A Relation of Christians in the World, Part 1 – Part 3
The second sort of Christians in Europe, are The Roman Catholicks: Romanists.Who inhabit
SPain, being in compasse 1893 miles, or Spaine.thereabouts, in times past divided into many Kingdomes; but now united into one. In this great Kingdome, are about Damianus à Goes, reckoneth eight Archbishops, and 48 Bishops.eleven Archbishops and many Bishops, men of great Dignity and Estate. Saint Iames is affirmed to be the Apostle of Spaine, as also Saint Paul: Osius Bishop Eugenius was the first Bishop of Toledo. Damian. à Goes Hispan. pag. 19. Dam. p. 21.of Corduba, (whom Constantine honoured for the marks of Iesus Christ that he bore) and Isidore Bishop of Sivill, are famous for opposing the Arrian Hereticks with Illefonsus Archbishop of Toledo, Isidorus Scholer, Fulgentius, and others. The revenues of the Spanish Bishops are very great. As the Archbishop of Toledo hath 250000 Ducats per annum: more than some Kingdomes.
Italie, being as some write 900 miles Italie.in length, and in breadth from the Adriatick Sea to the Ligurian shoare 240 miles, growing narrower in breadth, untill it shut itselfe into two hornes, either of which are not above 14 miles in bredth. Of this Country the King of Spaine hath a part; as the Kingdome of Naples and the Dutchie of Millaine. In it also, the Venetians; The Duke of Florence, and other Princes and Common-wealths have severall Dominions. In Italie also resideth the Bishop of Rome, who as hee hath many Cardinals, Metropolitans, Archbishops, and Bishops under him; so also many temporall Dukedomes and Principalities, of which he is absolute Prince and Lord. The Bishops of Rome for the first 300 yeeres, were most of them Martyrs: as Clement who was tied to an Anchor, and cast into the Sea: Fabian, who did prohibit the Emperour Philip to enter the Church without some shew of penitence: Cornelius who was banished, revoked, whipt and beheaded, &c. Paul and Barnabas preached Christ first in Merm. Theat. Convers.Rome: and afterward, was the first Bishop of Millaine, where Saint Ambrose also sate.
France, mingled with Protestants as France. Doroth. in Synop.before, being about 200 leagues square, in which is reckoned, Loraine, Saboie, and Avignion (belonging to the Pope) and Geneva with foure Territories not subiect to the French King. The Church Gallican is best priviledged of all the Churches in Christendome, that are under the Pope. It is more free from payments to the Pope than the Church of Spaine: as also to the King they pay only the Disme; whereas in Spaine the King hath his Tertias, Subsidio, Pila, Escusado, in all, a moitie of the Church-livings.
In France are reckoned 12 Archbishopricks, Relation of the most famous Kingdomes, pag. 174.104 Bishopricks, 540 Archpriories, 1450 Abbeyes, 12322 Priories, 567 Nunneries, 130000 Parish Priests, 700 Convents of Friers, 259 Commendants of the Order of the Knights of Malta: six of the French Bishops are Peeres of France, who Bodin.are to aid the King with their Councell.
Poland, mingled with Protestants and Poland.Greeks, as before: there are in Poland two Archbishopricks, and many Bishopricks. The Archbishop of Guesne is Primate, and in the Imper. mūd. Catal. p. 40.vacancy hath regal Authoritie, precedeth in Councell, proclaimeth the new King, &c.
Some part of Germany, in which Country Part of Germany.are reckoned seven Archbishops, and about 47 Bishops: Three of their Archbishops are Princes Electours.
Halfe the Netherlands in which there Netherlandsare two Archbishopricks, and many Bishopricks.
One third part of Switzerland, and the Grisons Country, Austria, Hungaria, Bohemia, Switzerland Grisons.and some other Countries, mingled with Protestants as before.
The third sort of Christians in Europe, are the Moscovites
VNderUnder the great Emperour of Moscovia, whose Dominions in Europe and Asia: extend from Narve to Siberia, West and East about 4400 Verstes, and from Cola to Astracan, North and South 4226 Fletcher.or thereabouts. A Verst is about three quarters of a mile. They received the Fabr. relig. Moscov. pag. 170.Christian Faith from Saint Andrew the Apostle, as their Histories report. They have the holy Scriptures in their owne tongue translated by St. Ierome, they use the service of St. Chrysostome, translated into the vulgar; neither is their Clergy mean, base or beggarly.
The now Emperour Michael honoured his father Theodore with the Patriarkship of Mosco: their Patriarke, Metropolitanes, Arch-Bishops under him are men of great dignity and honour: what their Clergy want in learning, they have and make good in devotion and holinesse of life. Some of their Bishops have 2000, some 3000 Rubbles per annum.
The fourth sort of Christians are the Greekes
VNderUnder the Patriarke of Constantinople, Greeks.who live mingled with the Turks, and make two thirds and more of the Inhabitants in many places of the Turkes Dominions.
The Grand Signior alloweth the Christians Boter. Relat. par. 2. Grand. Turco.the liberty of their Religion, they paying a tribute, and the Bishops their Ecclesiasticall Government. The Patriarkship Godin. Curiop. pag. 276.of Constantinople being voyd, Sultan Mahumet the Emperour, that subdued Constantinople, invested Gennadius into it with great solemnity, giving to him his Pastorall staffe, and many gifts. This Patriarke had 28 Provinces under his iurisdiction: and yet hath at this day many Metropolitans, Arch-Bishops, and Bishops under him. Stachis was their Doroth. in Synop. Rom. 16.first Bishop, placed there by St. Andrew, and now Cyril governeth the Patriarchall See, in a continued succession from Stachis before named. In this Church the holy Apostles constituted many Bishops: As St. Paul placed Timothy in Ephesus, Titus Doroth.in Crete, Silas in Corinth, Silvanus in Thessalonica, with others: As St. Andrew Merman. convers. Theatr. pag. 41. 42.constituted Stachis (before named) Bishop of Bizantium, now called Constantinople: Philologus Bishop in Sinope, Calistus Bishop in Nice, Polycarp Disciple to St. Iohn, was Bishop of Smyrna. In time following, this Church had many holy Patriarchs, as St. Chrysostome, Gregory, Nazianzen, Paul the Patriarch, (whom the Arrians banished, and strangled) with others, who governed this Church, whose memories shall remaine for ever.
The Patriarchs of Constantinople, before the Turkes Conquest, were men of great dignity and estate: as Theophylact about the yeare 936, kept 2000 Horse: and Cedreu.Alexander, An. 1043, died worth 800000 Crownes. The Patriarch now hath (as Chytraeus writeth) about 20000 Dollers De stat. Eccles. pa. 45. He hath yearly from them 500. Scutes. Poss. muscov. p. 1.yearely for his maintenance. He hath also out of Moscovia some pension, which was in time past under his iurisdiction. The Greekes of Corcira, Candy, and other Islands, are subiect to the Venetians, who have Arch-Bishops, and Bishops under them.