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. 25-26.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
BENEDICT IX.
A.D. 1033-1044.
BENEDICT the Ninth, as some say, the nephew of John, born at Frascati, son of Albericus, came to the pontificate when Canute, a king of England, out of devotion and for performance of a vow, came to Rome, which having done, as he returned home he married his daughter to Henry, the son of Conrad. Soon after, Conrad dying, his son Henry III. succeeded his father, and, raising an army, gives battle to Uldericus, King of Bohemia; but the victory being doubtful, he renewed the fight, overcame him and took him prisoner, but setting him under tribute, he discharged him from his imprisonment; then marching against the Hungarians, who were contending about the crown, he restored Peter to his throne, who had been driven out by Alboinus. In the meantime, the Romans deposed Benedict, who was a sluggish fellow, and good for nothing, and set up in his room John, Bishop of Sabine, by the name of Sylvester III., who also, after a Popedom of nine and forty days, was turned out, and Benedict restored; and he, finding himself still liable to the same danger again, of his own accord resigned the chair to John, archdeacon of St John at Port Latin, afterwards called Gregory VI., though some affirm that he sold it to him. Wherefore Benedict was ill spoken of by all men deservedly, and condemned by the Divine judgment; for it is certain that after his death he was seen in a most monstrous likeness, and being asked why, having been Pope, he appeared in such a horrid shape, “Because (says he) I led my life without law or reason, it is the will of God and St Peter, whose seat I defiled with all manner of wickedness, that I bear the shape rather of a monster than of a man.“ After he had by intervals 271 held St Peter’s chair ten years, four months, and nine days, he died, upon which the see cannot be said to have been vacant at all, because he sold it. Historians write that at this time Gerard, a Venetian, Bishop of the Hungarians, an excellent man and of great learning, cheerfully suffered martyrdom by the enemies to the name of Christ, being bound to a cart, and from a high hill let down upon a precipice and torn to pieces.
Previous Pope: 151. John XIX. 152. Benedict IX. Next Pope: 153. Sylvester III.