In order to train candidates in this art, university and college teachers gave frequent exhibitions of disputations, which from being on any subject, de quolibet, were styled ‘quodlibeticae questiones’, or ‘disputationes’.  A high dignitary presided, with the title of ‘dominus quodlibetarius’, and propounded questions, usually one supported by arguments and two plain; and then the disputer, who presumably came prepared, delivered his reply, clear cut into fine distinctions and bristling with citations from recognized authorities.  Such work necessarily cost trouble and forethought, and the hard-working teacher of the day, instead of printing his lectures on philosophy or history or editing and commentating texts, gave to his pupils in permanent form the quodlibetical disputations which the busy among them had struggled to copy down into note-books, and over which the inattentive, like Erasmus, had yawned.

These are some of the subjects disputed at Louvain, 1488-1507, by Adrian of Utrecht; first as a young doctor, then as professor of theology, and finally for ten years as vice-chancellor, before he was carried away to become tutor to Prince Charles, and entered upon the public career which led him finally to Rome as Adrian VI.

     1488.  Whether to avoid offending one’s neighbour it is
     permissible to break a vow or oath duly made.

     1491.  Whether one is bound to act on the command of a superior,
     contrary to one’s own opinion, knowing that in former days the
     matter had been regarded as doubtful.

     1492.  Whether it is lawful to administer the Eucharist or to
     confer the benefit of absolution on one who declares that he
     cannot abstain from crimes.

     1493.  Whether of the two is more likely to be healed and
     offends God the less, the man who sins from ignorance or
     infirmity, or the man who sins of deliberate intent.

     1495.  Whether a priest who gives advice that tithes ought not
     to be paid on the fruits of one’s own labours, can receive
     remission of his sin without undergoing severe punishment.

     Whether transgression of human laws constitutes mortal sin.

     1499.  Whether prayer on behalf of many is as beneficial to the
     individuals as if one prayed as long a time for each one.

     1491. ? 1501 Whether it is permissible to give money to any
     one to procure one a benefice by praising one’s dignity and
     merits to the provisor to the benefice.

Here are some of John Briard of Ath, a notable theologian, who was subsequently Vice-chancellor of Louvain: 

     1508.  Whether a man who has confessed all his mortal sins but
     has omitted his voluntary occasions of stumbling, is bound to
     confess over again.

     Whether we are bound by the law of love to deliver a neighbour,
     against his will, from oppression, infamy, or death, when we
     cannot do so without hurt or danger to ourselves.