Gregory I (Saint, Pope, commonly known as Gregory the Great, c. 540-604) [Homiliae XL in Evangelia], With his additional homily on mortality [Begins: Oportet fratres karissimi ut flagella dei], and a homily of the Venerable Bede [Begins: Mediator dei et hominum homo], manuscript in Latin, on vellum, modern pencil foliation [v blank], 210, [9 blank] leaves (page of notes at end cut away), in 3 cursive Gothic bookhands (traits of continental bâtarde), 25-32 lines, ruled in plummet, seven-line double letter first initial in in red and blue with penwork marginal extensions in red and brown, other two - to eight - line initials in blue with scrollwork in red, headings and rubrics in red, paragraph marks alternating in red and blue in titles and text, catchwords enclosed in complex banderoles or plant-form cartouches (some heightened in red or blue), endleaves renewed, slight dampstaining affecting front fly-leaves, first 5ff. and margins of a further 4ff., 17th century black calf, ruled in blind, worn, later gilt red morocco label on spine, also small paper label on spine lettered direct 7d, c. 152 x 94mm., [England], [c. 1475].

⁂ Gregory the Great's profound knowledge of Scripture and his personal experience of preaching the Gospel. Gregory wrote and delivered the first twenty sermons in 590-91 in Rome: he dictated the second twenty for others to recite. Gregory's influence on English Christianity was deeply influential as he sent the mission headed by St Augustine to convert the English in 597. The inclusion of Bede's homily, here numbered "41" is unique to this copy.

The manuscript was produced from pre-assembled fascicles and written sequentially by three scribes. One completed the first ten quires and the first part of the eleventh, the second executed the following three pages, and the third hand completed the quire and continued to the end of the volume.

References: See Migne's Patrologia Latina LXXVI 1071-2312 (Gregory) & XCIV 120-35 (Bede) and Catholic Encyclopaedia VI: 780-87.

Provenance: (1). Slightly later ownership inscription mentioning Little Crosby, Lancashire (trimmed) (2). Major P.R. Davies-Cooke, of Gwysaney, north Wales from the Gwysaney Library, formed by Robert Davies (1658-1710), antiquary and naturalist (3). Sotheby's 15 June 1959, lot 199; bought by Halliday (4). Alan Thomas (1911-92), bookseller.