His Travels Disprove the Charge

This is certainly proof enough. Even so, allow me to lay before you an account of my travels, which will lead you further to condemn the groundless slanders of my opponents. When I left Alexandria, I did not go to your brother’s headquarters, or to anyone else, but only to Rome. And having laid my case before the church (for that was my only concern), I spent my time in public worship. I did not write to your brother, except when Eusebius and his party had written to him to accuse me and I was forced, while still at Alexandria, to defend myself; and again when I sent him volumes containing the Holy Scriptures, which he had ordered me to prepare for him. It is my duty, while I defend my conduct, to tell Your Piety the truth. Then, when three years had passed, he wrote to me in the fourth year, commanding me to meet him. He was then at Milan. When I asked the reason (for I did not know it, the Lord is my witness), I learned that certain bishops had gone up to him and asked him to write to Your Piety, requesting that a council be called. Believe me, Sire, this is the truth of the matter; I am not lying. So I went down to Milan, and he treated me with great kindness. He was gracious enough to see me and to tell me that he had sent letters to you requesting that a council be called. While I stayed in that city, he sent for me again to come into Gaul (for father Hosius was going there), so that we might travel from there to Sardica. After the council he wrote to me while I was staying at Naissus, and I went up, and afterwards stayed at Aquileia, where the letters of Your Piety found me. And again, invited from there by your departed brother, I went back into Gaul, and so at last came to Your Piety. [a]