BENEDICT

the name of no fewer than fourteen pc^)es, commencing with the first of the name who was elected to the papal chair on the death of John III. in 574. The first deserving of notice is Benedict IX., who succeeded John XIX. in 1033. He was a mere boy at the time of his election, obtained it through family interest and bribery. licentiousne plnnged Home into a state of anarchy, and he was ignominiously expelled by the citizens, who elected a succe or known by the name Sylvester III. Six months after Benedict returned, regained the ascendency, and excommunicated Sylvester; but finding the general detestation too strong to permit him to resume his chair, sold it to Grat i an us, who a umed the title of Gregory There was thus a trio of popes, and the emperor, Henry III., to put an end to the scandal thus casioned, a embled a council at Sutri, which quit of the difficulty by deposing all the three. ultimate fate of Benedict is not well known, but is believed to have died in a convent. The next dict deserving of notice was the thirteenth of name, originally Cardinal Orsini, and Archbishop Ben even to, who became pope in 1724. His private character appears to have been unexceptionable, he bestowed his confidence on Cardinal Coscia, was unworthy of it, and abused it in gratifying avarice. Before he obtained the popedom he have been at least a laborious writer; for his works, including sermons, fill three vols, folio. He died 1730, and was succeeded by Clement XII. BENEDICT XIV. - BERTHIER 153