Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Roger Infans

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Duplicate: the ODNB identifies Roger Infans with Roger of Hereford.

685999Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 49 — Roger Infans1897Charles Lethbridge Kingsford

ROGER INFANS (fl. 1124), writer on the ‘Compotus’ (i.e. the method of computing the calendar), states that he published his treatise in 1124, when still a young man, though he had already been engaged for some years in teaching. For some reason he was called ‘Infans,’ which Leland, without sufficient justification, translated Yonge. Wood, whom Tanner follows, puts Roger's date at 1186, and absurdly calls him rector of the schools and chancellor of the university of Oxford. The only known manuscript of his Treatise is Digby MS. 40, ff. 25–52, where it commences with a rubric (of the thirteenth century): ‘Præfatio Magistri Rogeri Infantis in Compotum.’ Wright has printed an extract from this preface. Roger's chief authorities are Gerland and Helperic, whom he frequently corrects.

[Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib. p. 718; Wood's Hist. and Antiq. Univ. Oxon. i. 153; Wright's Biogr. Brit. Litt. ii. 89; Cat. of Digby MSS.]