The same Year that the Eastern Bishops met at _Constantinople_, by the Command of _Theodosius_, the Western Bishops met at _Aquileia_, by the Command of _Gratian_. While the latter were yet sitting, News was brought of the Death of _Meletius_, and at the same time they received certain Intelligence of the Resolution which the Council of _Constantinople_ had taken of appointing him a Successor. Hereupon having dispatched the Business for which they had met, and condemned _Palladius_ and _Secundianus_, the only Two _Arian_ Bishops now in the West, they dispatched some Presbyters into the East, with a Letter to the Emperor _Theodosius_, wherein, after expressing the Joy it had given them to hear that the Orthodox in those Parts were at last happily delivered from the Oppression of the _Arians_, they complained of the Hardships _Paulinus_ had met with, whom they had always acknowleged as lawful Bishop of _Antioch_, put the Emperor in mind of the Agreement between _Paulinus_ and _Meletius_, and concluded with intreating him to assemble an Oecumenical Council at _Alexandria_, as the only Means of restoring Tranquillity to the Church, and settling a perfect Harmony amongst her Members[1172]. Before this Letter reached the Emperor, the Council of _Constantinople_ was concluded, and the Bishops returned to their respective Sees. However, _Theodosius_ recalled some of them, in order to govern himself by their Advice in granting or denying the Western Bishops their Request[1173]. [Sidenote: _And the Bishops of_ Italy _in favour of_ Maximus.] But the Election of _Flavianus_ being in the mean time known in the West, the Bishops of the Vicariate of _Italy_, them assembled in Council with _Ambrose_ Bishop of _Milan_ at their Head, writ a long Letter to _Theodosius_ complaining of that Election, openly espousing at the same time the Cause of _Maximus_ against _Nectarius_, the new Bishop of _Constantinople_, and threatening to separate themselves intirely from the Communion of the Eastern Bishops, unless _Maximus_ was acknowleged lawful Bishop of that City, or at least an Oecumenical Council was assembled to examine the Claims of the Two Competitors, and to confirm with their joint Suffrages the disputed Dignity to him, who had the best[1174]. They also desired, in the same Letter, to have the Contest between _Paulinus_ and _Flavianus_ decided. [Sidenote: _Who_ Maximus _was, and how chosen Bishop of_ Constantinople.]