“Constantine Augustus to Cæcilianus, Bishop of
Carthage.
“Inasmuch as it has pleased us to contribute something towards the necessary expenses of certain ministers of the lawful and most holy Catholic religion throughout all the provinces of Africa, Numidia, and both Mauretanias, I have sent letters to Ursus, the most noble governor of Africa, and have instructed him to see that three thousand purses are paid over to your Reverence. When, therefore, you have received the above mentioned sum, you will take care that the money is divided among the clergy already spoken of according to the instructions sent to you by Hosius.
“If you consider this amount insufficient for the purpose of testifying my regard for all of you in Africa, you are to ask without delay Heraclidas, the procurator of the imperial domains, for whatever you may think necessary. For I have personally instructed him that whatever sum your Reverence asks for is to be paid without hesitation.
“And since I have heard that certain persons of ill-balanced mind (quosdam non satis compositæ mentis) are acting in such a manner as to corrupt the people of the most holy and Catholic Church with wicked and adulterous falsehoods (improba et adulterina falsitate), I would have you know that I have given verbal instructions to Anulinus, the proconsul, and to Patricius, the vicar of the præfects, to include among their other duties a sharp lookout in this matter, and, if this movement continues, not to neglect or ignore it.
“Consequently, if you find persons of this character persevering in their mad folly (in hac amentia perseverare) you will at once approach the above mentioned judges and lay the matter before them, that they may punish the culprits (in eos animadvertant) in accordance with my personal instructions.
“May the divinity of the Supreme God (Divinitas summi Dei) preserve you for many years.”
In conjunction with this must be taken the letter addressed by Constantine to Anulinus, the proconsul of Africa:
“Greetings to our best beloved Anulinus! Inasmuch as it is abundantly proven that the neglect of the religion which preserves the greatest reverence for divine majesty has reduced the State to the direst peril, while its careful and due observance has brought the most splendid prosperity to the Roman name and unspeakable felicity to all things mortal, thanks to divine goodness, we have resolved, best beloved Anulinus, that those, who with due righteousness of life and continual observance of the law, perform their ministry in this divine religion shall reap the reward of their labours.
“Wherefore, it is our wish that all who, in the province under your care and in the Catholic Church over which Cæcilianus presides, minister to this most holy religion—those, viz., whom people are wont to call the clergy—shall be absolved[[81]] from all public duties of any kind, lest, by some slip or grave mischance, they may be distracted from the duties they owe to the Supreme Divinity, and that they may do the better service to their own ritual without any disturbing influences.