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Goftanz.] GERMANY. 165
Ueherl'mgen in the year 1649, on account of which it pays a diftinct afTcfTnient
as regiftered in the matriada of the Empire.
ReicbenaUy in Latin, Augia dii'es, or major, an abbey of Bcnediclinei
ftanding on a pleafant idand of the fame name in the ZeUer-fce, and fii fir
erefted by St. Pirjrdniia in the year 724. This abbey was formerly very rich,
and an immediate free Imperial foundation, the abbot of which enjoyed the
dignity of Prince^
as alfo a feat and vote in the Diet of the Circle o^ Sioabia.
But ever fince the beginning of the 1 5th century it has greatly declined, and
at lafl, namely, in the year 1535, was incorporated with the cathedral of
Coftanz, and in 1 540 w^holly ceded to it, fo that from that time the revenues
of its ancient abbots are devolved to the bifhop, who has converted it into a
bailiwick 5 but the abbey has lately ufed great endeavours, in oppofition to
the Pope and the cathedral oi Coßmiz, to aflert its privilege of being a State
of the Empire, and for procuring its incorporation to be declared illegal.
Its arms are a crofs gules in a field argent ; and its taxation in the rnatrkula
of the Empire was formerly one horleman and four foot, or twenty eight
florins, which in the year 1 545 was raifed to two horfe and four foot, or
forty florins, as may be read above, §.4. In the' year 17 12, the bifliop of
Coßanz foUicited for a vote in the college of Princes by virtue of this
abbey, but met with a repulfe. This biHiop ftiles himfelf Lord of Rcicbenau,
and not Abbot J
but the latter is the title generally given him by the Emperor.
The convent boafts of being pofl^efied of the body of St, Mark the
Evangeliß; but this is dilputed with them by the Venetians. It is more
certain that the Emperor Charles the Fat lies buried there. In the convent
is alfo fliewn an emerald of extraordinary fjze, being two inches thick, and
larger than a common folio, and weighing twenty-eight pounds three
quarters. This emerald was prefented to the convent by Charlemagne. The
Monks here are fubjedt to a prior.
The ifland of Reichenau is half a mile long, abounding in fine vineyards
and all kinds of fruits. On it are flill flanding the villages of Louver and
Vpper-Zell.
Oehningen, a canonical college of Augnfiines-, fituate not far from the
town of Stein. This convent was founded in the year 965, by Chuno count
oi Oehningen, who endowed it with his eftate ; but in 1534 the prior's revenue
was, with the confent of the Emperor and Pope, anne: