Bellarmine · De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis · On the Ecclesiastical Writers

Chapter 34: The Fourteenth Century: Aureol, Durand, Herveus Natalis, Ockham, Nicholas of Lyra, Villani, Ludolph the Carthusian

Our translation, from the Latin of the Opera Omnia (Paris: Vivès, 1870–74), vol. XII, De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis, of the New Testament, fourteenth century. The Latin source text is public domain; this English rendering is released with the site. Scripture quotations follow Bellarmine's Vulgate citations, rendered in Douay-Rheims wording where he quotes exactly. Click “Show the Latin” for the original (raw OCR of the scan; scanning errors remain — the scan itself is the authority).

Peter Aureol. 1317

Peter Aureol, of the Order of Minors, from Provincial of Aquitaine made Archbishop of Aix, flourished in the year of the Lord 1317, and is said to have written much; but I have seen only the commentary on the first book of the sentences, and that printed at Rome in the year 1596. Much is cited from Aureol in John Capreolus, but it is not extant put into print.

Antonius Andreae. 1317

Antonius Andreae, an Aragonese by nation, of the Order of St. Francis, a disciple of Scotus, wrote on the four books of the sentences; which writing was published at Venice in the year 1578.

Durand of Saint-Pourçain. 1320

Durand of Saint-Pourçain, a Gaul by nation, of the Order of Preachers, and Bishop of Meaux, a notable Theologian, wrote quite clear Commentaries on the four books of the Master of the sentences; in which, though he wrote some things that are far from the common opinion of the Doctors, and some have even been disapproved by the Church, yet he himself, in the preface of his commentary on the Master, asserted in plain words that the judgement of doctrine belongs to the Catholic Roman Church, and that he submitted all his writings to the censure of the same Church. He wrote also an excellent book On the origin of jurisdictions. He flourished about the year of the Lord 1320.

Herveus Natalis. 1320

Herveus Natalis, a Breton, Master general of the Order of Preachers, a contemporary of Durand, and a most learned Theologian. He wrote on the Letters of St. Paul, which work is found among the works of St. Anselm, as we said above. He wrote also on the four books of the Master of the sentences. Likewise he wrote a treatise On the power of the Pope; another On the sacraments; another On the poverty of Christ and the Apostles; another On both powers, papal and royal; another On beatitude. Likewise he wrote quodlibets; likewise a book against Durand in those things in which he dissents from St. Thomas; and separately a book On the unity of forms against the same; and also some books against Henry of Ghent. And he wrote many other philosophical things: On the matter of the heavens; On the eternity of the world; On the will; On second intentions. Lastly he wrote On the Word; On the motion of an Angel; On relations. He died in the year of the Lord 1323.

Francis of Meyronnes. 1320

Francis of Meyronnes, a Scot by nation [as printed; a Provençal], a religious of the Order of St. Francis by profession, a disciple of Scotus, lived in the time of Pope John XXII, in the year of the Lord 1320. He wrote commentaries on the four books of the Master of the sentences; likewise quodlibets; the Formalities; On the first principle; On the exposition of the divine names; and On univocity; all of which were published together at Venice in the years 1520 and [15]56 [“1356” printed]. He wrote besides a Lenten course and Sermons on the saints; likewise On the poverty of Christ and the Apostles; On the virtues and capital vices; On the articles of faith; On Baptism; On humility; On indulgences; On the body of Christ; On the angels; On the suffrages for the dead; On penance; On fasting; On the last judgement; On the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit; all of which were printed long ago at Basel.

William of Ockham. 1320

William of Ockham, an Englishman by nation, of the Order of Minors, a disciple of Scotus and contemporary of Francis of Meyronnes, a learned man, but too ardent a supporter of the emperor Louis the fourth; for which cause he fell into some errors and deserved to have his name put in the index of prohibited books. He wrote on the four books of the Master of the sentences; a book of quodlibets; On the supporters of heretics; On the Sacrament of the altar; a Compendium of Theology; On hierarchical acts; On the entrance of the sciences; On the poverty of the Apostles; On the power of the Pontiffs and emperors; the Work of ninety days, and dialogues; which two works, with others he wrote against John XXII, are forbidden in the index of prohibited books.

Monaldus. 1320

Monaldus of Capodistria, of the Order of Minors, and afterwards Archbishop of Benevento [as printed], wrote a summa of Canon Law which is called golden, and was printed at Lyons in the year of the Lord 1516. He wrote also questions on the four books of the sentences, and sermons. He died in the year of the Lord 1332, crowned with martyrdom among the Saracens, as Antonio Possevino testifies in the Sacred apparatus, volume 2.

