Constantine Augustus to Caecilian, bishop of Carthage. Since it has pleased us that in all the provinces, both those of Africa and the Numidias and the Mauritanias, something should be supplied for expenses to certain specified ministers of the lawful and most holy Catholic worship, I have given letters to Ursus, the most distinguished accountant of Africa, and have signified to him that he should take care to count out three thousand folles to your Steadfastness.
You, then, when you have caused the aforesaid sum of money to be received, command that this money be distributed to all the aforesaid persons according to the schedule sent to you by Hosius.
But if you should find that anything is lacking for the fulfilment of my purpose toward them all in this matter, you ought without hesitation to request whatever you find to be necessary from Heraclides, the steward of our estates; for I commanded him when present that, if your Steadfastness should request any money from him, he should take care to count it out without any hesitation.
And since I have learned that certain men of unsettled mind wish to turn aside the people of the most holy and Catholic Church by some base corruption, know that I have given such instructions to Anulinus the proconsul, and also to Patricius the vicar of the prefects, when present, that in all other matters, and most especially in this, they should take the fitting care, and should not endure to overlook such a thing taking place.
Wherefore, if you should observe any such men persisting in this very madness, without any hesitation go to the aforesaid judges and bring this very matter before them, that they may correct them, just as I commanded them when present. May the Divinity of the great God preserve you for many years.