Chapter Ponce de Léon to Popes of P by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Marianus Scotus, in his Chronicle, says she reigned two years five months and four days (853-855). Scotus died 1086.

Sigebert de Gemblours, in his Chronicle, repeats the same story (1112).

Otto of Freisingen and Gotfrid of Viterbo both mention her in their histories.

Martin Polonus gives a very full account of the matter. He says she went by the name of John Anglus, and was born at Metz, of English parents. While she was pope, she was prematurely delivered of a child in the street “between the Coliseum and St. Clement’s Church.”

William Ocham alludes to the story.

Thomas de Elmham repeats it (1422).

John Huss tells us her baptismal name was not Joan but Agnes.

Others insist that her name was Gilberta.

In the Annalês Augustani (1135) we are told her papal name was John VIII., and that she it was who consecrated Louis II. of France.

Arguments in favour of the allegation are given by Spanheim, Exercit. de Papa Fæmina, ii. 577; in Lenfant, Histoire de la Papesse Jeanne.

(2) Arguments against the allegation are given by Allatius or Allatus, Confutatio Fabulæ de Johanna Papissa; and in Lequien, Oriens Christianus, iii. 777.

(3) Arguments on both sides are given in Cunningham’s translation of Geiseler: Lehrbuch, ii. 21, 22; and in La Bayle’s Dictionnaire, iii. (article “Papisse”).

Gibbon says, “Two protestants, Blondel and Bayle, have annihilated the female pope; but the expression is certainly too strong, and even Mosheim is more than half inclined to believe there really was such a person.”

Pope Joan, the game so called, once very popular in England, and often played as a children’s game in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. In the privy purse’s expenses of Henry VIII. it is called Pope July’s [Julius’s] Game, and supposed to represent the courtship and marriage of Henry VIII. and Anne Boleyn. The point called “stops” is the interference of the pope and his agents to prevent the marriage. The other points are called “intrigue,” “matrimony,” and “pope.”

Pope of Philosophy, Aristotle (B.C. 384-322).

Pope of the Huguenots (The), Plessis Mornay (1549–1623).

Popes (Titles assumed by). “Universal Bishop,” prior to Gregory the Great. Gregory the Great adopted the style of “Servus Servorum” (591).

Martin IV. was addressed as “the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world,” to which was added, “Grant us thy peace!” (1281).

Leo X, was styled, by the council of Lateran, “Divine Majesty,” “Husband of the Church,” “Prince of the Apostles,” “The Key of all the Universe,” “The Pastor, the Physician, and a God possessed of all power both in heaven and on earth” (1513).