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Against the Donatists
St Optatus of Milevis, tr. Vassall-Phillips, 1917
Book 1, Mensurius When Summoned to the Court Entrusted the Ornaments of the Church to…
It was at this time also that a deacon called Felix who had been summoned before the tribunals on account of a much spoken-of letter which he had written concerning the usurping Emperor,1 fearing his danger, is said to have lain hidden in the house of Bishop Mensurius. When Mensurius publicly refused to give him up, an account of the matter was despatched. A rescript came back that unless Mensurius would surrender the deacon Felix, he should be himself sent to the palace.2 On receiving this summons3 he found himself in no small difficulty, for the Church possessed very many gold and silver ornaments, which he could neither hide under ground, nor take away with him. So he confided them to the care of some of the seniors, whom he believed to be worthy of trust, not, however, before he had made an inventory, which he is said to have given to a certain old woman. He charged her, that, when peace was restored to Christians, she should hand this over, if he himself did not return home, to whomsoever she found sitting on the Bishop’s Chair. He went away and pleaded his cause; he was commanded to return, but was not able to reach Carthage.4
Notes
- de tyranno imperatore. These events took place in 311, when Maxentius, who had made himself Emperor in Italy in 306, had obtained possession of Africa. Under Constantine he was regularly referred to as tyrannus.
- ad palatium dirigeretur. Dirigere in late Latin = to send.
- conventus.
- He died on the way.