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. 257.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
BONIFACE VII.1
BONIFACE the Seventh, the deposer of Benedict VI., whose family and country (I suppose because of their baseness) writers mention not, got the Popedom by ill arts, and lost it as ill; for he was no sooner got into the chair, but the honest part of the citizens confederating, he was forced out of the city, taking with him the most precious things out of the church of St Peter, and fled to Constantinople, where he only tarried till, by the sale of what he had so sacrilegiously got, he had amassed vast sums of money, with which he returns to Rome, not doubting but by the help of that to retrieve his dignity, by bribing the citizens. He met yet with great opposition from all good men, but especially from John, a deacon cardinal, whom, by the assistance of some wicked bravoes, he caught, and put out his eyes. But his enemies increasing about him, whether for fear or remorse for his great wickedness, this author of so many mischiefs miserably ended his life. Observe, I beseech you, how these Popes did degenerate from their predecessors, who left the church so ample and magnificent at the expense of their blood. The Pope of Rome, the father and protector of all things sacred, does himself steal them away, and he that should punish sacrilege is the author of it; but thus it must needs fall out in any government where the pride and covetousness of ill men shall prevail over the virtue and wisdom of the good. To great benefices none of the clergy ought to be chosen, but such of whose life and learning there is a certainty; not those who, having nothing of virtue or religion, seek by ambition and simony to get into places of power. Boniface lived seven months and five days in his pontificate, and then the see was vacant twenty days.
FOOTNOTE
1 [He is reckoned an Anti-Pope by later Roman historians. Platina becomes very confused here. Boniface seized the Papacy as soon as Benedict died, fled to Constantinople with his stolen treasures, as stated in the text, and was absent until the accession of John XIV. Then he suddenly reappeared at Rome, presuming on the Pope’s unpopularity. He got possession of John’s person, and imprisoned him in the Castle of St Angelo, and caused him to be murdered, again usurped the see, but was overthrown as above described.]
Previous Pope: 138. Benedict VI. 139. Boniface VII. Next Pope: 140. Domnus II.