Alphabet of tales : an English 15th century translation of the Alphabetum narrationum of Etienne de Besançon, from Additional MS. 25,719 of the British Museum / by Etienne de Besançon

CLXXVI.
Confessio simulata vel tamen furtiua MS. fulcina. Latin MSS. as above. non delet peccata de sciencia diaboli, sed tantum vera confessio illa delet.

Cesarius tellis þat on̛ a tyme in Braban̛ þer was a man̛ boun in a howse þat had̛ a fend̛ in hym̛, whilk fend̛ cawsid̛ þis man̛ to vpbrayd̛ ilkone at come in with syns at þai had done & war nott shrevyn̛ off. So þer was a man̛ in þe town̛ þat gretelie desyrid̛ to se hym̛ & here hym̛ speke, bod he was ferd̛ þat he suld̛ vpbrayde hym̛ with his syn̛. And for ferd̛ here-of he went & shrafe hym̛ of aƚƚ his synys vnto a preste, bod he kepid̛ with-in hym̛ a wiƚƚ to faƚƚ vnto syn̛ agayn̛; and he trowid̛ þat he was sekur enogℏ & wente boldelie into þe howse vnto þis man̛. And onone as he come in, þis man̛ at was bun̛ cryed̛ & said̛; "A! welcom̛, frend̛! com̛ ner! for þou hase wele whittend̛ þe." & onone, þuf aƚƚ he war shrevyn̛, yit he told̛ aƚƚ his synnys oppynlie vnto aƚƚ þat stude abowte; & þe man̛ þoght he was gretlie confusid̛ becauce his syns wer so fowle, and he was passand̛ hevye & turnyd̛ agayn̛ vnto þe preste, & tolde hym̛ aƚƚ how it happend̛. And he shrafe hym̛ agayn̛ with a fuƚƚ wyƚƚ neuer to syn̛ agayn̛. And þan þe preste bad hym̛ go baldlie agayn̛ and he sulde no more shame hym̛; and

he did so. And when̛ he come into þe howse, one at was þer said̛ vnto þis man̛ at was bun̛; "lo! þi frend̛ is commen̛ agayn̛." And he askid̛ whilk was he. And þai said̛; "he þis att þou vpbraydid̛ right now with so fowle synys at þou sayd̛ at he had done." And he ansswerd̛ hym̛ agayn̛ & said̛; "I vpbraydid̛ hym̛ noght, nor I knaw none iƚƚ of hym̛." And fro thens furthe euerilk man̛ trowed att he was bod a lyer, & wolde truste no thyng at he sayd̛. et c̛.