Girl Anchorite's Manual - Too Precious To Leave Britain

[sidthecat]

So the UK Arts Minister, one Helen Whatley, has ruled that this 15th-century Middle English manuscript, which is an instruction book for women desiring to undergo a particularly rigorous form of religious seclusion, is too unique and "valuable to scholarship" to be removed from the country.

Nothing was said about the penmanship, which is lovely, but I encourage you to admire this page.

 

[sombrueil]

It is indeed lovely, but what is the 'girl' part?

I was expecting something about medieval pre-adolescent nuns here, and come to find out it's just women planning to be hermits.

[Karmachanic]

In case anyone is interested the name of the text is The Myrowr of Recluses.

[BaronWulfraed]

In case anyone is interested the name of the text is The Myrowr of Recluses.

Heh... sounds like something about cats and spiders

[sidthecat]

They had some interesting practices, like wearing garments pieced together out of hedgehogs.

 

Not my first career choice.

[inkstainedruth]

Are other pages of the book up online someplace? Because as something of an ardent medievalist, the subject sounds interesting. And that's of course in addition to looking at the hand used by the scribe.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Freddy]

Are other pages of the book up online someplace? Because as something of an ardent medievalist, the subject sounds interesting. And that's of course in addition to looking at the hand used by the scribe.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Ruth....Here you go...............https://bid.dreweatts.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/926/lot/6549

 

Enjoy.

 

Fred

[Mac in Alberta]

What a lovely gothic cursive !!! Wow. Just wow.

Much as I love italic, sometimes I am not sure it was an improvement. Or ymprovvment.

[Stompie]

Ruth....Here you go...............https://bid.dreweatts.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/926/lot/6549

 

Enjoy.

 

Fred

 

Thanks for that link Fred!

 

Some interesting articles being auctioned there!

[Pendarion]

I don't get why export bans aren't automatically on any such manuscripts or books and artefacts of national importance. Such a shame it wasn't donated to the British Library or a museum many decades ago, to save it from the risk of going abroad.

 

The only source of info about medieval anchorites I knew of, previously, was the well known Ancrene Wisse, although other texts are apparently extant, from a quick Google - but very rare. Just find it incredible that any artefact with this amount of age and cultural significance should ever leave these shores, and ditto for similar items across the world.

 

Have seen historical artefacts go up for sale that public bodies have been forced to raise an obscene amount of money for because the threat was, otherwise they would go abroad - there should be legislation in place to prevent this happening.

Edited October 12, 2020 by Pendarion

[inkstainedruth]

Yes, thanks Freddy for posting the link. I hadn't seen updates before now.

But -- that closing price! That's more than we paid for our HOUSE....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Freddy]

 

Thanks for that link Fred!

 

Some interesting articles being auctioned there!

 

Yes, thanks Freddy for posting the link. I hadn't seen updates before now.

But -- that closing price! That's more than we paid for our HOUSE....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

My pleasure.

 

Closing price plus fees.

 

I wish everyone a peaceful week.

 

Fred

Whoever afflicts us, Whatever surround,

Life is a voyage that's homeward--bound!

The End

White-Jacket

or

The World In A Man-Of-War

Herman Melville

1850