The Greek Grammar of Roger Bacon

Hugutio, Papias, Brito, Neckham.

On the other hand, Bacon gives free vent to the contempt he felt for a certain class of scholars. These men enjoyed great reputations in their time, but in Bacon's estimation, they were incapable in every respect. Hugutio, Papias, Brito, and all of that kind original: "et hoc genus omne" are everywhere treated in a very dismissive manner. "Hugutio and Brito err horribly," original: "Hugutio et Brito errant horribiliter" he writes in the Compendium of the Study of Philosophy Comp. Stud. Phil. vii. p. 460. He calls Brito a liar original: "Brito mendax" in the same work. He further states: "Papias, Hugutio, and Brito are liars, and the Latin public is oppressed by their falsehoods." original: "Papias et Hugutio et Brito mendaces, quorum mendaciis vulgus opprimitur Latinorum," etc. (ibid. 447). He also argues: "Since Brito holds one meaning only and Papias another, and others do the same, without distinguishing between their different writings or explaining what is true or false here, it is manifest that they are thoroughly flawed." original: "Cum igitur Brito tenet unum sensum tantum et Papias alium, et alii similiter, non distinguentes de scriptura istorum diversa, nec exponentes quid veri vel quid falsi sit hic, manifestum est eos penitus vitiosos" (Comp. Stud. Phil. vii. p. 459).

And in our grammar we read: "I do not accept Hugutio or Papias except where others confirm them. They are erroneous in many things because they did not know Greek. I do not wish to follow Brito in any way in his treatise on grammatical vowels. He errs everywhere, says doubtful or vain things, and fails to provide legitimate proofs. He remains stubborn in the foolishness of his own head." original: "Hugutionem vero et Papiam non recipio nisi ubi alii confirmant eos, quia in pluribus erronei sunt, quia nescierunt Graecum. Et Britonem in tractatu suo de vocalibus grammaticis nolo sequi in aliquo, quia ubique errat, vel dubia dicit, vel vana, vel probationes legitimas non affert sui capitis stultitia obstinatus" (p. 37). Bacon continues: "Hence almost everything that Hugutio, Brito, and many others say here is false; but Bede teaches the truth." original: "Unde fere omnia quae dicunt hic Hugutio et Brito et alii multi falsa sunt...sed Beda veritatem docet..." (p. 92). He also claims: "Therefore Hugutio the liar and Brito the greater liar tell lies when they wish to excuse all authors through poetic license." original: "Et ideo Hugutio mendax et Brito mendacior mentiuntur quando volunt excusare omnes autores per licentiam poetriae" (p. 98). These examples could be multiplied. Those given here are enough to support the idea that Bacon wrote this grammar.

Bacon refers to Alexander Neckham in the Compendium of the Study of Philosophy in the following terms: "But Brito does not prove this except by bringing in Alexander Neckham as a witness, who was like him in falsehoods." He also writes: "Brito therefore errs with his Alexander Neckham. This Alexander wrote many true and useful things in many places. However, he cannot and should not be numbered among authoritative authors by any just title." original: "Sed non probat (Brito) hoc nisi quod inducit Alexandrum Necquam pro testimonio, qui fuit similis ei in falsitatibus"; and (p. 457): "Errat igitur Brito cum suo Alexandro Necquam. Hic Alexander in multis vera et utilia scripsit, sed tamen inter auctores non potest, non debet, justo titulo numerari";