The translator to the reader; the judgment of learned men concerning Friar Bacon

THE TRANSLATOR TO THE READER.

A Prejudicate eye much lessens the noblenesse of the Subject. Bacons name may bring at the first an inconvenience to the Book, but Bacons ingenuity will recompence it ere he be solidly read. This as an Apology is the usher to his other Workes, which may happily breath a more free Air hereafter, when once the World sees how clear he was, from loving Negromancy. 'Twas the Popes smoak which made the eyes of that Age so sore, as they could not discern any open hearted and clear headed soul from an heretical Phantasme. The silly Fryers envying his too prying head, by their craft had almost got it off his shoulders. It's dangerous to be wiser than the multitude, for that unruly Beast will have every over-topping head to be lopped shorter, lest it plot, ruine, or stop the light; or shadow its extravagancies. How famous this Frier is in the judgment of both godly and wise men, I referre you to the Probatums of such men, whose single Authorities were of sufficiency to equallize a Jury of others; and as for the Book, I refer it to thy reading. As for my self, I refer me to him, whom I serve, and hope thou wilt adore.

THE JUDGMENT OF Divers Learned Men CONCERNING Fryer BACON.

IO. Selden de Diis Syris Sintag. 1. r.2.—7.25.

That singular Mathematician, learned beyond what the Age he liv'd in did ordinarily bring forth, Roger Bacon an Oxford man, and a Fryer minorite.

The Testimony of Gabriel Powel in his Book of Antichrist in Preface, p. 14.

Roger Bacon an Englishman, a founded Scholar of Merton-Colledg in Oxford, a very quick Philosopher, and withall a very famous Divine, he had an incredible knowledge in the Mathematicks, but without Necromancy (as John Balleus doth report) although he be defam'd for it by many: Now this man after he had sharply reproved the times wherein he liv'd; these Errours, saith he, speak Antichrist present. Nicholas tbe Fourth Pope of Rome did condemn his Doctrine in many things, and he was by him kept in prison for many years together; as Antonine hath it in his Chronicle. He flourished in the year of our Lord, 1270.

John Gerhard Vossius in his Book of the four Popular Arts, printed at Amsterdam, 1650. is every where full of the praises of Bacon, as in the year 1252. About these mens time Roger Bacon also flourished, an Englishman, and a Monk of the Order of St. Francis; who as he had div'd into all Arts and Sciences: so also he writ many things of them, he was a man both learned and subtil unto a Miracle, and did such wonderfull things by the help of Mathematicks, that by such as were envious and ignorant, he was accused of Diabolical Magick, before Pope Clement the 4th, and for that cause was detained in prison by him for some time. Jo. Pecus Earl of Mirandula, the Phenix of all the wits of his Age, cals him likewise, very ingenious. Moranlicus also commends highly his Opticks. He was buried at Oxford in the Monastery of the Monks of his own Order, anno 1284. So Chap. 35. §. 32. anno 1255. So Chap. 60. §. 13. Of Musick, anno 1270. So Chap. 70. §. 7. 1270. Roger Bacon flourisht in England, a man wonderfully learned. And Chap. 71. §. 8. anno 1270. Roger Bacon a Franciscan Monk, and a Divine of Oxford, was famous amongst the English in all sort of Sciences; a man of so vast learning, that neither England, no nor the world beside, had almost any thing like or equal to him. […]nd either by envy or ignorance of the Age, wherein he lived, was accused of Magick. He in the mean time did write and recommend to the Memory of Posterity, a Book of Weights, of the Centers of heavy things, of the Practicks of Natural Magick, &c. For he was a man well vers'd in all sorts of study, very learned in the Latine, Greek and Hebrew Tongues, a Mathematician every way accomplisht, and very skilfull both in Philosophy, Physick, Law and Divinity.