Nicholas of Lyra. 1320

Nicholas of Lyra, converted from Judaism to the Christian faith and taking the order of Minors, wrote a Commentary, or postil, on the whole Bible, which work is very well known; and, revised, it was printed at Lyons in the year 1590. He wrote besides a book On the body of Christ; Sermons on the season and on the saints; a book against the Jews; Commentaries on the four books of the sentences; Questions of the old and new Testament; a Treatise On the vision of God; an Exposition of the ten commandments; a Treatise On the fit minister and receiver of the Sacrament of the altar. He is said to have died in the year of the Lord 1359 [1349].

Alvarus Pelagius. 1320

Alvarus Pelagius, a Spaniard by nation, a religious of the Order of Minors, and Bishop of Silves, lived in the time of the Pontiff John XXII, [whose] most ardent defender he was. He wrote a notable work On the lament of the Church; an Apology against William of Ockham; the Mirror of kings; and on the books of the Master of the sentences.

Peter Bertrand. 1320

Peter Bertrand, Bishop of Autun, afterwards Cardinal, a most learned man, disputed on the liberty of the Church against Pierre de Cugnières before Philip King of the Franks in the year 1329; and that disputation is found in volume 4 of the Library of the Holy Fathers. He wrote also a book On the origin and use of Jurisdictions, or On the spiritual and temporal Power. He died in the year 1348, on the 14th [24th] of June.

Nicephorus Gregoras. 1330

Nicephorus Gregoras, a Greek historian, was living in the year of the Lord 1344, as can be understood from the end of his work. He wrote eleven books on the affairs of the eastern empire from the time the eastern empire came into the power of the Latins, and brought the history to the death of Andronicus the younger, that is, from the year of the Lord 1200 [1204] to the year 1344 [1341].

Peter de la Palud. 1330

Peter de la Palud, a Burgundian by nation, of the Order of St. Dominic, Patriarch of Jerusalem, a pious and learned man, is said to have been famous in the year of the Lord 1330; though others make him later, but none place him before the year of the Lord 1400 [as printed; the sense is “after”]. He wrote on the four books of the Master of the sentences; but his Commentaries are not extant, so far as I know, except on the third and fourth book. He wrote also an excellent treatise On the immediate cause of ecclesiastical power. He wrote too sermons on the season, which were published at Antwerp in the year 1572. He is said to have written many other things, which are not extant printed. [In the scan this entry is merged into the column of Nicephorus Gregoras.]

Giovanni Villani. 1330

Giovanni Villani, a Florentine historian, lived in the time of the Pontiff John XXII and his successors Benedict XII and Clement VI, and died in the year 1348. He wrote a universal history of his time quite exactly, though he also lightly touched the earlier times from the building of the tower of Babylon to his own times. And he wrote in the Italian tongue, and brought the whole history, comprised in twelve books, to the year of the Lord 1348. And though his purpose was to write the history of the city of Florence, yet he records many useful things about Church affairs which are found to have been told less faithfully by others.

Guido the Carmelite. 1330

Guido [Terreni], a Catalan by nation, Prior general of the Carmelite Order, and afterwards Bishop of Majorca, wrote a huge volume on all heresies, which is extant printed at Paris. He is said to have written much else, which has not come into my hands. He was famous in the year 1330.

Astesanus of Asti. 1330

Astesanus of Asti wrote a summa of cases of conscience in eight books, which was put into print at Venice. He was living in the year of the Lord 1330.

Adam Wodeham. 1330

Adam Goddam [Wodeham], an Englishman, wrote Commentaries on the four books of the sentences, which were published at Paris in the year 1512. The author was living in the year 1330.

Ludolph the Carthusian. 1330

Landulph, or Ludolph, a Saxon by nation, a Carthusian by profession, a very pious man, wrote the history of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ drawn from the Gospels. He wrote also Commentaries on the Psalms, chiefly according to the spiritual sense. He was famous about the year of the Lord 1330.

Lupold of Bamberg. 1330

Lupold of Bamberg, a learned man, a contemporary of Ludolph the Carthusian, wrote a book On the rights of the empire, in which he mixes in much that is useful for Church history.

