214, 215; also Cuvier, Hist.
des Sciences Naturelles, vol.i, p.396.For the prohibition by the Council of Tours and Alexander III, see the Acta Conciliorum (ed.
Harduin), tom.

vi, pars ii, p.

1598, Canon viii.
The first great thinker who, in spite of some stumbling into theologic pitfalls, persevered in a truly scientific path, was Roger Bacon.

His life and works seem until recently to have been generally misunderstood: he was formerly ranked as a superstitious alchemist who happened upon some inventions, but more recent investigation has shown him to be one of the great masters in the evolution of human thought.

The advance of sound historical judgment seems likely to bring the fame of the two who bear the name of Bacon nearly to equality.