Opus Majus of Roger Bacon, Vol. I (Bridges ed.)

PREFACE.

Principale Principal Writing projected by Bacon, but only in part executed. On these points, and on the bibliography of Bacon generally, Mr. Little's Grey Friars in Oxford is of great value. Other works consulted will be noted as reference is made to them. Attention, however, may be specially called to Govi's recent edition of the Latin translation of Ptolemy's Optica Optics, so frequently used by Bacon (Turin, 1885), a publication of the greatest value for the history of science; and to Heiberg's edition of Euclid's Optica (vol. vii. of his edition of Euclid, Leipsic, 1895). Wuestenfeld's Geschichte der Arabischen Aerzte History of Arabian Physicians (Göttingen, 1840), and Cantor's Geschichte der Mathematik History of Mathematics (Leipsic, 1880–1892), throw light on the mediaeval men of science, Eastern or Western, mentioned by Bacon. Hauréau's Histoire de la Philosophie Scolastique History of Scholastic Philosophy (Paris, 1872) defines, with some acerbity, Bacon's position among the schoolmen. Jourdain's Recherches critiques sur les traductions latines d'Aristote Critical Researches on the Latin Translations of Aristotle (new edition, 1843) contain indispensable information as to the translators of whose shortcomings Bacon so often complains.

For the geographical section of the work, in addition to the classical works of Yule and Bunbury, frequent reference is made to the complete version of the travels of Rubruquis and Carpini, published by the Paris Geographical Society, in the fourth volume of their Recueil de Voyages et de Mémoires Collection of Voyages and Memoirs (1839).

As Seneca occupies so large a place in the seventh section of the Opus Majus, it may be mentioned that the edition used for this work is that of Haase (Leipsic, 1887). As to Aristotle, the references are to Didot's edition (Paris, 1848–1873).

It remains for me to express my thanks to the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge; to