De  Petro  Aureolo.  1317. 
Petrus  Aureolus  ordinis  Minorum,  ex  Pro¬ 
vinciali  Aquitaniae,  Archiepiscopus  Aquen- 
sis,  floruit  anno  Dom.  1317.  et  multa  scri¬ 
psisse  dicitur,  sed  commentarium  in  primum 
librum  sententiarum,  idque  solum  Romae 
impressum  vidi,  anno  1596. 
Citantur  multa  ex  Aureolo  apud  Joannem 
Capreolum,  sed  ea  typis  mandata  non  ex¬ 
stant. 
De  Antonio  [Andreae.  1317. 
Antonius  Andreae,  natione  Aragonius , 
Ord.  Sancti  Francisci,  Scoti  discipulus,  scri¬ 
psit  in  quatuor  libros  sententiarum  :  quod 
criptum  editum  est  Venetiis  anno  1578. 
De  Durando  a  Sancto  Portiono.  1320. 
Durandus  a  Sancto  Portiano,  natione  Gal¬ 
lus  ordinis  Praedicatorum,  et  Episcopus 
Meldemis,  Theologus  insignis,  scripsit  in 
quatuor  libros  Magistri  sententiarum  Com¬ 
mentaria  satis  dilucida,  in  quibus  quamvis 
nonnulla  scripserit,  quae  a  communi  Docto¬ 
rum  sententia  abhorrent,  quaedam  etiam  ab 
Ecclesia  improbata  sunt,  ipse  tamen  in  prae¬ 
fatione  commentarii  sui  in  Magistrum,  di¬ 
sertis  verbis  asseruit  ad  Ecclesiam  Catho¬ 
licam  Romanam  pertinere  judicium  de  do¬ 
ctrina,  seque  omnia  sua  scripta  ejusdem 
Ecclesiae  censurae  submittere! 
43 « 
DE  SCRIPTORIBUS  ECCLESIASTICIS 
Scripsit  etiam  librum  egregium  de  origine 
jurisdictionum.  Floruit  circa  annum  Dom. 
1320. 
De  Herveo  Natali.  1320. 
Herveus  Natalis  Brito,  ordinis  Praedicato- 
rum  Magister  generalis,  et  Durandi  aequalis, 
ac  Theologus  doctissimus.  Scripsit  in  Epi¬ 
stolas  Sancti  Pauli,  quod  opus  habetur  inter 
opera  Sancti  Anselmi,  ut  supra  diximus. 
Scripsit  etiam  in  quatuor  libros  Magistri 
sententiarum. 
Item  scripsit  tractatum  de  potestate  Papae. 
Alium  de  sacramentis. 
Alium  de  Christi  et  Apostolorum  pauper¬ 
tate. 
Alium  de  utraque  potestate  Papali,  et  re¬ 
gali. 
Alium  de  beatitudine. 
Item  scripsit  quodlibeta. 
Item  librum  adversus  Durandum,  in  iis, 
in  quibus  a  Sancto  Thoma  dissentit  :• 
Et  seorsum  librum  de  unitate  formarum 
contra  eumdem. 
Nec  non  libros  aliquot  contra  Henricum'a 
Gandavo. 
Et  multa  alia  philosophica  scripsit, 
De  materia  coeli. 
De  aeternitate  mundi, 
De  voluntate, 
De  secundis  intentionibus. 
Denique  scripsit  de  Verbo. 
De  motu  Angeli, 
De  relationibus. 
Obiit  anno  Domini  1323. 
De  F rancisco  Mayrone  1320. 
Franciscus  Mayronis  natione  Scotus  :  pro¬ 
fessione  Religiosus  ordinis  Sancti  Francisci, 
Scoti  discipulus,  vixit  tempore  Joannis  XXII* 
Papae,  anno  Dom.  1320. 
Scripsit  commentaria  in  libros  quatuor 
Magistri  sententiarum. 
Item  quodlibeta. 
Formalitates. 
De  primo  principio. 
De  expositione  divinorum  nominum. 
Et  de  uni  vocatione. 
Quae  omnia  simul  edita  sunt  Venetiis  anno 
1520  et  1356. 
Scripsit  praeterea  Quadragesimale ,  et 
Sermones  de  sanctis. 
Item  de  paupertate  Christi,  et  Apostolo¬ 
rum. 
De  virtutibus,  et  vitiis  capitalibus. 
De  articulis  fidei. 
De  Baptismo. 
