Constantine’s Letter to Eusebius on Preparing Copies of the Scriptures

“Victor Constantine, Greatest Augustus, to Eusebius. “By the favoring providence of God our Savior, great numbers have joined themselves to the most holy church in the city that is called by my name. Since that city is growing fast in prosperity in every other way, it seems very fitting that the number of churches should also increase. So receive with all readiness what I have decided to do about this. I have thought it right to instruct Your Prudence to order fifty copies of the sacred Scriptures, whose provision and use you know to be most necessary for the instruction of the church. They are to be written on prepared parchment, legibly, and in a convenient, portable form, by professional scribes thoroughly skilled in their art. The catholicus of the diocese has also received instructions by letter from Our Clemency to take care to supply everything needed for making the copies. It will be your part to take special care that they are finished with as little delay as possible. By this letter you also have authority to use two of the public carriages to transport them. In this way the copies, once fairly written, can most easily be sent on for my personal inspection. One of the deacons of your church may be entrusted with this service, and when he arrives here he will experience my generosity. God keep you, beloved brother!” [a]