Vincent of Beauvais (c. 1190-c. 1264) was a Dominican, and probably belonged to the house of the order whence he draws his name. He was appointed reader or librarian to Louis IX., and had some share at all events in the education of one or more of Louis' children. His great work the Speculum Majus is an attempt to combine the whole learning of the thirteenth century into one. It was probably intended to be divided into four parts Speculum Naturale (Natural History. Science, &c), Speculum Doctrinale (a practical treatise on the various arts, &c), Speculum Historiale (a history of the world from its creation to the author's own days, c. 1250), and Speculum Morale (a treatise on Divinity). Only the three first treatises are however due to Vincent. The fourth, as now extant, is from the pen of a late contemporary.
Bibliography:
Potamian (B.), "Vincent of Beauvais". In Herbermann, Charles. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York, 1913.
Thorndike (L.), "A History of Magic and Experimental Science. During the First Thirteen Centuries of our Era", (1929) vol 2.
Bibliography:
Potamian (B.), "Vincent of Beauvais". In Herbermann, Charles. Catholic Encyclopedia. New York, 1913.
Thorndike (L.), "A History of Magic and Experimental Science. During the First Thirteen Centuries of our Era", (1929) vol 2.