Church-history of the government of bishops and their councils abbreviated including the chief part…

§ 16. Stephen the 9th. alias 10th. is next made Pope: In his time saith Platina the Church of Milan was reconciled to Rome, that had withdrawn itself from it two hundred years. Was all the world then subject to the Pope when his Italian neighbours were not?

§ 17. This Pope lived after his entrance but 6 or 7 months, and they say made them promise him to choose none in his place till Hildebrand came home to counsel them: (A great Subdeacon that Rome must be ruled by.) But in the mean time the new Emperor being but five or six years old, the great men of Italy turned to the old game and brought in one by strength (Mincius) whom they called Benedict the 10th. alias 9th. a Bishop; he reigned 9 months, 20 days. But when Hildebrand came home he got him cast out. This was the twenty first schism in the Papacy.

§ 17. This Pope lived after his entrance but 6 or 7 months, and they say made them promise him to choose none in his place till Hildebrand came home to counsel them: (A great Subdeacon that Rome must be ruled by.) But in the mean time the new Emperor being but five or six years old, the great men of Italy turned to the old game and brought in one by strength (Mincius) whom they called Benedict the 10th. alias 9th. a Bishop; he reigned 9 months, 20 dayes. But when Hildebrand came home he got him cast out. This was the twenty first schism in the Papacie.

§ 18. Hildebrand's crafty counsel was to send to the Emperor to consent to Gerard Bishop of Florence whom they chose in Italy and called Nicholas the 2d.¹ Lest Benedict should get the Emperor on his side; and so Nicholas made Benedict renounce and banished him: But how shall we be sure which was the true Pope?