---
title: "The Letter Of Roger Bacon Concerning The Marvelous Power Of Art And Nature And The Nullity Of Magic"
chunk: 2/3
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Letter_Of_Roger_Bacon_Concerning_The_Marvelous_Power_Of_Art_And_Nature_And_The_Nullity_Of_Magic"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:28:39.069704+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

== Content of the book ==
In a brief preface, Bacon expresses admiration for the power of nature, stating that only the art of harnessing nature surpasses it.
The opening section, "Against the False Invocation of Spirits", comprises two chapters. The first debunks ventriloquists and tricksters who pass off sleight of hand, mechanical, or optical instruments as miracles, or mimic animal voices. It reveals the secret behind telekinesis tricks performed at dusk or night, using light and shadow. The second chapter refutes the reality of spiritualist séances from a philosophical perspective, arguing that spirits either will not interact with humans or will not aid in base pursuits due to the inferiority of human power compared to spirits.
The section "On Songs, Signs, and Their Uses" includes six chapters exposing various forms of divination, predictions, and charms. In "Symbols, Signs, and Magical Rituals," Bacon rejects the supernatural power of mysterious signs in sages' books, suggesting they are encrypted descriptions of natural laws meant to remain secret. He considers only fools attribute magical power to obscure formulas. "Some Affairs of Church Authorities" criticizes clergy engaging in divination with holy water or heated iron, particularly to determine guilt in cases of adultery or murder. In "Magical Books," Bacon advocates destroying books falsely attributed to renowned sages due to their deceitful content and poor style, supporting the Church's stance on works supposedly by King Solomon. "Magic of Numbers" dismisses sciences based on the magical power of numbers, criticizing those who assign sacred meaning to digits outside a scientific context. "Magic of the Stars" addresses astrology, noting that few works on celestial motion are reliable due to their authors' lack of mathematical knowledge. Finally, "Charms in Medical Practice" cites Avicenna to argue that words or signs uttered by physicians are not supernatural but can inspire hope and confidence in patients, indirectly aiding recovery.
The section "Nullity of Magic" discusses natural mechanisms Bacon deems true miracles. "Species, Ideas, or External Qualities of Things" lists wonders from animal and plant life considered scientific facts at the time, such as a wolf silencing a human if seen first or women with four pupils killing with a glance, supported by references to Ovid, Aristotle, and others. "Power of Personality" explores how human thoughts and emotions influence the material world, spreading health or disease, emphasizing Christian self-improvement. "Power of the Word" contrasts the divine power of wise words with the ineffectiveness of magical incantations, suggesting vocal vibrations carry a "spiritual warmth" affecting objects and people. Bacon concludes the first half of the book by asserting that the actions of pseudo-magical books, false scholars, and fraudulent sorcerers are trivial compared to the capabilities of nature wielded by a healthy, divinely inspired person.
The second part of the book begins with "On the Wondrous Art of Instruments", a single chapter, "Mechanical Devices," where Bacon envisions ships controlled by one person, high-speed vehicles, aircraft, devices for safe underwater movement, and early mentions of submarines. He predicts devices for flight with artificial wings, lifting heavy objects, and self-propelled chariots.
The section "On the Wondrous Art of Perspective" covers optics. "Magical Mirrors" describes mirror systems creating illusions of armies or vast spaces on small devices. "Optical Devices with Various Focuses" discusses tools for magnifying objects close-up or at a distance, burning objects with focused light, and reflecting the heavens in miniature.
The section "On Wondrous Experiments" focuses on chemistry. "Combustible Compositions" explores eternal lamps and warm baths using amber and niter. "Gunpowder" describes its explosive potential and includes an anagram, "Luru Vopo Vir Can Utriet," encoding its formula. "Working Model of the Heavens" discusses Ptolemy's model for predicting celestial events. "Alloying Gold" speculates on synthesizing pure gold.
The section "On Delaying Old Age and Prolonging Human Life" explores longevity. "Lifespan" cites cases of extended life using oils, stones, and animal parts. "Healthcare" advocates balanced living to preserve health, attributing declining lifespans to accumulated sins.
The section "On Concealing the Secrets of Nature and Art" addresses cryptography. "Wisdom of Keeping Secrets" emphasizes protecting natural laws from misuse. "Ignorance of the Masses" argues that the uneducated misinterpret knowledge. "Seven Ways to Conceal a Secret" lists seven encryption methods.
The final section, "On Creating the Philosophical Egg", describes three methods for preparing the philosophical egg, a symbol of primary matter in alchemy, through processes like sublimation and oxidation.

== Authorship of the final chapters ==
The authorship of chapters 7–11 has been questioned by British researcher Charles Fontaine, due to chronological inconsistencies, such as references to questions asked in 601 (1205–1206 CE) and 608 (1212–1213 CE) of the Islamic calendar, predating Bacon's birth. Some editions correct these to 621 or 688. Romocki suggests scribal errors, proposing 661 (1257 CE) and 668 (1265–1266 CE), aligning with Bacon's reference in Opus Tertium to a letter sent ten years earlier.

== Manuscripts, publications, and translations ==

=== Manuscripts ===
According to James Partington, the original manuscript survives only partially in Oxford Tanner 116, covering chapters 1–5 and part of 6. The full text was compiled in the 15th century in Sloane MS. 2156. Other manuscripts include Oxford Digby 164 (15th century, chapters 1–9) and Voss MS. at Leiden (16th century).

=== Editions and translations ===

==== In Latin ====
The first printed edition appeared in 1542 by Oronce Finé. A 1594 Oxford edition was edited by Joseph Barnes. In 1618, Hamburg published an edition with notes by John Dee.

==== In English ====
The first English translation, An Excellent Discourse of the Admirable Force and Efficacie of Art and Nature, by Frier Bacon, was published in 1597 in Oxford. In 1659, "Frier Bacon his Discovery of the Miracles of Art, Nature and Magic" appeared. A 1923 Easton translation by Tenney L. Davis included commentary.

==== In French ====
The first French edition, De L'admirable Povvoir et Pvissance de l'art, et de nature, was published in Lyon in 1557. A 1893 Paris edition by A. Poisson followed.