De  humilitate. 
De  indulgentiis. 
De  corpore  Christi. 
De  angelis. 
De  suffragiis  defunctorum. 
De  poenitentia. 
De  jejunio. 
De  ultimo  judicio. 
De  septem  donis  Spiritus  sancti. 
Quae  omnia  jam  olim  impressa  fuerunt  Ba- 
sileae. 
De  Gulielmo  Ockam.  1320. 
Gulielmus  Ockam  natione  Anglus,  -ordinis 
Minorum,  Scoti  discipulus,  et  aequalis  Fran¬ 
cisci  Mayronis,  vir  doctus,  sed  fautor  Ludo- 
vici  imperatoris  quarti,  nimis  ardens  ob 
quam  causam  in  aliquos  errores  lapsus  me¬ 
ruit,  ut  in  indice  librorum  prohibitorum  ejus 
nomen  poneretur. 
Scripsit  in  quatuor  libros  Magistri  senten¬ 
tiarum. 
Librum  quodlibetorum. 
De  fautoribus  haereticorum. 
De  Sacramento  altaris. 
Compendium  Theologiae. 
De  actibus  hierarchicis. 
De  ingressu  scientiarum. 
De  paupertate  Apostolorum 
De  potestate  Pontificum,  et  imperatorum. 
Opus  nonaginta  dierum,  et  dialogos,  quae 
duo  opera  cum  aliis  contra  Joannem  XXII. 
scripsit  interdicta  sunt  in  indice  librorum 
prohibitorum. 
De  Monaldo.  1320. 
Monaldus  Damalta  ordinis  Minorum,  et 
postea  Archiepiscopus  Beneventi ,  scripsit 
summam  Juris  canonici,  quae  aurea  dicitur, 
et  impressa  fuit  Lugduni  anno  Dom.  1516. 
Scripsit  etiam  quaestiones  in  quatuor  li¬ 
bros  sententiarum,  et  sermones.  Obiit  anno 
Dom.  1332.  Martyrio  coronatus  apud  Sara¬ 
cenos,  ut  testatur  Antonius  Possevinus  in 
apparatu  sacro,  tomo  secundo. 
457 
AB  ANNO  DOM.  1300.  AD  1400. 
De  Nicolao  Lirano  1320.  De  Petro  Paludano.  1330. 
Nicolaus  Liranus  ex  Judaismo  conversus 
ad  fidem  Christianam,  et  ordine  Minorum 
assumpto,  scripsit  Commentarium,  sive  po- 
stillam  in  universa  Biblia  :  quod  opus  no¬ 
tissimum  est ;  et  recognitum  impressum  est 
Lugduni  anno  1590. 
Scripsit  praeterea  librum  de  corpore  Chri¬ 
sti. 
Sermones  de  tempore,  et  de  sanctis. 
Librum  contra  Judaeos. 
Commentaria  in  quatuor  libros  sententia¬ 
rum. 
Quaestiones  veteris  et  novi  Testamenti. 
Tractatum  de  visione  Dei. 
Expositionem  decem  praeceptorum. 
Tractatum  de  idoneo  ministrante,  et  su¬ 
scipiente  Sacramentum  altaris.  Obiisse  di¬ 
citur  anno  Dom.  1359. 
De  Pelagio  Alvaro.  1320. 
Pelagius  Alvarus,  natione  Hispanus,  reli¬ 
giosus  Ordinis  Minorum,  et  Episcopus  Syl- 
vensis,  vixit  tempore  Joannis  XXII  Pontifi¬ 
cis  defensor  acerrimus  fuit. 
Scripsit  insigne  opus  de  planctu  Ecclesiae. 
Apologiam  contra  Gulielmum  Ockam. 
Speculum  regum. 
Et  in  libros*  Magistri  sententiarum. 
De  Petro  Bertrando.  1  20. 
Petrus  Bertrandus  Episcopus  Edvensis, 
postea  Cardinalis,  vir  doctissimus,  disputa¬ 
vit  de  libertate  Ecclesiae  contra  Petrum  de 
Cugnet,  coram  Philippo  rege  Francorum, 
anno  1329,  et  ea  disputatio  habetur  tomo  iv. 
bibliothecae  SS.  Patrum.  Scripsit  etiam  li¬ 
brum  de  origine  et  usu  Jurisdictionum,  sive 
de  spirituali  et  temporali  Potestate.  Obiit 
anno  1348,  14.  Junii. 
De  Nicephoro  Gregora.  1330. 
