_536._ _The Emperor Justinian_, as a result of a condemnation by the Synod of Constantinople, orders the burning of the books of Severus. The manifolding of these books is prohibited under a penalty for the scribe of the loss of his writing hand.[19] It appears from these and from similar examples that, according to the practice of the two centuries after Constantine, the responsibility for the condemnation of heretical writings was assumed by the councils, while the work of prohibiting the books, of destroying the copies, and of punishing those who retained copies was carried out under the authority of the emperor. _649._ _Pope Martin I_ issues a decree condemning and prohibiting certain heretical literature. _681._ _The Council of Constantinople_ issues a decree condemning certain heretical literature and ordering all copies of the same to be burned. This is the first instance in which, in place of referring the matter to the secular authority, a council had itself ordered the destruction of the condemned books. _692._ _The Council of Trulla_ issues an edict ordering the burning of certain histories of the martyrs, which had been produced in versified form.[20] _755._ _The Council of Rome_ issues an edict ordering the burning of certain condemned writings of Adelbert. Pope Zacharius took the ground, however, that it would be wiser to preserve the offending books in the archives of the Papacy, _ad reprobationem et ad perpetuam ejus confusionem_. _768._ An authorisation is granted by _Pope Stephen III_ to Ambrosius Autpert, a Benedictine monk, for a treatise the title of which is not given. In his application, Autpert states that he is the first author who has sought for his work the approval of the Head of the Church; and that he is anxious to keep his writings in accord with the teachings of the Fathers of the Church.[21] _787._ _The second Council of Nicaea_ issues an edict ordering the destruction of certain “falsified utterances of the Martyrs” which had been prepared by “enemies of the Church.” _814._ _The Patriarch Nicephorus_ orders the destruction in Constantinople of similar falsified acts of the Martyrs. The number of such censorship edicts in the early Church is not considerable, but it is to be remembered that through the lack of knowledge of reading, the faithful were, during these centuries, fairly well protected against any evil influence from pernicious literature. CHAPTER III THE PROHIBITION OF BOOKS IN THE MIDDLE AGES 830–1480