86 MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES. 



The same was the case in all the schools of Europe ; but those of Italy 

 and England accorded more time to mathematical sciences towards the 

 close of the twelfth century. At Pisa, a learned mathematician, Leonardo 

 Fibonacci, better known as Leo of Pisa, brought back from his journey to 

 the East the algebraic notation which Gerbcrt had invented, or rather pro- 

 pagated in Europe, two centuries previously ; and Fibonacci has often been 

 credited with the introduction of Arab figures and the use of the abbreviative 

 method in lengthy calculations. Amongst the professors at Oxford about 

 this period there was another mathematician not less remarkable, who, though 

 he had not travelled like Fibonacci, had the talent to discover all the formulae 

 of the exact sciences. This was Eobert, surnamed Grossetete, who was the 

 master and friend of Adam of Marisco and of the celebrated Roger Bacon. 



Roger Bacon, in all his allusions to Robert Grossetete, speaks of him in 

 the most respectful terms. He describes him as one of the most enlightened, 

 the best informed, and most eminent men of his day ; as fully conversant 

 with all languages, even Greek and Hebrew, which were then but little 

 known ; as very dissatisfied with the Latin translations of Aristotle which 

 were at that time used in the Universities, and endeavouring, with the 

 assistance of his friends and pupils, to provide better ones ; as allying the 

 love of science to that of letters ; as being as much versed in mathematics 

 and astronomy as was possible in his day ; as the interpreter of Aristotle's 

 logic ; and as the author of a treatise upon the Celestial Globe. It may be 

 mentioned, also, that, in addition to these uncommon qualities of philosopher 

 and savant, Robert Grossetete possessed sincere piety and deep theological 

 learning. Raised to the episcopal see of Lincoln (he died in 1253), he left 

 behind him letters, still extant, which contain unequivocal proof of the 

 sincerity of his devotion to the Papacy, of which he was falsely represented 

 as an open enemy. 



Adam de Marisco belonged, like Robert Grosstete, to the Church. He 

 passed the greater part of his days in England, in a Franciscan monastery, 

 but the life of the cloister did not deaden in him the love of science. Roger 

 Bacon almost always speaks of him, as of the Bishop of Lincoln, as one of 

 the lights of his age as a master in grammar, mathematics, and astronomy. 



But it was, above all, the name, the learning, and the genius of Roger 

 Bacon (born in 1214) which predominated in the scientific history of the 

 thirteenth century. The school itself, often as he combated its views, gave 



