While this movement, which covered the land with religious edifices,
was in progress, religion itself was undergoing a change. The old
monastic orders had grown rich, indolent, and corrupt. The priests
had well-nigh ceased to do missionary work. At this period a reform
sprang up within the Church itself. On the Continent two new
religious orders arose, calling themselves Friars, or Brothers. They
first came to England in 1221. These Brothers bound themselves to a
life of self-denial and good works. Some labored in the outskirts of
towns among the poor and the sick and called them to hear the glad
tidings of the teachings of Christ. From their living on charity they
came to be known as "Beggin Friars."
Others, like Roger Bacon at Oxford, took an important part in
education, and endeavored to rouse the sluggish monks to make efforts
in the same direction. Bacon's experiments in physical science, which
was then neglected and despiseed, got him the reputation of being a
magician. He was driven into exile, imprisoned for many years, and
deprived of books and writing materials.
But, as nothing could check the religious fervor of his mendicant
brothers, so no hardship or suffering could daunt the intellectual
enthusiasm of Bacon. When he emerged from captivity he issued his
great book entitled an "Inquiry into the Roots of Knowledge."[1] It
was especially devoted to mathematics and the sciences, and deserves
the name of the encyclopedia fo the thirteenth century.
[1] Bacon designated this book by the name of "Opus Majus," or
"Greater Work," to distinguish it from a later summary which he alled
his "Opus Minus," or "Smaller Work."