perplexed by fine-drawn interpretations (this is the account
of an enemy), the utterances to which he had publicly
committed himself at Poitiers.[1] At Paris however denial was not sufficient, a Adam of the Petit Pont, a practised logician who was specially noted b for the petty
jealousy of his temper, and Hugh of Champfleury,
wards chancellor to the king of France and bishop of
Soissons, came forward to declare the accuracy of the
indictment against Gilbert, a The latter on his side called
witnesses, once his scholars, now fellow-bishops. He was
confident in his orthodoxy, and overpowered the council
by the subtilty of his distinctions. The judges demanded
evidence which he could not traverse, his own book on
Boethius; but it was not to be found. Gilbert had it
not with him, and his disciples thought it safer not to
surrender it to the uncertain scrutiny of the council. Some
extracts were however obtained, and Gilbert was con
fronted with them; but to no purpose. The pope declared himself baffied. Gilbert s explanations were so
unsatisfactory, so violent, Geoffrey says, that it was deemed
advisable to adjourn the council to a fresh meeting to be
held at Rheims in the following year. Meanwhile Gottschalk, abbat of Saint Eloy, was entrusted with the extracts,
which he was to furnish with annotations for future use ;
and Gilbert was enjoined to attend on the occasion named
with his Commentary for examination.
At Rheims Bernard’s friends assembled in greater force. Robert of Melun, Peter the Lombard, and other leaders Hist. pout. of the schools of the day[2] were there as advocates for the prosecution. But opinion was as much divided in respect of their motives as of the subject-matter of the charge.
- ↑ Elegit autera negarc omnia, etiam quae Pictavis in synodo sua manifesto arguebatur fuisse con- fessus. Inter negandum tamon anfractuosis quibusdam, more suo, verborum cavillationibus uteba- tur : Gaufr. Libell. contra capitula Gilleberti, Bern. Opp. 2. 1325 A, B.
- ↑ John’s list, some of the other names in which I have added below, p. 105, is supplemented by the enumeration taken from a manuscript of Ottoboni in Mabillon, Annales O.S.B. 6. 435. This includes names like Walter of Mortagne, Theodoric of Chartres, and again Adam of the Petit Pont.
