By 1303 he was a licensed doctor of theology at Paris,[1] being then listed among the few foreign masters who sided with Philip IV, king of France, in his dispute with Pope Boniface VIII.
Alnwick's manuscript marginalia show that he was part of the contemporary debate which spread all over Europe, and which included the ideas of men such as Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure, Henry of Ghent, Peter Auriol, James of Ascoli, Godfrey of Fontaines, Henry Harclay and Thomas Wilton.
But although Alnwick based his philosophy and theology on the fundamental starting points of Scotus's teaching, he diverged from his colleague when he disagreed.
Alnwick participated in the general chapter of the Franciscan order held at Perugia in 1322, where he joined the theologians who drew up and signed the decree De paupertate Christi attacking the position on the poverty of the church as promulgated by Pope John XXII.
This opposition to the papal position caused John to initiate proceedings against Alnwick, who fled to Naples, where King Robert protected him.