therefore kept, for many Years, quiet Possession of the See he had usurped, and was at last deprived of it by Death alone. [Sidenote: _The Avarice of the_ Roman _Clergy restrained by_ Valentinian.]