Letter to Pope Miltiades

Constantine Augustus to Miltiades, bishop of the city of Rome, and to Marcus.

Since many petitions of this kind have been sent to me by the most distinguished man Anulinus, proconsul of Africa, in which it is set forth that Caecilianus, bishop of the city of Carthage, is accused on many counts by certain of his colleagues established throughout Africa; and since it seems to me a very grievous thing that in those provinces which divine providence has delivered to my devotion by its pure generosity, and in which there is the greatest multitude of people, the populace should be divided as it were into two factions and incline toward worse things, and that bishops should be at variance with one another: it has pleased me that Caecilianus himself should sail to Rome together with ten bishops who appear to accuse him, and ten others whom he himself shall judge necessary to his cause; so that there, in the presence of yourselves, as well as of Reticius, Maternus, and Marinus, your colleagues, whom I have ordered to hasten to Rome for this purpose, he may be heard, in the manner which you yourselves know best to be fitting to the most holy law.

Furthermore, so that you may be able to have the fullest knowledge of all these matters, I have transmitted to the aforementioned colleagues of yours, appended to my letter, copies of the petitions sent to me by Anulinus. Having read these, your gravity will consider in what manner the aforesaid controversy is to be most carefully adjudicated and brought to a conclusion according to the prescription of justice. For indeed it is not hidden from your diligence that so great a reverence for the most holy Catholic Church is shown by me, that I wish no schism or division whatsoever to be left by you in any place. May the divinity of the most high God preserve you for many years, most dear friend.