Bifolium of Bede’s Homily ‘Ask and it shall be given…’ c.1100 manuscript; Germany.

The Venerable Bede (673-735, saint), A very large and very early manuscript bifolium from St. Bede’s Homily on the Gospels ‘In Lucae Evangelium expositio’, on Luke, in Latin.  

This is Homily 56 which includes the famous text from Luke ‘Ask, and it shall be given unto you, seek and you shall find…’

A very large and very early bifolium, in 2 columns, 31 lines, very fine Carolingian script on parchment; produced in Germany, c.1100. 50cm x 37cm.

Recovered from a binding, with one full page complete and one and a half columns of the facing page intact. Discolouration of the parchment and a large brown stain which is showing through on reverse. Some glue stains visible to reverse of the sheet, otherwise the text is clearly legible and generally in good, clear and readable condition to both sides.

The text begins almost at the start of ‘Homilia LVI’   “Petite, et dabitur vobis ; quaerite, et invenietis ; pulsate, et aperietur vobis. Omnis enim qui petit acclpit, et qui querit invenit, et pulsanti aperietur &c. DOMINUS et Redemptor noster ad colestis regni gaudia nos pervenire desiderans  et nos eadem gaudia a se petere docuit, et nobis petentibus se haec daturum esse promisit. Petite, inquit, et dabitur vobis; quaerite, et invenietis;  pulsate, et aperietur vobis. Quae nobis sunt verba Domini nostri, fratres carissimi, magnopere ac toto corde pensanda:” etc. “Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek and ye shall find ; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks, etc” Homily 56

Overall a very large, tidy and desirable, bi-folium in a fine script from the father of English History.