Unpublished Works of Roger Bacon (Opus Tertium, Opus Minus, Compendium Studii)

“...copied my works to serve themselves or others, without any regard to my wishes; as authors’ works are “ often pirated by the knavery of the transcribers at “ Paris. And certainly, if it had been in my power to “ have communicated my discoveries freely, I should “ have composed many things for my brother the “ scholar,1 “ and for others, my most intimate friends. “ But as I despaired of the means of communicating “ my thoughts, I forbore to commit them to writing. “ When, therefore, I professed to you my readiness, “ you must understand that it was for writings to be “ composed, not for such as had been composed already. “ And therefore your chaplain, Raymond of Laon, was “ altogether mistaken when he made mention of me to “ your holiness. For although I had at various times “ put together, in a hasty manner, some few chapters “ on different subjects, at the entreaty of my friends, “ there was nothing note-worthy in these writings;— “ nothing of such a nature as I could think of pre- “ senting to your wisdom. They were such as I myself “ hold in no estimation, as being deficient in continuity “ and perfection.” 2

Sends to Bacon Raymond of Laon, who had first mentioned his works to the pope. It appears, then, from these remarks, that Roger Bacon owed to Raymond of Laon his introduction to Clement IV before the advancement of the latter to the pontifical chair; that the curiosity of the cardinal was roused by the communication so made; that he commissioned Raymond of Laon to express his wishes to Roger Bacon, and begged to be favoured with a perusal of some of his writings; that Bacon in return sent a gentleman of the name of Bonecor3

1 Robert Bacon?
2 p. 13.
3 William de Bonecor is mentioned more than once in the Fine Rolls of Henry III, edited by Mr. Roberts.