William of Ockham

On Franciscan Poverty

Introduction by John Longeway

Ockham says: "It has been shown that clergymen, even concerning the goods of the church, were understood in their own just war with the king to be bestowed the help of government aid.  Now it must be shown that they are obligated to do this not by some hindering papal statute, not by prohibition or precept, not by opinion or advancement, even if it actually arose from the highest priest.  To the clearness of which fact it must be understood that the pope does not regularly have power over temporary things, especially very abundant things, collected by kings and others faithful to the church, by divine right, but only by human right, if by giving beyond the things given they concede some power to him; and by consequence, however much power the greater kings of England or one greater than them gave to the pope beyond the ecclesiastical goods that they conferred on the churches, he has that much and nothing more.  This can be proven in many ways.  For, just as it was shown before in chapter 7, clergymen do not possess worldly things, especially very abundant things, by divine right, but only by human right, that which is the right of a ruler and of kings; therefore the pope does not regularly have power beyond temporary things given to Anglican churches unless by the right of kings; therefore, however much kings give him, he has that much and nothing more."

Original Latin