preached before the king on the same acon joined the order of preaching and died in 1248, whence the story Roger died in that year. (Biogr. Biblioth. Britan. Hibern. ;' Wood, 1.')

s born near Ilchester, in Somersetle family. He was educated at Oxto the usual custom of his day, proich was then the first university in the of study in vogue, however unfavoure of thought, did not give so great a the works of Aristotle as was afterde theology of the day had set strongly of every species. In 1209 a council d and burnt, if not the works of Arisutilated and interpolated translations ich then existed. But when, towards entury, Latin versions from the Greek nd the philosophy contained in them ated by the new orders of Franciscans and particularly by Albertus Magnus reputation of Aristotle advanced so ad gained the exclusive title of "the e time Roger Bacon wrote his 'Opus on in no sense became an Aristotelian, ch comprehends all who are acquainted and methods of the Greek philosopher. ne original than most of his contemporiticises all he meets with (especially translations, which he says he would d), and is himself an early and sufat the absurdities of his successors called " Aristotelian," any more than

"the Philosopher." Bacon could ithout danger of falling into idolatry: could have erected a system of verbal the Principia of Newton, if they had

rn to Oxford, with a doctor's degree

6

in French, Par., 1612, 8vo.; also in French, by Girard, Par., 1557 and 1629; in vol. v. of Zetzner's Theatrum Chemicum,' Argent., 1622, 8vo., and 1659 (?); in English, by T. M., Lond., 1659, 12mo.

2. Perspectiva,' 'Specula Mathematica,' and ' De Speculis Ustoriis,' Francof., 1614, 4to., whether as one book or three we do not know; the Perspectiva' was reprinted in 1671, also at Frankfort.

3. 'De Retardatione Senectutis,' Oxon., 1590,"8vo.; translated, 'The Cure of Old Age,' by R. Browne, M.D., Lond., 1683, 12mo.

4. De Secretis Operibus Artis et Naturæ,' Hamb., 1618, 8vo., edited by John Dee.

5. The Thesaurus Chemicus,' Franckfort, 1603 and 1620, 8vo. (?) contains the 'Specula Mathematica,' the 'Speculum Alchymiæ,' and some other tracts, which Tanner puts down altogether as 'Scripta sanioris medecinæ in arte chemiæ.'

6

6. Speculum Alchymiæ,' Norimb., 1581, 4to. ;Basil., 1561, 4to.; Ursellis, 1602, 8vo. ; in English, in Collectanea Chymica,' Lond., 1684, 8vo.; also* in English, Lond., 1597, 4to.

7. Practica Magistri Rogerii,' Venet., 1513 and 1519.

8. 'Epistolas Notis illustratas' (we take the title from Tanner), Hamb., 1618, 8vo.

9. Fratris Rogeri Bacon, Ordinis Minorum, Opus Majus, ad Clementem IV. Pontif. Rom.,' Londini, 1733, fol. By Dr. Jebb.

The little that is known of the greatest of English philosophers before the time of his celebrated namesake, shows how long the effects of contemporary malice might last, before the invention of printing had made an appeal to posterity easy. His writings, destroyed or overlooked, only existed in manuscript or mutilated printed versions, till nearly the middle of the last century. In the mean time tradition framed his character on the vulgar notions entertained in his day of the results of experimental

These two are in the same book.