xv

INTRODUCTION

from the Winchester manuscript and so to represent an independent tradition. But the manuscript, even apart from its late date, is not of much value: the scribe is so much interested in alchemy that he sees "Macedonian Elixir" original: "Elixir macedonicus" in Alexander of Macedon.

The colophon appended to our fragment in the Winchester manuscript at once attracts attention: "The second work of brother Roger Bacon is finished" original: "ffinitur 2m opus fratris Rogeri Bacon". There is no doubt that this is a mistake. Such phrases as "now in this Third Work I wish to draw figures" original: "nunc in hoc Opere Tertio volo figuras protrahere," together with the references to the Lesser Work original: "Opus Minus" and the fact that the treatise includes a summary of the Lesser Work, prove that we have to do with a fragment of the Third Work original: "Opus Tertium". But "Second Work" original: "2m Opus" is not a slip of the pen for "Third Work" original: "3m Opus". For on the next page, folio 199, which is not the beginning of a new quire, the same scribe who wrote the treatise which he calls "Second Work" proceeds: "The Third Work of brother Roger Bacon. To the most holy father" original: "Opus 3m fratris Rogeri Bacon. Sanctissimo patri," etc. as in Brewer's edition. The mistake emphasizes the fact that the Third Work had already been split into two parts and that the connection between them had been forgotten.

The next question to be answered is: Does the newly discovered fragment fit on immediately to the end of the fragment printed by Brewer? That fragment ends with the discussion of the usefulness of mathematics in divine matters original: "in divinis", with special reference to astrology, the correction of the calendar, and music. The new fragment begins with the relation of mathematics to the affairs of the world, discussing first the influence of celestial bodies on things below "both in natural matters and in matters of the will" original: "tam in naturalibus quam in voluntariis," and then, very briefly, the value of a knowledge of geography.

The Great Work original: "Opus Majus" treats of the usefulness of mathematics in divine matters original: "in divinis" (Bridges I., 175), with special reference to astrology (p. 238) and the correction of the Calendar (p. 269). It then goes on to the usefulness of mathematics to the affairs of this world (p. 286); this section consists mainly of a treatise on