JEWELS OF WISDOM: BUT HELL IS NEAR

Medieval work
THE ANCRENE RIWLE, translated into Modern English by M. B. SALU, with an Introduction by DOM GERARD SITWELL, O.S.B. (Burns & Oates, 15/-)
THE Ancrene Riwle, dating from the early part of the thirteenth century, was written by an unknown author for the benefit of three well-born sisters who chose the vocation of anchoresses. They lived under the same roof and in fact. formed the nucleus of a convent as eventually twenty other devout women joined them, and from this beginning off-shoots were planted in other towns and villages in England.
One would like to know more of the history of this order which originated with the three sisters, as the Rule observed was one for Anchoresses and not for Nuns, but there are no further records.
The Rule is of importance for those of us who are historically minded. There are references to persons, customs and proverbs, every day things in fact of the century beggars who carry packs on their backs, merchant's wives who carry purses and ladies who carry nothing, the anchoresses are compared to the ladies; the soap pedlar who shouted his wares (incidently he sold needles as well) is compared to the rich merchant who travels silently, as all anchoresses with their spiritual treasures should be silent.
One is relieved to know that dirt is never pleasing to God, but
for anchoresses
unfortunately, lest any person should catch sight of an anchoress, or she herself see anyone, the rule insists that all windows should be tightly closed and shaded, although the author commiserates with the sisters on the resulting lack of fresh air which they must endure for the love of Chastity.
The author's main interest seems to be in sin and sins which be enumerates at great length, and there is a depressing sense of the nearness of Hell, that yawning abyss of suffering ever ready to swallow up the unwary, in fact he appears to be well satisfied in contemplating the horrors that await sinners. No compassion is displayed, people never appear to him as human beings, they are not looked upon as "lost sheep" only as types of "sin" doomed to he tortured for ever.
But amid the long discursive passages on sin and judgement, there are hidden many shrewd sayings and spiritual insights, jewels of timeless wisdom.
TERESA FULLER