Definition of "diocesse"

Bigamie was a counterplea (deuiſed at yͤ Councell of Lyons, vpon mislike of ſecond marriage) to be obiected, when the priſoner demaundeth the benefite of the Clergie, to wit, his Book, as namely to ſay, that he which demaundeth the priuiledge of the Clergie, was married to ſuch a woman at ſuch a place, within ſuch a Dioceſſe, and that ſhee is dead, and that hee hath married another woman within the ſame Dioceſſe, or within ſome other Dioceſſe, and ſo is Bigamus.

1624, [John Rastell, “Bigamie”, in Les Termes de la Ley: Or, Certaine Difficult and Obscure VVords and Termes of the Common Lawes of This Realme Expounded. […], new edition, London: […] Company of Stationers, folio 45, recto and verso

And as for those Churches where all the Tythes both great & small are taken by the Appropriator, Wee ordaine that the Bishop of the Diocesse according to the Lawes of the Church shall allot out of the said appropriation, such maintenance to a sufficient Curate, as in equitie in his discretion shall seeme meete and competent.

1635, Church of Ireland, Constitutions, and Canons Ecclesiasticall‎, Dublin: XXXVII, page 52