Nicephorus  Gregoras,  historicus  Graecus, 
vivebat  anno  Domini  1344.  ut  ex  fine  operis 
illius  intelligi  potest. 
Scripsit  libros  undecim  de  rebus  imperii 
orientalis  ab  eo  tempore  quo  imperium  orien¬ 
tale  devenit  in  potestatem  Latinorum,  et 
perduxit  historiam  usque  ad  obitum  Andro¬ 
nici  junioris,  id  est,  ab  anno  Dom.  1200. 
usque  ad  annum  1344, 
Petrus  Paludanus  natione  Burgundus  Ord. 
Sancti  Dominici,  Patriarcha  Hierosolymita¬ 
nus,  vir  pius,  et  doctus,  claruisse  dicitur 
anno  Dom.  1330.;  tametsi  alii  eum  posterio¬ 
rem  faciant,  sed  nulli  eum  collocant  ante 
annumDom.  1400. 
Scripsit  in  quatuor  libros  Magistri  sen¬ 
tentiarum,  sed  non  exstant,  quod  sciam, 
Commentaria  ejus,  nisi  in  tertium  et  quar¬ 
tum  librum. 
Scripsit  etiam  tractatum  egregium  de 
causa  immediata  Ecclesiasticae  potestatis. 
Scripsit  quoque  sermones  de  tempore,  qui 
editi  sunt  Antwerpiae  anno  1572.  multa  alia 
scripsisse  fertur,  quae  non  exstant  typis  ex¬ 
cusa. 
De  Joanne  Villano  1330. 
Joannes  Villanus  historicus  Florentinus, 
vixit  tempore  Joannis  XXII  Pontificis,  et 
successorum  ejus  Benedicti  XII.  et  Clemen¬ 
tis  YI.  et  obiit  anno  1348. 
Scripsit  historiam  universalem  temporis 
sui  satis  accurate,  quamvis  etiam  leviter  at¬ 
tigerit  priora  tempora  ab  erectione  turris 
Babyloniae,  usque  ad  sua  tempora. 
Scripsit  autem  idiomate  Italico,  et  totam 
historiam  libris  duodecim  comprehensam 
perduxit  ad  annum  Dom.  1348. 
Quamvis  autem  propositum  ejus  fuerit 
scribere  historiam  civitatis  Florentiae  :  ta¬ 
men  multa  commemorat  utilia  de  rebus  Ec¬ 
clesiasticis,  quae  ab  aliis  minus  fideliter  nar¬ 
rata  fuisse  inveniuntur.  ' 
De  Guidone  Carmelita.  1330. 
Guido  natione  Catalanus,  Prior  generalis 
Ordinis  Carmelitani,  ac  postea  Episcopus 
Majoricensis,  scripsit  ingens  volumen  de 
omnibus  haeresibus  :  quod  exstat  impressum 
Parisiis.  Multa  alia  scripsisse  fertur,  quae  ad 
manus  meas  non  pervenerunt.  Claruit  anno 
1330. 
De  Astesano  Astensi.  1330. 
Astesanus  Astensis  scripsit  summam  ca¬ 
suum  conscientiae  libris  octo,  quae  typis, 
mandata  fuit  Yenetiis.  Vivebat  anno  Dom. 
1330. 
458 
DE  SCRIPTORIBUS  ECCLESIASTICIS 
De  Adamo  Goddam.  1330. 
Adamus  Goddaraus,  Anglus,  scripsit  Com¬ 
mentaria  in  quatuor  libros  sententiarum, 
quse  edita  fuerunt  Parisiis  anno  1512.  Vive¬ 
bat  auctor  anno  1330. 
De  Landulpho  Carthusiano.  1330. 
Landulphus,  sive  Ludolphus  natione  Sa¬ 
xo,  professione  Carthusianus.  vir  valde  pius, 
scripsit  historiam  vitee  Domini  nostri  Jesu 
Christi  ex  Evangeliis  depromptam.  Scripsit 
etiam  Commentaria  in  Psalmos,  juxta  sen¬ 
sum  praecipue  spiritualem,  claruit  circa  an¬ 
num  Dom.  1330. 
De  Lupoldo  Bambergensi.  1330. 
Lupoldus  Bambergensis,  vir  eruditus,  ae¬ 
qualis  Landulpbi  Carthusiani,  scripsit  li¬ 
brum  de  juribus  imperii,  in  quo  multa  ad¬ 
miscet  ad  historiam  Ecclesiasticam  utilia.