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M. Horne. The .120. Diuision. pag. 74. b.
And he••e sithen I am entred into the noting of the practises of other Coūtries in this behalfe: I might not onely note the doings about (.421.)* 1.1 this time of Frederike King of Cicill, and Iames the King of Spaine his brother, in reformation of Relligion in their dominions, as appeareth in their Epi∣stles vvritē by Arnoldus de noua Villa, but also make a digressiō to the state of other parts in Christēdō, as of the churches of Grece, of Armenia, of Moscouia, &c. that acknovvledged not any, but (.422.)* 1.2 only their Princes to be their supreme gouernours in al things next to Christ: as especially also to note that most auncient part of Christēdom southvvard in Aethiopia, con∣teining .62. kingdomes vnder the ruling of him vvhō vve misname Presby¦ter Ioannes, as vvho say he vver a Priest, and head Bisshop ouer those chri∣stian Realmes, hauing such a povver vvith them, as the Popes (423)* 1.3 vsurpa∣tiō hath chalēged here in Europe, to be an head or vniuersal Priest ād king. If vve may beleue Sabellicus, vvho saith that he hath both often talked vvith the Marchaūts, that haue their trafique there, and hath also díuers times en¦quired the matter by an interpretour of the inhabitaunts there borne, they al say that his name is neyther Presbiter Ioannes, nor Pretto Ianes, but say they, his name is Gyan, that is, mightie, and they maruaile greatly what the Italians meane, to call him by the name of Priesthode. But this they say, that al the suites or requestes euen of their greate Bishoppes, are brought before the king him self: and that all their benefices or Spiritual pro∣motions be opteined at his handes (.424.)* 1.4 So that there beynge, as Sabellicus telleth further, an exceadinge great nomber of chiefe Prela∣tes or Metropolitanes, and vnder euerye one Prelate at the leaste tvven∣ty Bishoppes, all their sutes and causes Ecclesiasticall, beyng brought vnto him, and he the maker of all these Prelates, Bishoppes, and other Ec∣clesiasticall persons, he is called ouer them all, Clergy or Laie, in all causes Ecclesiastical or themporall, Gyan the mightie, that is, the supreme Ruler ād Gouernour, ād euē so hath (.425.)* 1.5 cōtinued sithē those partes vvere first Christened, (as they saye) of Thomas Dydimus, the Apostle, vntill our tyme. But thys by the vvaye, novv from them to retourne to our ovvne countrey.