Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…

First he commanded all them to be set free, who soever for the confession of Christ, had been condemned to banishment, ⟨p. 104⟩or to the mines of metal,¹ or to any public or private labour to them inflicted. Such as were put to any infamy or open shame among the multitude, he willed them to be discharged from all such blemish of ignominy. Soldiers which before were deprived either of their place, or put out of their wages: were put to their liberty, either to serve again in their place, or quietly to live at home. Whatsoever honour, place, or dignity had been taken away from any man, should be restored to them again. The goods and possessions of them that had suffered death for Christ, howsoever they were alienated, should return to their heirs, or next of kin: or for lack of them should be given to the Church. He commanded moreover that only Christians should bear office. The other he charged and restrained, that neither they should sacrifice, nor exercise any more divinations and ceremonies of the Gē tiles, nor set up any Images, nor to keep any feasts of the heathen Idolaters. He corrected moreover and abolished all such unlawful manners and unhonest usages in Cities, as might be hurtful any ways to the Church, as the custom that the Egyptians had in the flowing of Nilus, at what time the people used to run together like brute beasts,² both men & women, and with all kind of filthiness and Sodomitrie to pollute their Cities, in celebrating the increase of that river. This abomination Constantine extinguished, causing that wicked order called Androgynae, to be killed. By reason whereof the River afterward (through the benefit of God) yielded more increase in his flowing, to the greater fertility of the ground, then it did before.

First hee commaunded all them to be set free, who soeuer for the confession of Christ, had bene condemned to banishment, ⟨p. 104⟩or to the mines of metall,¹ or to any publike or priuate labour to them inflicted. Such as were put to any infamie or open shame among the multitude, hee willed them to be discharged from all such blemish of ignominie. Souldiours whych before were depriued eyther of theyr place, or put out of theyr wages: were put to their liberty, eyther to serue againe in theyr place, or quietly to lyue at home. Whatsoeuer honour, place, or dignitie had bene taken away frō any man, should be restored to them againe. The goods and possessions of them that had suffered death for Christ, howsoeuer they were alienated, should returne to theyr heires, or next of kinne: or for lacke of them should be geuen to the Church. Hee commaunded moreouer that onely Christians shoulde beare office. The other he charged and restrayned, that neither they should sacrifice, nor exercise any more diuinations and ceremonies of the Gē tiles, nor set vp any Images, nor to keepe any feastes of the heathen Idolaters. He corrected moreouer and abolished all such vnlawfull manners and vnhonest vsages in Cities, as might be hurtfull any waies to the Church, as the custome that the Egyptians had in the flowing of Nilus, at what time the people vsed to runne together lyke brute beasts,