PIMS Scholar Identifies a Piece of English History
James Carley, Associate Fellow at the Institute, has been featured in a recent article in The Guardian. While visiting the library at Lanhydrock in Cornwall, Carley discovered a book that he identified as having belonged to King Henry VIII.
The book summarizes the views of William of Ockham on the limits of papal authority and the independence of secular monarchs, and thus provides legal and philosophical support for the king's campaign to have his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled. Several of the book’s passages, those most relevant to Henry’s policies in the years leading up to the break with Rome, are marked for his attention.
The discovery has been reported widely in the British press, including articles in The Daily Mail and The Times (London) as well as The Guardian. Our warm congratulations to James!