CHAPTER XX

CONSTANTINE’S ENACTMENTS IN FAVOUR OF THE CONFESSORS

MOREOVER, the emperor’s humane and benignant edicts were published among us also, as they had been among the inhabitants of the western division of the empire; and his laws, which breathed a spirit of piety toward God, gave promise of manifold blessings, since they secured many advantages to his provincial subjects in every nation, and at the same time prescribed measures suited to the exigencies of the churches of God. For first of all they recalled those who, in consequence of their refusal to join in idol worship, had been driven to exile, or ejected from their homes by the governors of their respective provinces. In the next place, they relieved from their burdens those who for the same reason had been adjudged to serve in the civil courts, and ordained restitution to be made to any who had been deprived of property. They too, who in the time of trial had signalised themselves by fortitude of soul in the cause of God, and had therefore been condemned to the dreadful labour of the mines, or consigned to the solitude of islands, or compelled to toil in the public works, all received an absolute release from these burdens; while others, whose religious constancy had cost them the forfeiture of their military rank, were vindicated by the emperor’s generosity from this dishonour: for he granted them the alternative either of resuming their rank, and enjoying their former privileges, or (in the event of their preferring a more settled life), of perpetual exemption from all service. Lastly, all who had been compelled by way of disgrace and insult to serve in the employments of women, obtained an equal emancipation with the rest.