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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 August 2024
A rule was written at the very end of the twelfth century for two or three sisters, anchoresses, and was designed to train its readers in the more perfect life of contemplation. But it treats of the first stages of the spiritual life, and, as we have seen, it only rises above the humdrum of the I purgative way in its final section. Now we are to consider the doctrine of a woman who had no doubt been trained by that or a simi:ar ‘Eiwle', and had so far profited by it as to have first been favoured by a series of visions in which she was passive in her acceptance of the ‘Eevelations', and finally, to have reached the highest forms of prayer. We are thus given the opportunity of studying the effects of the Ancren Riwle in their perfect stages; we are here taught the outcome of tne natural growth of the spirit if it follows the straight lines of an authorised rule.
I here use Grace Warrack's edition of the Revelations, first published by Methuen in 1901. It is a convenient and readable edition.
Page 204 in the Warrack edition. The whole postscript should be read.
Cf. Aubrey Gwynn, S.J. ‘The English Austin Friars in the time of Wyclif (Oxford 1940) pp. 150-205).
It is argued that this remark contains more of humility than truth as she appears throughout to be a well-instructed woman and of some culture.
The same sort of divine locution had occurred fifteen years after the visions as she explains in the last chapter (c. 86).