MECHTHILD OF MAGDEBURG 



though no classic for she says Latin was diffi- 

 cult to her she evidently, as her work shows, 

 [grew up under the influence of courtly life, and 

 tnew the language of minstrels. She tells us 

 that her mind was turned to the spiritual life 

 when she was but twelve years of age, and that 

 from that time worldly glory and riches became 

 distasteful to her. Like the visionary and Saint, 

 Theresa of Avila, of 300 years later, she took 

 into her confidence her younger brother, Baldwin, 

 who later, perhaps under her influence, became 

 a Dominican. What we know of her, we know 

 from her writings, which exist in the above- 

 mentioned unique MS. (No. 277) now in the 

 monastery Library of Einsiedeln, a foundation 

 south of the Lake of Zurich, and still one of the 

 most famous of pilgrim resorts. In seeking to 

 know more of the history of this MS. we get a 

 most interesting and intimate glimpse of the 

 methods in religious centres in bygone days, 

 when MSS. were few. In quite early times 

 how early is not known there dwelt in the 

 valleys round a!bout Einsiedeln certain devout 

 women-recluses, who later lived, as a community, 

 in four houses, and, ultimately, in a convent. 

 They were called " Forest Sisters/' a name 

 which may well express the poetry and peace 

 of their life and surroundings. Whilst they 

 were still living in the detached houses, the 

 MS. was, through Heinrich von Rumerschein of 

 Basle, sent by Margaret of the Golden Ring, a 

 beguine of that town, to the one called " The 



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