like as the emperor is chief of all the world. The
fifth, that who that had done or should do trespass and fled to the
church, that he should be kept there free from all injury. The sixth,
that no man should edify any churches without license of holy church and
consent of the bishop. The seventh, that the dime and tenth part of the
possessions should be given to the church.

After this the emperor came to St. Peter's church and confessed meekly
all his sins tofore all people, and what wrong he had done to Christian
men, and made to dig and cast out to make the foundements for the
churches, and bare on his shoulders twelve hods or baskets full of
earth. When Helen, the mother of Constantine, dwelling in Bethany, heard
say that the emperor was become Christian, she sent to him a letter, in
which she praised much her son of this that he had renounced the false
idols, but she blamed him much that he had renounced the law of the
Jews, and worshipped a man crucified. Then Constantine remanded to his
mother that she should assemble the greatest masters of the Jews, and he
should assemble the greatest masters of the Christian men, to the end
that they might dispute and know which was the truest law. Then Helen
assembled twelve masters which she brought with her, which were the
wisest that they might find in that law, and St. Silvester and his
clerks were of that other party. Then the emperor ordained two Paynims,
Gentiles, to be their judges, of whom that one was named Crato, and that
other Zenophilus, which were proved wise and expert, and they to give
the sentence, and be judge of the disputation. Then began one of the
masters of the Jews for to maintain and dispute his law, and St.
Silvester and his clerks answered to his disputation, and to them all,
always concluding them by Scripture. The judges which were true and
just, held more of the party of St. Silvester than of the Jews. Then
said one of the masters of the Jews named Zambry, I marvel, said he,
that ye be so wise and incline you to their words, let us leave all
these words and go we to the effect of the deeds. Then he did do come
[caused to come] a cruel bull, and said a word in his ear, and anon the
bull died. Then the people were all against Silvester. Then said
Silvester, believe not thou that he hath named in the ear the name of
Jesu Christ, but the name of some devil, know ye verily it is no great
strength to slay a bull, for a man, or a lion, or a serpent may