probable. In the following year, or perhaps
later, he crossed over to France and studied at the university of Paris,
then the centre of intellectual life in Europe. The two great orders,
Franciscans and Dominicans, were in the vigour of youth, and had already
begun to take the lead in theological discussion. Alexander of Hales was
the oracle of the Franciscans, while the rival order rejoiced in Albertus
Magnus and Thomas Aquinas.

The scientific training which Bacon had received, mainly from the study of
the Arab writers, showed him the manifold defects in the systems reared by
these doctors. Aristotle was known but in part, and that part was rendered
well-nigh unintelligible through the vileness of the translations; yet not
one of those professors would learn Greek. The Scriptures read, if at all,
in the erroneous versions were being deserted for the _Sentences_ of Peter
Lombard. Physical science, if there was anything deserving that name, was
cultivated, not by experiment in the Aristotelian way, but by arguments
deduced from premises resting on authority or custom. Everywhere there was
a show of knowledge concealing fundamental ignorance. Bacon, accordingly,
withdrew from the scholastic routine and devoted himself to languages and
experimental research. The only teacher whom he respected was a certain
Petrus de Maharncuria Picardus, or of Picardy, probably identical with a
certain mathematician, Petrus Peregrinus of Picardy, who is perhaps the
author of a MS. treatise, _De Magnete_, contained in the Bibliotheque
Imperiale at Paris. The contrast between the obscurity of such a man and
[v.03 p.0154] the fame enjoyed by the fluent young doctors roused Bacon's
indignation. In the _Opus Minus_ and _Opus Tertium_ he pours forth a
violent tirade against Alexander of Hales, and another professor, not
mentioned by name, but spoken of as alive, and blamed even more severely
than Alexander. This anonymous writer,[1] he says, acquired his learning by
teaching others, and adopted a dogmatic tone, which has caused him to be
received at Paris with applause as the equal of Aristotle, Avicenna, or
Averroes.

Bacon, during his stay in Paris, acquired considerable renown. He took the
degree of doctor of theology, and seems to have received the complimentary
title of _doctor mirabilis_. In 1250 he was again at Oxford, and probably
about this time entered the Franciscan order. His fame spread at Oxford,
though it was mingled with suspici