William of Pagula
Encyclopedia
William of Pagula also known as William Paull or William Poull, was a 14th-century English canon lawyer and theologian best known for his written works, particularly his manual for priests entitled the Oculus Sacerdotis
. Pagula was made the perpetual vicar of the church at Winkfield
on 5 March 1314, although he neglected his parish for several years to pursue a doctorate in Canon Law from the University of Oxford
. After this was granted (probably around 1320) he returned to work with his parish, and his writings are written from the perspective of someone familiar with the job of a rural priest.
As well as the Oculus Sacerdotis, Pagula also wrote the Summa Summarum, a manual of canon law, and the Summa Praelatorum, a "source book" for local parish priests. He has also been linked to two speculua principum addressed to Edward III
, which defend the right of royal subjects to refuse purveyance
. His writings, particularly the Oculus Sacerdotis, were well received, and the Oculus has been described as the best and most influential of early modern ecclesiastical manuals.
in Yorkshire
, and after being confirmed as the parish priest of Winkfield
on 5 March 1314 he was ordained
on 1 June by Walter Reynolds
at Canterbury Cathedral
. On 8 March 1322 he was made penitentiary for the deanery
surrounding Reading, and in 1323 a canon
of Old St Paul's Cathedral
. He died some time in 1332.
. Its scope was greater than Durand's works – it gave answers, not just questions, and took into account Magna Carta
and English provincial differences that Durand (as a French writer) would not have included. The book was circulated widely, and although it is over 650 years old at least thirteen copies are known to have survived.
The Oculus Sacerdotis
was a manual for priests, and probably Pagula's most famous work. The book is divided into three volumes and covers practices in the confessional, sacramental theology and preaching. William drew extensively on the florilegium
Manipulus flori by Thomas of Ireland
. The volumes were completed by 1326 and have been described as "deep, all-encompasing and quite encyclopedic". The book was edited and republished in 1358 by John de Burgh as the pupilla oculi, and the section of the book dealing with the confessional was in use until the late Middle Ages
.
Oculus Sacerdotis
The Oculus Sacerdotis was a 14th-century book by William of Pagula. Divided into three volumes written between 1320 and 1326, the book sought to be a comprehensive manual for parish priests, and covered the confessional, sacramental theology and preaching...
. Pagula was made the perpetual vicar of the church at Winkfield
Winkfield
Winkfield is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest unitary authority of Berkshire, England.-Geography:According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 15,271...
on 5 March 1314, although he neglected his parish for several years to pursue a doctorate in Canon Law from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. After this was granted (probably around 1320) he returned to work with his parish, and his writings are written from the perspective of someone familiar with the job of a rural priest.
As well as the Oculus Sacerdotis, Pagula also wrote the Summa Summarum, a manual of canon law, and the Summa Praelatorum, a "source book" for local parish priests. He has also been linked to two speculua principum addressed to Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
, which defend the right of royal subjects to refuse purveyance
Purveyance
Purveyance is the right of the Crown to requisition goods and services for royal use, and was developed in England over the course of the late eleventh through the fourteenth centuries. In theory, the king's prerogative allowed him to collect goods needed for both household and military use, but...
. His writings, particularly the Oculus Sacerdotis, were well received, and the Oculus has been described as the best and most influential of early modern ecclesiastical manuals.
Life
Pagula was probably born near PaullPaull
Paull is a village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England lying on the north bank of the Humber Estuary, in an area known as Holderness...
in Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
, and after being confirmed as the parish priest of Winkfield
Winkfield
Winkfield is a village and civil parish in the Bracknell Forest unitary authority of Berkshire, England.-Geography:According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 15,271...
on 5 March 1314 he was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
on 1 June by Walter Reynolds
Walter Reynolds
Walter Reynolds was Bishop of Worcester and then Archbishop of Canterbury as well as Lord High Treasurer and Lord Chancellor.-Life:...
at Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury Cathedral in Canterbury, Kent, is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site....
. On 8 March 1322 he was made penitentiary for the deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
surrounding Reading, and in 1323 a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Old St Paul's Cathedral
Old St Paul's Cathedral
Old St Paul's Cathedral is a name used to refer to the medieval cathedral of the City of London which until 1666 stood on the site of the present St Paul's Cathedral. Built between 1087 and 1314 and dedicated to St Paul, the cathedral was the fourth church on the site at Ludgate Hill...
. He died some time in 1332.
Writings
His books were all written in the 1320s after his appointment as a Doctor of Canon Law. The first was the Summa Summarum, a 350,000-word manual of canon law and theology in five volumes, written between 1319 and 1322. The first book deals with sources of authority such as judges, the second with legal procedure, the third with the clergy, the fourth with marriage and the fifth with criminal offences. This anonymously published manual was a compilation and distillation of the works of other writers, particularly Guillaume DurandGuillaume Durand
Guillaume Durand, or William Durand, , also known as Durandus, Duranti or Durantis, from the Italian form of Durandi filius, as he sometimes signed himself, was a French canonist and liturgical writer, and Bishop of Mende.-Life:He was born at Puimisson, near Béziers, of a noble family of Languedoc...
. Its scope was greater than Durand's works – it gave answers, not just questions, and took into account Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
and English provincial differences that Durand (as a French writer) would not have included. The book was circulated widely, and although it is over 650 years old at least thirteen copies are known to have survived.
The Oculus Sacerdotis
Oculus Sacerdotis
The Oculus Sacerdotis was a 14th-century book by William of Pagula. Divided into three volumes written between 1320 and 1326, the book sought to be a comprehensive manual for parish priests, and covered the confessional, sacramental theology and preaching...
was a manual for priests, and probably Pagula's most famous work. The book is divided into three volumes and covers practices in the confessional, sacramental theology and preaching. William drew extensively on the florilegium
Florilegium
In medieval Latin a florilegium was a compilation of excerpts from other writings. The word is formed the Latin flos and legere : literally a gathering of flowers, or collection of fine extracts from the body of a larger work. It was adapted from the Greek anthologia "anthology", with the same...
Manipulus flori by Thomas of Ireland
Thomas of Ireland
Thomas of Ireland , known as Thomas Hibernicus, not to be confused with the Franciscan friar Thomas de Hibernia , was an Irish writer...
. The volumes were completed by 1326 and have been described as "deep, all-encompasing and quite encyclopedic". The book was edited and republished in 1358 by John de Burgh as the pupilla oculi, and the section of the book dealing with the confessional was in use until the late Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.