About this time, that is, about the Year 313. _Constantine_, out of his Zeal for the Christian Religion, issued Two Decrees, addressed to _Anulinus_, Proconsul of _Africa_, the one commanding all the Places in that Province to be restored, which had once belonged to the Catholic Church, and might have been usurped during the Persecution[542]; and the other, exempting the Ecclesiastics from all civil Functions[543]. This Privilege was granted only to the Ecclesiastics of the Catholic Church, whereof _Cæcilianus_ was the Head, as was expresly declared in the Edict; and therefore to him alone the Proconsul imparted it. It was a great Mortification to the _Donatists_ to see themselves thus disregarded by the Emperor: they therefore assembled a few Days after, and drawing up a Petition to _Constantine_, they delivered it, unsealed, to _Anulinus_, together with a Bundle of Papers, sealed up in a Leather Bag, with this Title: _The Petition of the Catholic Church, containing the Crimes of_ Cæcilianus; _by the Party of_ Majorinus. [Sidenote: _The_ Donatists _petition_ Constantine, _that the Dispute may be referred to the Bishops of_ Gaul.] The Substance of the Petition was, that the Controversy between them and the other Bishops of _Africa_ might be referred to the Bishops of _Gaul_, who were free from the Imputation of having delivered up the sacred Books to the Pagans[544]. _Anulinus_ immediately dispatched a Messenger to the Emperor, both with the Request, and the Papers, giving him, at the same time, by a Letter still extant[545], an Insight into the Dispute, that made so great a Noise in _Africa_. _Constantine_, who was then in _Gaul_, having received and read all those Pieces, expressed great Concern to find the Christians thus divided among themselves, and the Bishops at Variance with one another[546]. [Sidenote: _The Bishops named by_ Constantine.] However, he readily granted to the _Donatists_ the Judges they demanded, naming, for that Purpose, _Maternus_ Bishop of _Cologne_, _Rheticius_ Bishop of _Autun_, and _Marinus_ Bishop of _Arles_[547]; all Men of known Integrity, great Learning, and unblemished Characters. To these, by a Letter under his own Hand, he gave Notice of their new Commission; and, at the same time, for their better Information, he caused Copies to be transmitted to them, of all the Papers he had received from _Anulinus_[548]. The Three Bishops were ordered to repair, with all Speed, to _Rome_, and there, jointly with _Melchiades_, Bishop of that City, to sit as Judges of the Controversy. _Cæcilianus_ likewise was ordered to _Rome_, and allowed to take with him Ten Bishops of his Party, such as he should judge the most capable of defending his Cause; and the same Liberty was granted to the adverse Party[549]. [Sidenote: _His Letter to_ Melchiades.] _Constantine_, in the Letter he writ on this Occasion to _Melchiades_, after appealing to him as a Witness of