Previously Unpublished Works, Fascicle 1

to the hypothesis, for Bacon’s term for the four main divisions is volume original: "volumen" (extract 23). We should then complete volume 4 of the Great Work original: "Magnum Opus" by a passage making the change into Moral Philosophy in the way indicated in the early chapters of Part 7 of the Major Work original: "Opus Majus".

Bacon’s persistent habit of using his material two or three times over is illustrated in this work. I add a list of these coincidences. The reference is only to passages on the pages cited, sometimes not of great length: pages 1, 2, 3 coincide with the Third Work original: "Opus Tertium" pages 9, 11, 12 and the Introduction published by Dr. Gasquet (pages 498, 499); page 3 with the Major Work original: "Opus Majus" volume 2, page 255; page 8 with volume 2, page 229 and following; page 9 with the Third Work original: "Opus Tertium" page 49 and the Major Work original: "Opus Majus" volume 2, page 233; pages 12, 13 with volume 2, pages 235-6; pages 16, 17 with volume 2, pages 241-2; pages 18, 19, 20 with volume 2, pages 258, 259, 260-3; page 23 with volume 2, page 251; pages 24-28 with volume 2, pages 246-52; pages 29-35 with volume 2, pages 267-75; page 42 with volume 3, page 74; pages 42-52 with volume 1, pages 254-67. A study of the changes made is interesting.

The manuscript from which this fragment is taken is in the National Library of France original: "Bibliothèque Nationale", Latin folio 7440. The page measures 257 by 184 millimeters, of which the writing occupies 193 by 125 millimeters. It is written in double columns of 51 lines each. The title is in a later hand; the running title is Metaphysics of Roger original: "Methã Rogĩ", a medieval abbreviation for Metaphysica Rogeri. It follows the "Aphorisms of John on the Judgments of the Stars" original: "Afforisimi Iohannis, de astrorum judiciis" without any break in the column. The tract has been separated in the binding, running from folio 38b to 40b, and continued at folio 25a to 32b. I have tried to reproduce the spelling of the manuscript, with the exception of the letters j and v, for which the scribes had no distinct forms Paleography: The study of ancient and medieval handwriting. In this period, "i" and "j" were often interchangeable, as were "u" and "v".. The distinction between t and c is not made, and I have leaned towards the use of c. I had at first written out the tract in the conventional form, but I do not think the spelling of medieval scribes will cause more than a few minutes’ inconvenience to readers. In a few cases the grammar of the scribe has failed him; these have not been altered.

If the present publication pays for paper and printing, I propose to follow it up by the General Principles of Natural Philosophy original: "Communia Naturalium" from the Mazarin manuscript 3576 compared with the British Museum manuscript 7. F. vii as far as it goes, and with Digby 70 and 76, and by the fragments of the General Principles of Mathematics original: "Communia Mathematica". I have copied the Ambrosian manuscript R. 47. sup (which formerly belonged to Pinelli) of the book On Music original: "De Musica" attributed to Bacon, but I do not believe it to be his. The printing of the other two works would give us much information as to the points in discussion at his time, and fill many blanks in our knowledge.

I have to acknowledge with thanks aid from Mr. Halliday Sparling (in photographing the manuscript), Mr. Hehner, and Mr. Bickley. A photograph of the manuscript has been deposited in the Manuscript Department of the British Museum.