30& PROGRESS OP MONACHISM* 



wrought none : bifhops who were never married, and 

 tnonks that were fathers of children. 



It was found impolfible to limit the number of 

 monks by laws. The emperors had often iffued edicts, 

 that citizens capable of bearing offices fhould not be- 

 come eccleiiaftics for avoiding the obligation of ferving 

 the Hate : and the Very fame edicts were revived by Va- 

 lens in the year 373 in a particular view to the monks. 

 Certain lovers of lazinefs, it is faid in one of thefe 

 edicts, freal away from the civil employments, and re- 

 pair to the defart ; where they join with the bands that 

 lead a ufelefs life. If you find out fuch people in 

 ./Egypt, you mail drive them from their lurking holes, 

 and compel them to take charge of the trulls to which 

 they are bound ; or you fhall confifcate their property 

 for the benefit of thofe who fill fuch polls in their 

 fteacL 



Valens acted foon after with fo much feverity 

 againft the monks, as ought in all reafon to have 

 forced them to compliance. He iffued a law, that 

 they fhould be whipped to death whenever they re- 

 fufed the military fervice, or to take civil offices and 

 polls. In confequence of this law many monks loll 

 their lives in iEgypt. An ordinance was publilhed by 

 the emperor Valentinian III. by which no fervant, 

 countryman, or other vaffal was to be admitted 

 into the fellowfhip of the monks, if he intended by 

 that means to free himfelf from his dependance on 

 him. 



But all thefe llatutes and ordinances of the empe- 

 rors were of no avail againft # the enormous fpread of 

 monkery ; infomuch that the emperors fometimes fpon- 

 5 taneoufly 



