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. 169-171.
The Lives of the Popes,
BY
B. Platina
Volume I.
SERGIUS I.
A.D. 687-701.
SERGIUS, a Syrian, born at Antioch, son of Tiberius, coming to Rome in the time of Pope Adeodatus, was admitted into the number of the Roman clergy. Afterwards through his industry and improvements in Divine knowledge, advancing gradually he was ordained parish priest of the Church of St Susanna. He thereupon beginning more and more to frequent the cemeteries, and there to perform sacred offices, by this means he gained so great a reputation, that upon the decease of Conon he was chosen his successor, though, indeed, after a long debate. For the people being divided into two parties, one stood up for Theodorus, and the other for Paschal, the archdeacon. Theodorus with his party had forced his entrance into the inner part of the Lateran Palace; the outer, from the oratory of St Sylvester to the church of the house of Julia, was possessed by Paschal. But the contention and debate growing so high that every one thought 169 they would come to blows, each party resolving not to give place to the other unless by force compelled thereunto, the principal citizens, clergy, and soldiery assembled together to consult what was best to be done to lay this tumult. At length, having duly considered the whole matter, and judging it not fit to commit the Popedom to either of those who, to satisfy their own ambition, had been the cause of so great disorders, by Divine direction they make choice of Sergius, without the least opposition, and taking him out of the midst of the crowd upon their shoulders, they carry him first into the oratory of St Cæsarius the martyr, then into the Lateran Palace, breaking open the doors by force, and driving out those who were in it before. Theodorus seeing how all agreed in the choice, salutes Sergius by the name of Pope, and kisses him. Paschal, the other competitor, did the same, though sorely against his will, and being only awed thereunto by the armed multitude. For secretly and underhand he did by letters, messengers, and promises, so strongly solicit John, Exarch of Ravenna, to perform at length what he had promised him for his money, that the said John comes forthwith to Rome, without sending any advice before, that so he might have the advantage of coming upon them unprovided, and while they were off their guard. But when he understood that Sergius was by universal consent declared Pope, and urged the performance of what Paschal had promised him, upon Sergius expressing a high dislike and detestation of any such bribery, he violently seizes and carries away several things of value from the church of St Peter. As for Paschal, the occasion of this mischief, he being accused and convicted of sorcery, was deprived of his archdeaconry, and for penance was confined to a monastery, wherein after his having continued obstinate for five years, he died. In the meantime Justinian, being strangely inconstant towards God and men, both attacks the Saracens and Bulgarians, contrary to the articles of peace he had concluded with them, from whom yet it is certain he received more damage than he did to them; and also returning to Constantinople, being generally hated by the citizens for his not restraining the cruelty of the city prefect, he held a synod, wherein some decrees passed not agreeing with the orthodox faith; which also Sergius’s Apocrisiary, or Nuncio, then residing at Constantinople, very foolishly confirmed by his subscription. But these decrees 170 being afterwards brought to Rome, and there exploded by Sergius, who held that there were two natures in Christ, and that the Blessed Virgin was the mother of God, Justinian, enraged thereat, sends Zacharias Protospatharius (which we may render the captain of the guards) to Rome, to bring Sergius bound to him, which, when the soldiers of the Exarchate of Italy understood, they immediately took up their arms, and not only defended the Pope from violence, but were very near having slain Zachary, had he not saved himself by flying for refuge to the Pope, who kept him for some time in his bed-chamber, and afterwards sent him back privately to the emperor. While these things were transacted at Rome, Leontius, encouraged by Callinicus the patriarch, having excited the people of Constantinople to take up arms, and broke open all the prisons of the city, whereby multitudes of prisoners were set at liberty, deposes Justinian, and cutting off his nose, banishes him to the Chersonese of Pontus. Abimelech, Admiral of the Saracens, having intelligence hereof, and hoping to make his advantage of these tumults, presently invades Africa, whither Leontius, with all expedition, sends his army to check their motion. But not long after, a mutiny arising among the soldiers, they create one Tiberius, a citizen of Constantinople, Emperor, who, immediately returning with the army to Constantinople, seizes Leontius, and having retaliated upon him what we have said he did to Justinian, throws him into prison, reserving him there for further greater ignominy. Moreover, he banished Philip, the son of Nicephorus, a Patrician, and one who had been assistant to him in getting the Empire, only because he had told his companions how he dreamt that he saw an eagle covering his head with her wings, which Tiberius feared might be a presage of the young man’s coming to the Empire. While things went thus at Constantinople, Pipin, Duke of Austrasia, laid the foundation of gaining the kingdom of France. For, understanding that one Bertarius, a mean fellow whom King Theodoric made use of as his chief minister, was generally hated by all people, he marches with a vast army into France, and being encountered in his passage by Theodoric and Bertarius, he engages in battle with them and defeats them. Bertarius saved himself by flight, but Theodoric retreating, by agreement upon a truce, constitutes the victorious Pipin mayor of the palace, and principal administrator of his kingdom. After this Pipin returned 171 to Austrasia upon intelligence that the Germans and Suevi infested his people; and having quelled them, he sets forward towards France again, upon the news that Theodoric being dead, the kingdom had fallen to his brother, Childepert. Arriving there, and being very kindly received by the king, after he had put his son into the place of mayor of the palace, he again returns enraged at the Suevi and Germans, who were now the second time in arms.
At this time Sergius having, since the banishment of Justinian, enjoyed peace and tranquility, repaired the church of St Peter, and restored it to its ancient beauty. The front of it he adorned with mosaic work, made the candlesticks and other ornaments of it of gold and silver, found a part of our Saviour’s cross in a little brass coffer, and because the body of St Leo had hitherto lain less regarded than his merits required, he reposited it in a more honourable and celebrated place. The statues of the apostles defaced with age he renewed, and either repaired or made wholly new the ornaments of many churches, which it would be tedious to enumerate. Moreover, he ordained that at the breaking of the body of our Lord, should be sung “O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us”; and that on the day of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin, and of St Simon, there should be yearly a procession with Litanies through the city, setting out at St Hadrian. He made Damianus Archbishop of Ravenna, and Berflauardus Archbishop of Bretagne. By his learning and authority he brought over to the truth the Church of Aquileia, which before consented not wholly to the fifth synod. Some tell us, that at this time Lambertus, a person of great sanctity, suffered martyrdom at Liege, because he was so hardy as to reprove Pipin for slighting his wife’s bed and keeping Alpais, a whore. The author of his death is said to have been her own brother, who afterwards died of the lousy disease. It is written also that by the exemplary sanctity of Sergius, the Saxons were now first wrought upon to embrace Christianity. The good man having by these means gained a great reputation; and having been in the chair thirteen years, eight months, twenty-three days, he died, and was with the lamentation of all men, who wept as at the loss of a common father, with great solemnity buried in the church of St Peter, September the 8th. The see was then vacant one month, twenty days.
Previous Pope: 85. Conon I. 86. Sergius I. Next Pope: 87. John VI.