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. 277-278.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
BENEDICT X.
A.D. 1058-1059.
BENEDICT the Tenth, a Capuan, before named Nuntius, Bishop of Veletri, was by a faction of noblemen created Pope, at the same time that Agnes, mother of Henry IV., constituted Gilbert of Parma, a man of great abilities, Viceroy of Italy. There was then in Italy also, Godfrey, the husband of the Countess Matilda, a most noble lady, who was very powerful; for Beatrix, the mother of Matilda, had been sister to the Emperor Henry III., and had married one Boniface, a potent man and of an honourable family, of the city of Lucca in Tuscany; upon whose death all his estates fell first to Beatrix, and after her decease were devolved upon Matilda and her husband Godfrey: so that they stood possessed of Lucca, Parma, Reggio, Mantua, and that part of Tuscany now called St Peter’s patrimony. But to return to Benedict; he was deposed by Hildebrand, because he came not in by the right 278 way, but by force and simony: for the generality of the clergy had passed their words to Archdeacon Hildebrand, when he went to Florence, that they would not proceed upon any election of a new Pope till his return to the city. When he was come back therefore, together with Gerard, Bishop of Florence, he inveighed most bitterly against them all, especially against those who had promised to stay till his return. But there arising great contention upon this matter, many approving of Benedict, as a very good and prudent man, though they disallowed that election of him, with great clamours that it was irregularly and illegally done; yet at last, by the persuasion of Hildebrand, Gerard, a man worthy, indeed, of so high a dignity, was by a majority of votes created Pope, and Benedict turned out. Some will have this election to have been made at Sienna, because a free choice could not be had at Rome, by reason of the partialities of some men in power there. Benedict was deposed after he had sat nine months and twenty days, and then was confined to Veletri.
Previous Pope: 159. Stephen9 IX. 160. Benedict X. Next Pope: 161. Nicolas II.