INTRODUCTION

references to the Sins original: "Peccata" or Remedies of Study original: "Remedia Studii" are in the future (Brewer, chapters 24, 25, 64). It seems probable further that these chapters on music existed as a separate treatise in the sixteenth century, and as such were known to Bale.¹ John Bale (1495–1563) was an English friar and historian who compiled a major list of British writers.

(2) The explanation of the second difficulty is suggested by the heading of the new fragment in the Tanner MS. "In the Opus Tertium The "Third Work." Roger Bacon speaks as follows: but what is here written as far as the Perspective The medieval science of optics. is not in the Opus Majus The "Greater Work.", but is contained at greater length in the Opus Secundum The "Second Work," likely another name for the Opus Minus. and otherwise explained." More accurate and more authoritative are the statements found in the fragment itself (p. 18 below): "The points which I have just touched on concerning the places of the world and the alterations of places and things by celestial bodies, and concerning forecasts original: "judiciis" and secret works, I did not put them all in the Opus Majus, but only the part concerning places. The others I put in the Opus Minus The "Lesser Work," written to summarize and supplement the Opus Majus., when I came to expound the intention of that part of the Opus Majus. For I did not propose to treat more subjects at this point in the Opus Majus, wishing to be quick in accordance with the command of your Holiness." This refers to Pope Clement IV, who requested Bacon's works.

It is clear from this that the treatise on Astrology which follows the Geography original: "Geographia" was not part of the Opus Majus but has been inserted and adapted from the Opus Minus. The treatise is found in the Digby MS.² of the Opus Majus and its derivatives. In Royal 7 F. vii., a note is added that the treatise On Astrology original: "De Astrologia" ought to be inserted after the Geography. It is not found in the Vatican MS. nor in Cotton Tib. C. V.

In his summary of the Opus Minus (p. 77 below) Bacon says: "Then, in enumerating the parts of the Opus Majus, I have inserted in the part on Mathematics many things touching the knowledge of celestial bodies, in themselves and in relation to things below which are generated by their virtues, in different regions and (in the same region) at different times; and this is

¹ Bale's Catalogue of British Writers original: "Index Brit. Scriptorum" (edited by Poole), p. 395: On the value of music original: "De valitudine musices", book 1: "According to Boethius and other authors of music" original: "Secundum Boetium et ceteros autores musices". See Op. Tert. (Brewer), p. 296.

² The Digby MS. (No. 235) has at the end of the Geography. "The fourth part of the greater work ends" original: "Finitur quarta pars majoris operis", and then goes on to the astrological treatise.