§ 103. Princes in this age are commended for their piety (especially their zeal for Rome.) But did the Popes yet amend? The next man that cometh in by the same power as the former, is Benedict the 9th Nephew ⟨p. 340⟩to John and Son to Albericus; most say he was but ten years old, some say 18. capable, saith Baron and Bin. of Impudence and luxury; by the tyranny of his Father intruded, An. 1030. And (say they) being given over to lust and pleasure, and by humane frailty rushing into impudence, and living to great scandal of the faithful, he was by the Romans, the Consul Ptolemy favouring it, rejected, or at least gave it up by the persuasion of the holy Abbot Bartholomew. Whereupon Sylvester the 3d. came into his place, who had been Bishop of Sabine, even by bribery and evil arts; and did rend the Church by a new Schism: But he had fcarc• Sate three months, but Benedict by the help of the Tusculanes returned and cast him out, as an invader. In the mean time a third man, John Arch-Presbyter of Rome invading the same seat, brought yet a greater deformity on the Church: And so A THREE-HEADED BEAST ARISING FROM THE GATES OF HELL did miserably infest the holy Chain of St. Peter.] These are the words of the Popes grand flatterers. And they tell us that one Gratian a Presbyter pitying this miserable state of the Church, went to all the three Popes, and gave them money to hire them all to resign; And so Benedict as the most worthy being secured of the Revenues of England, deposed himself; and that he might the more freely execute his lusts betook himself to his Fathers house, when intruded by force and tyranny he had held the Papacy eleven years. And when the rest by his example had done the like, each being contented with his assigned portion of the Revenue, the Church An. 1044. was restored to its ancient union, peace and concord, the Schism being expelled, and the tyranny by which it was oppressed taken out of the way.] Thus Bar. and Bin. But how came this Presbyter to be so honest and so rich? you must know that when he had got out the three Popes he was made Pope himself, of which more anon.
§ 103. Princes in this age are commended for their piety (especially their zeal for Rome.) But did the Popes yet amend? The next man that cometh in by the same power as the former, is Benedict the 9th Nephew ⟨p. 340⟩to Iohn and Son to Albericus; most say he was but ten years old, some say 18. capable, saith Baron and Bin. of Impudence and luxury; by the tyranny of his Father intruded, An. 1030. And (say they) being given over to lust and pleasure, and by humane frailty rushing into impudence, and living to great scandal of the faithful, he was by the Romans, the Consul Ptolemy favouring it, rejected, or at least gave it up by the perswasion of the holy Abbot Bartholomew. Whereupon Silvester the 3d. came into his place, who had been Bishop of Sabine, even by bribery and evil arts; and did rend the Church by a new Schism: But he had fcarc• Sate three months, but Benedict by the help of the Tusculanes returned and cast him out, as an invader. In the mean time a third man, Iohn Arch-Presbyter of Rome invading the same seat, brought yet a greater deformity on the Church: And so A THREE-HEADED BEAST ARISING FROM THE GATES OF HELL did miserably infest the holy Chain of St. Peter.] These are the words of the Popes grand flatterers. And they tell us that one Gratian a Presbyter pitying this miserable state of the Church, went to all the three Popes, and gave them money to hire them all to resign; And so Benedict as the most worthy being secured of the Revenues of England, deposed himself; and that he might the more freely execute his lusts betook himself to his Fathers house, when intruded by force and tyranny he had held the Papacy eleven years. And when the rest by his example had done the like, each being contented with his assigned portion of the Revenue, the Church An. 1044. was restored to its ancient union, peace and concord, the Schism being expelled, and the tyranny by which it was oppressed taken out of the way.] Thus Bar. and Bin. But how came this Presbyter to be so honest and so rich? you must know that when he had got out the three Popes he was made Pope himself, of which more anon.
