CORROBORATIVE READINGS 



It has been lamented that the fame of so great a 

 scientist as Roger Bacon should rest upon an absurd 

 legend. I think we shall see that the legend bears 

 evidence to the greatness of the man. It runs as follows : 



Friar Bacon, reading one day of the many conquests 

 of England, bethought himself how he might keep it 

 hereafter from the like conquests and so make himself 

 famous to all posterity. This (after great study) he 

 found could be no way so well done as one; which was 

 to make a head of brass, and if he could make this head 

 to speak (and hear it when it spoke) then might he be 

 able to wall all England about with brass. To this pur- 

 pose he got one Friar Bungey to assist him, who was a 

 great scholar and magician (but not to be compared to 

 Friar Bacon) ; these two with great study and pains so 

 formed a head of brass that in the inward parts thereof 

 there was all things like as in a natural man's head. 

 This being done they were as far from perfection of the 

 work as they were before, for they knew not how to give 

 those parts that they had made motion, without which it 

 was impossible that it should speak. Many books they 

 read, but yet could not find out any hope of what they 

 sought, that at the last they concluded to raise a spirit 

 and to know of him that which they could not attain by 

 their own studies. 



The spirit straight obeyed, and appeared unto them, 

 asking what they would. He told them that with a con- 



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