One may stand aghast at the programme. Yet practically all of it would go into a _Summa theologiae_, excepting the human history, and the matter of what we should call the arts and sciences! A programme like this might be handled summarily, according to the broad captions under which it is stated; or it might be carried out in such detail as to include all available information, or opinion, touching every part of every topic included under these universal heads. The latter is Vincent’s way. Practically he tries to include all knowledge upon everything. The first of his tomes (the _Speculum naturale_) is to be devoted to a full description of the forms and species of created beings, which make up the visible world. Yet it includes much relating to beings commonly invisible; for Vincent begins with a treatment of the angels. He then passes to a consideration of the seven heavens; and then to the physical phenomena of nature; then on to every known species of plant, the cultivation of trees and vines, and the making of wine; then to the celestial bodies, and after this to living things, birds, fishes, savage beasts, reptiles, the anatomy of animals,--and at last comes to man. He discusses him body and soul, his psychology, and the phenomena of sleep and waking; then human anatomy--nor can he keep from considerations touching the whole creation; then human generation, and a description of the countries and regions of the earth, with a brief compendium of history until the time of Antichrist and the Last Judgment. Of course he is utterly uncritical, even the pseudo-Turpin’s fictions as to Charlemagne serving him for authority. Vincent’s Prologue to his second tome, the _Speculum doctrinale_, briefly mentions the topics of the _tota naturalis historia_, contained in his first giant tome. In that he had brought his matter down to God’s creation of _humana natura, omnium rerum finis ac summa_--and its spoliation (_destitutio_) through sin. _Humana natura_ as constituted by God, was a _universitas_ of all nature or created being, corporeal and spiritual. Now