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. 145-147.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
BONIFACE V.
A.D. 618-625.
BONIFACE the Fifth, a Campanian, his father’s name John, was chosen pope at the time when Eleutherius, a patrician, being sent by Heraclius to Rome, and having revenged the death of John, the late Exarch of Ravenna, usurped the kingdom of Italy. But on his way to Rome he was put to death by his own soldiers, and his head sent to Constantinople; 146 upon which Isaac of Constantinople, another patrician, was made exarch in his stead. Theudelinda now, after the death of her husband Agilulphus, governing together with her son the kingdom of the Lombards very prudently and justly, maintained a peace between her people and the Italians for ten years together, made several presents and donations to several churches, and endowed them with lands for the better maintenance of the clergy belonging to them. In the twelfth year of Heraclius, Mahomet, an Arabian, as some will have him, or as others, a Persian, descended of a noble family, his father a Gentile, his mother a Jewess, was the author of so much mischief to the Christian state, that I am afraid lest his sect should utterly extinguish the remains of Christianity, especially in our age, wherein we are grown listless and inactive, and stand still tamely expecting our own ruin. His sect prevails and increases now more than ever; all Asia and Africa, and a great part of Europe is subject to Mahometan princes; the Turks press hard upon us by sea and land, that they may ferret us like coneys out of these burrows in Europe. In the meantime we sit idly, looking upon one another, as if the whole state of Christianity were not at all in danger. The clergy expect that so important and necessary a war should be undertaken by the laity. The laity expect that the clergy should expend their money to bear the charge of a war for the defence of religion, and not put it to worse uses, as most of them are wont to do, laying out their stock gotten by alms and martyrs’ blood upon huge, large vessels of massive gold and silver, while themselves in the meantime carry it arrogantly towards men, are contemners of God, whom they serve only for gain, and are not at all solicitous for the time to come. But I return to Mahomet, a man of so wily a temper and so sharp a wit, that having long conversed among the Christians, and acquainted himself with all the sects that had been before him, he introduced a new kind of superstition, which has, as we see, almost rooted out Christianity. Moreover, having got together a great army of Arabians, he was so hardy as to encroach upon the borders of the Roman empire, but Heraclius soon put a stop to his motion, having by promises and bribes prevailed with his soldiers to make a revolt from him.
As for Pope Boniface, he was a person of singular humanity, clemency, and obliging deportment towards all men, and neglected no part of the duty of a good bishop. He ordained 147 that criminals who fled for refuge to churches, should not be taken thence by force; that the acolythi should not meddle with the relics of the martyrs, that belonging to presbyters and sub-deacons; and that in every place those who were guilty of sacrilege should be excommunicated. He built and dedicated the cemetery of St Nicomedes, and was in an extraordinary manner liberal and munificent towards those of the clergy who led exemplary lives. At this time Gallus, a scholar of St Columbanus, lived so devoutly, that he deserved to be canonised a saint even in his lifetime. Eustachius, the abbot, followed his example, and so did St Aurea, in honour to whom Eligius built a nunnery. It is said also, that at this time one Basilius was very famous for his life and learning, and in both equal to Isidore himself. Our Boniface having been in the chair seven years, ten days, died, and was buried in the church of St Peter. By his death the see was vacant thirteen days.
Previous Pope: 70. Deus-dedit I. 71. Boniface V. Next Pope: 7. Honorius I.