that the same helpeth much to establish the publicke tr?quillitie of our tyme, that euerye man haue licence and libertie to vse and chuse what kinde of worshipping he list himselfe. And this is done of vs onely for that int?t, that we would haue no man to be enforced to one religion more then an other. And this thing also amongest others we haue prouided for the Christians, that they may haue agayn the possession of such places, in which heretofore they haue bene accustomed to make theyr assembles, so that if any haue bought or purchased the same eyther of vs, or of any other: the same places without either money or other recompence, foorthwith and without delay we wyll to bee restored agayne vnto the sayde Christians. And if anye man haue obtayned the same by gift from vs, and shal require any recompence to be made to them in that behalfe: Then let the Christians repaire vnto the President (being the iudge apointed for that place) that consideration maye bee had of those men by our benignitie: al which thinges we wyll and commaunde, that you see to be geuen and restored freely, and with diligence vnto the societie of the Christians, all delay set apart. And because the Christians them selues are vnderstood to haue had not onely those places wherin they wer accustomed to resort together, but certayne other peculiar places also, not being priuate to any one man, but bel?ging to the right of their congregation and societie: you shall see also all those to be restored vnto the Christians, that is to say, to euerye felowship and companye of them, according to the decree, wherof we haue made menci?, all delay set apart. Prouided that the order we haue taken in the meane tyme obserued, that if anye (taking no recompence) shal, restore the same landes and possessions, they shall not mistrust but be sure to be saued harmles by vs. In all these thinges it shalbe your part to employ your diligence in the behalfe of the foresayde companye of the Christians, whereby this our commaundement maye spedely be accomplished, and also in this case by our clemency the common and publicke peace may be preserued. For vndoubtedlye by this meanes, as before we haue sayde, the good wyl and fauour of God towardes vs, wherof in many cases we haue had good experi?ce, shall alwaies continue with vs. And to the intent that this our constitution may be notified to al men, it shall be requisite that the copye of these our letters be set vp in all places, that men may reade and know the same, least any should be ignorant therof.

MarginaliaThe consideration of Gods work in def?ding hys christiansBy these histories I doubt not (good Reader) but thou doest right wel consider and behold with thy selfe the marueilous working of God his mighty power: to see so many emperours at one time conspired and confederate together agaynst the Lord and his Christ annoynted, whose names before we haue recited, as Dioclesian, Maximinian, Galerius, Maxentius, Maximinus, Seuerus, Licinius, who hauing the subiection of the whole world vnder their dominion, did bend and extend their whole might & deuises, to extirpate the name of Christ, and of all Christians. MarginaliaThe kyngs of the earth haue rysen and prynces together agaynst the lord, and agaynst hys Christ. Psal. 2.Wherein if the power of man could haue preuayled, what could they not do? or what could they do more then they did? If policie or deuises could haue serued, what policie was there lacking? If tormentes or paynes of death coulde haue helped, what cruelty of torment by man could be inu?ted, which was not attempted? If lawes, edictes, proclamacions, written not onely in tables, but ingrau? in bras, coulde haue stande, all this was practised against the weake Christians. MarginaliaNo counsel standeth against god.And yet notwithst?ding, to see howe no counsail can stand against the Lord, note here howe all these be gone, and yet Christ and his Churche doth stand. MarginaliaThe destruction of the cruel Emperours.Fyrst, of the taking away of Maximi?, you haue heard, also of the death of Seuerus, of the drownyng moreouer of Maxentius, inough hath bene sayd. Whata terrible plage was vpon Galerius, consuming hys priuye members with Lyse, hath bene also described. MarginaliaDioclesi? dieth for sorowHow Dioclesian the quondam being at Salona, hearing of the proceedinges of Constantinus, and this his edict, either for sorow died, or as some saye did poyson himselfe. Onely Maximinus now in the East partes remained alyue, who bare a deadlye hatred agaynst the Christians, and no lesse expressed the same with mortal persecution, to whom Const?tine and Licinius caused this constitution of theirs to be deliuered: at the syght wherof, although he was somewhat apaled, and defeated of his purpose: yet for as much as he saw him selfe to weake to resist the autoritie of Const?tinus and Licinius the superiour princes. MarginaliaTheffect of the decree whyche Maximinus made agaynste hys wyll or surrecounterma?d for feare of C. and. L. in the behalfe of the christians.He dissembled his counterfet piety, as though he himselfe had t?dered the quiet of the Christians: directed downe a certayne decree in the behalfe of the Christians, wherin he pretendeth to write to Sabinus afore mencioned, first repeating vnto hym the former decree of Dioclesian and Maximinian in few wordes, with the commaundement therin contained touching the persecution agaynst the Christians. After that he reciteth the decree which he himselfe made against them, when he came fyrst to the imperial dignitie in the East part ioyned with Constantius. Then the Countermaunde of an other decree of his agayne, for the rescuing of the Christi?s, with such fayned and pretensed causes, as is in the same to be sene. After that declareth how he comming to Nicomedia, at the sute and supplication of the Citizens (which he also fayned, as may appeare before) he applying to their sute, reuoked that his former Edict, and graunted them that no Christian should dwell within their City or territories. Vpon which Sabinus also had geuen forth his letters, rehearsing withal the generall recountermaunde sent forth by hym, for the persecution againe of the Christians. Last of al now he sendeth downe agayne an other Surreco?termaund, with the causes therin contained, touching the safetye of the Christians, and tranquilitie of them: Commaunding Sabinus to publish the same. Which edict of his is a large set forth of Eusebius. lib. 9. cap. 9. MarginaliaThe surrecountermaunde of Maximi. diss?bled.
Ex Euseb. lib 9. cap. 9But this Surrecountermaund he then dissimuled, as he had done in the other before. How be it shortly after, he making warres, and fighting a battaile with Licinius, wherin he lost the victory, comming home againe, tooke great indignation against the Priests and Prophetes of his Gods, whom before that time he had great regard vnto, and honored: vpon whose answers he trusting and depending vpon their enchauntments, began hys warre against Licinius. But after that he perceaued hym selfe to be deceaued by them, as by wicked enchaunters and deceauers, and such as had betraied his safety and person, he kylled and put th? to death. MarginaliaThe vnfayned repentaunce & finall decree of MaXiminus for the Christians.And he shortly after, oppressed with a certayne disease, glorified the God of the Christians, and made a most absolute law for the safety and preseruation of them, with fraunchise and liberty: the copy wherof insueth.

Imperator Cesar, Caius, Valerius, Maximus, Germanicus, Pius, Fortunatus, Augustus. It is necessary that we alwayes carefully prouide and see vnto the benefyt and commoditie of such as be our subiectes, and to exhibit such thinges vnto them, whereby they maye best obtayne the same. But we suppose that there are none of you so ignorant, but knowe and vnderstande what thinges make best for the profyt and commoditie of the common weale, and best please euerye mans disposition. But it is mete & conueni?t that euery m? haue recourse to that which they haue sene done before their eyes, and that all sortes of men consider the same, and beare it in their mindes. When therefore, and that before this time it came to our knowledge: vpon that occasion, Dioclesianus, and Maximinianus, our progenitours of famous memorie, commaunded the assembles