Pope Innocent

[Misfit]

The book I am currently reading has Pope Innocent at the end of his life in poor health and he's now taken to bleeding young pretty boys and drinking their blood to stave off his death. I can't find a whole lot on the net, but what I did find sounds more like what ever *blood drinking* was done was at the command of the doctors and not some bizarre obsession. Any thoughts?

[LoveHistory]

Which Pope Innocent?

It may have been doctor recommended, but as it's against the rules, so to speak, he shouldn't have done it. A man at that level of service to God should not fear his own mortality to that extent.

By the way...is this a non-fiction book?

[boswellbaxter]

There's a reference on page 11 in The Book of Quinte Essence to the healing powers of the blood of sanguine young men, and directions for distilling said blood (obtained, I was relieved to see, from barbers):

http://books.google.com/books?printsec=frontcover&dq=Book+of+Quinte+Essence&ei=5nQnTKnVFYP_8AaBzNWyDw&ct=result&pg=PA11&id=ZKwUAAAAQAAJ#v=onepage&q&f=false

I came across this little gem in Ann Wroe's book about Perkin Warbeck.

[MLE]

Which Pope Innocent?

A man at that level of service to God should not fear his own mortality to that extent.



LH, the behavior of most Popes from the schism through the renaissance (not familiar with those before or after) does not provide much of an argument for piety. Because they had to win their place by politics instead of merely being put there by birth position, the system weeded out the ethical so that only the most corrupt managed to reach the top.

There were a few exceptions. Adrian of Utrecht comes to mind. He lasted all of two years, and got little cooperation for his program of reform.

[Misfit]

Which Pope Innocent?

It may have been doctor recommended, but as it's against the rules, so to speak, he shouldn't have done it. A man at that level of service to God should not fear his own mortality to that extent.

By the way...is this a non-fiction book?

Sorry about that, I have tried backtracking to find out which one and haven't found it yet. It is around 1490 if that helps.

No, it is a novel.

[SonjaMarie]

Innocent VIII?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Innocent_VIII

SM

[Misfit]

Innocent VIII?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Innocent_VIII

SM

I think that's the one. I'm trying to find a reference in the book as to which Innocent he is, but no luck yet.

[MLE]

Sorry about that, I have tried backtracking to find out which one and haven't found it yet. It is around 1490 if that helps.

No, it is a novel.
That would be VIII. He died in 1492.

[Misfit]

That would be VIII. He died in 1492.

Yes, he just died and just about everyone in Rome wanted him dead so Borgia could be Pope. Stay tuned.....

[cw gortner]

You must be reading Poison.

[annis]

Is this the Pope Innocent associated with the persecution of those accused as witches and heretics through a Papal Bull connected to the notorious Malleus Maleficarum?

[Misfit]

Is this the Pope Innocent associated with the persecution of those accused as witches and heretics through a Papal Bull connected to the notorious Malleus Maleficarum?

I don't know, that hasn't been mentioned. There is a plot afoot to expell the exiled Spanish jews from Rome or they all die.......

Still not sure what to make of all this, I think I need MLE to read it. I got thrown off a bit when our super-woman heroine dianosed a *patient* with "influenza". I know Wik shouldn't be taken as gospel, but they're saying that word didn't come into use until just a wee bit later.

[Misfit]

You must be reading Poison.

Oops, almost missed this comment. Yes I am. Very different from what I gathered the book would be from the product description.