From The Lives of the Popes from the Time of our Saviour Jesus Christ to the Accession of Gregory VII. Written Originally in Latin by B. Platina, Native of Cremona, and translated into English (from an anonymous translation, first printed in 1685 by Sir Paul Rycaut), Edited by William Benham, Volume I, London: Griffith, Farran, Okeden & Welsh, [1888, undated in text]; pp. 224-225.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
JOHN VIII.
JOHN, of English extraction, but born at Mentz, is said to have arrived at the Popedom by evil arts; for disguising herself like a men, whereas she was a woman, she went when young with her paramour, a learned man, to Athens, 22 and made such progress in learning under the professors there, that, coming to Rome, she met with few that could equal, much less go beyond her, even in the knowledge of Scriptures; and by her learned and ingenious readings and disputations, she acquired so great respect and authority, that upon the death of Leo (as Martin says), by common consent she was chosen Pope in his room. As she was going to the Lateran Church between the Colossean theatre (so called from Nero’s colossus) and St Clement’s, her travail came upon her, and she died upon the place, having sat two years one month, and four days, and was buried there without any pomp. This story is vulgarly told, but by very uncertain and obscure authors, and therefore I have related it barely and in short, lest I should seem obstinate and pertinacious if I had omitted what is so generally talked; I had better mistake with the rest of the world; though it be certain, that what I have related may be thought not altogether incredible. Some say that at this time the body of St Vincent was brought by a monk from Valentia, in Spain, to a village in Albigeois, in France. They say, too, that Lotharius, being now aged, taking on him a monastic habit, left the empire to his son Louis, who passing into Germany, by his presence composed matters there which otherwise threatened a war.1
FOOTNOTE
1 This story is now universally rejected. — ED.
Previous Pope: 105. Leo IV. 106. John VIII. Next Pope: 107. Benedict III.