Bartholomaeus Anglicus 217 



incertus," one Theobaldus, made a metrical version of the 

 descriptions of twelve of the animals dealt with in this little 

 volume. This was published under the name " Physiologus 

 Theobaldi Episcopi de naturis duodecim animalium," the 

 earliest printed edition being that issued at Delft in 1487. 

 Numerous editions were published in many countries for the 

 following century or two, but the contents of the volume 

 were in a state of flux, additions and omissions appearing 

 in many of the issues. 



But the chief book on natural history in the Middle Ages 

 was an encyclopaedia entitled " Liber de Proprietatibus 

 Rerum," compiled by the English Franciscan, Bartholomew 

 often called Bartholomaeus Anglicus, who probably wrote 

 some time about 1250, certainly before 1267, and in all 

 probability before 1260. Both before and after the invention 

 of printing this work had a wide circulation. The " Liber " 

 was translated into French by the order of Charles V., into 

 Spanish in 1372, then into Dutch, and in 1397 into English. 

 It was also the first book printed on paper which had been 

 made in England. This book is believed to have been the 

 source of much of Shakespeare's knowledge of natural history. 

 In 1582 the Rev. Stephen Bateman, D.D., domestic chaplain 

 to Bishop Parker, re-issued the English translation made by 

 John of Trevisa which had been printed in 1494 by Wynkyn 

 de Worde at Westminster. The book was entitled : 



" Bateman uppon Bartholome. His Booke De Pro- 

 prietatibus Rerum : newly corrected, enlarged, and 

 amended, with such Additions as are requisite, unto 

 every severall Booke. Taken foorth of the most approved 

 Authors, the like heretofore not translated in English. 

 Profitable for all Estates, as well for the benefite of the 

 Mind of the Bodie." Lond. 1582, fol. Dedicated to 

 Lord Hunsdon. 



Incomplete translations of Pliny from the French had 

 appeared in 1565, and again in 1587. In 1601 Philemon 

 Holland, M.D. (1552-1637), in later life headmaster of 

 Coventry Grammar School " the translator generall in his 

 age," as Fuller calls him published a more complete version 

 of Pliny under the title " The History of the World, commonly 

 called the Natural Historic of Caius Plinius Secundus." 



