6 - DE SUBTRACTIONE OBEDIENTIE II

Summary

The rejection by the University of Oxford of the Parisian proposals regarding the via cessionis had been received at a critical stage of the debates within France itself. Preparations had been in hand since April 1396 for the second national council of the French church, although the assembly did not actually begin until August. The official Parisian line, revealed by Pierre Plaoul in his speech of 29 August, had by then hardened into a demand for total subtraction of obedience from Benedict XIII. But the Parisians were divided, with Pierre d'Ailly appearing as a supporter of a council of the obedience. The conflict with the University of Toulouse appeared again during the proceedings of the council, with Sancho Mulier and Pierre Ravat appearing among Benedict's defenders against the attacks of the Parisians.

The outcome of this council was a reaffirmation of the policy of subtraction of obedience, although its implementation was to be delayed until Benedict had been given another chance to accept the via cessionis. The Parisian masters were naturally disappointed at this result, but the university's policy was encountering considerable national and international opposition: even Castile issued a formal rejection of cession early in 1397. There was also dissension within the university itself, those involved including Jean Gerson. His tract, De schismate, vel de papatu contendentibus incorporated a spirited rejection of most of the university's proposals in favour of Benedict's own suggestion of the via discussionis.