The life & work of Roger Bacon : an introduction to the Opus majus / by H. Gordon Jones.

  • John Henry Bridges
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The life & work of Roger Bacon : an introduction to the Opus majus / by H. Gordon Jones. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    33/180 (page 31)
    which at the beginning of the century had been the great stimulant of thought, was already becom- ing the great obstruction, and was preparing for the next century a reign of darkness. Based on false and ignorant translations, it were better. Bacon said, to do away with it altogether than that it should be carried on by men Ignorant of the language in which Aristotle wrote, and desti- tute of the scientific training which alone could qualify them for explaining him (Brewer, pp. 469-473)* The storm of indignation had long been gather- ing : and in 1278 it broke. In that year Jerome d’AscolI, who four years before had succeeded Bonaventura as General of the Franciscan Order, held a chapter in Paris. Bacon was summoned on account of ‘certain suspected novelties.’ He was condemned, and thrown into prison.^ What were the ‘ novelties ’ that constituted his crime we do not know. His works abounded in them. It ^ [‘ We learn from the chronicle of the twenty-four Generals pre- served at Assisi (Assisi MS. 329, f. 109a) that Jerome “by the advice of many of the brothers condemned and denounced the doctrine of Roger Bacon the Englishman, master of theology, containing certain suspicious novelties ; for which the said Roger was con- demned to prison, with order given to all the brethren that none should hold his doctrine, but avoid it as reprobated by the order. He wrote, moreover, to the Lord Pope Nicholas III, so that by his authority this perilous doctrine might be altogether silenced.’” —E. and A., p. 180.]