The Grey Friars in OxfordLittle, A. G. (Andrew George)
History
The Grey Friars in Oxford
Little, A. G. (Andrew George)
Franciscans -- Great Britain
=William of Ockham=, ‘Auctor nominalium,’ ‘Doctor singularis,’ ‘Doctor
invincibilis[1446],’ was born probably towards the end of the thirteenth
century. Whether he was a pupil of Duns Scotus is doubtful. He studied at
Oxford in the early years of the fourteenth century, and became B.D.
there[1447]. After this he was called to Paris, where he incepted as D.D.
Here he became acquainted with Marsiglio of Padua, over whom, according to
Pope Clement VI, he exercised a powerful influence[1448]. It is probable
that he was present at the famous Chapter of Perugia (1322), though he was
not (as is usually asserted) Provincial of England[1449]. From the first
he took a prominent part in the struggle against the Pope[1450]. He was
imprisoned at Avignon about the end of 1327, and a process was instituted
against him in the Curia
‘because of many erroneous and heretical opinions which he had
written[1451].’
He remained in custody for seventeen weeks, and refused to modify his
opinions. It is said that a ‘rich and noble lady,’ in admiring recognition
of his staunch defence of ‘Evangelical Poverty,’ gave him 70
florins[1452]. On May 25, 1328, he fled from Avignon with Cesena, the
General Minister, and Bonagratia, joined the Emperor in Italy, and was
excommunicated[1453]. In Feb., 1330, he accompanied Louis to Bavaria, and
lived henceforth for the most part in the Franciscan Convent at
Munich[1454]. His literary activity was enormous, as may be seen from the
list of his works. He took a direct part in the affairs of state, being
present at the Councils of Rense and Frankfurt in 1338[1455]. From this
time his writings, hitherto largely theological, became more distinctly
political[1456]. In spite of excommunication, he continued to support the
Emperor’s cause till Louis’ death in 1347, and even later[1457]. But now
few only of the rebel friars were left: Cesena died in 1342, Bonagratia in
1347; and in 1349 Ockham sent back the seal of the Order to the orthodox
General Minister, and professed his desire to be reconciled to the
Church[1458]. Clement VI authorized the General Minister to absolve Ockham
and his associates on their confessing in set form their errors and
heresies, and promising to obey the Pope and his successors. Whether
Ockham subscribed the papal formula, nothing remains to show. The date of
his death is uncertain; it may however be concluded that he died at Munich
not before 1349[1459].
PHILOSOPHICAL AND THEOLOGICAL WORKS.
_Commentarii in Porphyrii librum: in Aristotelis Praedicamentorum librum_
(or _De decem generibus_): _in Aristotelis de Interpretatione libros duo:
in libros Elenchorum._
MSS. Oxford:--Bodl. Canonic. Misc. 558, fol. 1, 24, 63{b}, 93 (sec.
xiv).
Paris:--Bibl. Nat. 14721.
Bruges 499, _olim_ 59 (sec. xiii?).
The first three of these works (and perhaps the last) were printed at
Bologna in 1496, under the title _Expositio aurea super totam artem
Veterem_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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