-Rabelais,
_Pantagruel_, iv. 45 (1545).

=Pope Joan=, between Leo IV. and Benedict III., and called John [VIII.].
The subject of this scandalous story was an English girl, educated at
Cologne, who left her home in man's disguise with her lover (the monk
Folda), and went to Athens, where she studied law. She went to Rome and
studied theology, earning so great a reputation that, at the death of
Leo IV., she was chosen his successor. Her sex was discovered by the
birth of a child, while she was going to the Lateran Basilica, between
the Coliseum and the church of St. Clement. Pope Joan died, and was
buried, without honors, after a pontificate of two years and five months
(853-855).--Marianus Scotus (who died 1086).

The story is given most fully by Martinus Polonus, confessor to Gregory
X., and the tale was generally believed till the Reformation. There is a
German miracle-play on the subject, called _The Canonization of Pope
Joan_ (1480). David Blondel, a Calvinist divine, has written a book to
confute the tale.

The following note contains the chief points of interest:--

Anastasius, the librarian, is the first to mention such a pope, A.D.
886, or thirty years after the death of Joan.

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 Friesingen[TN-101] and Gotfried 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 _Annal[^e]s Augustani_ (1135), we are told her papal name was John
VIII., and that she it was who conscrated[TN-102] Louis II., of France.

Arguments in favor of the allegation are given by Spanheim, _Exercit. de
Papa Faemina_, ii. 577; in Lenfant, _Historie de la Papesse Jeanne_.

Arguments against the allegation are given by Allatius or Allatus,
_Confutatio Fabulae de Johanna Papissa_; and in Lequien,[TN-103] _Oriens
Christianus_, iii. 777.

Arguments on both sides are given in Cunnin