PREFACE

The publication of this series was interrupted by the war. This volume has been placed out of its intended order for several reasons. These include the great importance of the text on which Bacon comments and its significant influence on his entire body of work. Students of the Middle Ages will be glad to learn that the publication of all Bacon’s work now seems certain.

As before, I must acknowledge the helpful assistance of medieval scholars. Among them are Professor A. G. Little, Mr. J. P. Gilson, Dr. Cowley, and Dr. Henry Bradley. I thank the Librarian of the Grand-Ducal Library of Saxe-Gotha, who sent two Arabic manuscripts of the Secretum Secretorum Latin: "Secret of Secrets," a popular medieval book of advice for rulers. for study. These were returned to him safely. I also thank Mrs. Henry Dakyns. Many years ago, she copied and prepared the text of Le Secre de Secrez Old French: "The Secret of Secrets." for a different project. Finally, I thank the 1914 Bacon Commemoration Committee for their help with this volume, along with those mentioned in the Introduction.