[1312] Ibid. 66, 70.
[1313] Hist. Regum Angl. pp. 29, 82. In John Argentein’s Loci communes, written about 1476 (MS. Ashmole, 1437, p. 155) is the note: ‘Hic Rogerus fuit filius Fugardi, et creditur quod erat Rogerus Baconus natus apud Witnam juxta Oxoniam.’
[1314] Ibid. 82, ‘de generosa prosapia.’ Op. Ined. pp. 13, 16: ‘Misi igitur fratri meo diviti in terra mea, qui ex parte regis consistens, cum matre mea et fratribus et tota familia exulavit, et pluries hostibus deprehensus se redemit pecunia; et ideo destructus et depauperatus, non potuit me juvare, nec etiam usque ad hunc diem habui responsum ab eo.’ Cf. ibid. p. 10.
[1315] Op. Ined. p. 65.
[1316] The report that he was educated at Brasenose Hall is merely a tradition founded on a foolish legend. Historical fictions die hard. In 1889, Mr. W. L. Courtney writes in the Fortnightly Review, Vol. XLVI, p. 255, R. Bacon ‘seems to have been educated at Brasenose College in Oxford, although Merton College has also laid claim to the honour of his youthful learning.’ Merton College was not founded till Roger was advanced in years; Brasenose College was founded more than two centuries after his death.
[1317] Chron. Majora, IV, 244-5.
[1318] Comp. Stud. Theol. Royal MS. 7, f. vii, f. 154 (quoted in Charles, p. 412; Brewer, p. lv). The origin of the tradition that Roger wrote a life of St. Edmund seems to be a passage in M. Paris, Chron. Maj. V, 369, where the historian says that he was supplied with details for the life of St. Edmund by Robert Bacon. The confusion between the two Bacons is continually recurring. Even in Luard’s edition of Grostete’s Letters there is an unfortunate misprint; on p. 65 Roger Bacon should be Robert.
[1319] Op. Ined. pp. 70, 75, 82, 88, 91, 186-7, 329, 428, 472, 474.
[1320] Ibid. 327, 425.
[1321] Ibid. 13, 65.