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

CLXXXVIII.
Consanguinitas. Consanguinei non sunt a viris sanctis sustentandi nisi in iure suo proprio.

We rede in þe life of Abbott Pastur, how þer was a Iustice of þe contre, & he desyrid̛ to se þis Abbott, and he mot nevur com to at se hym̛. And þis iustis saw þat, & he garte take þe sister son̛ of þis abbott, & said̛ he was a thiefe & putt hym̛ in prison̛, & sayd̛ & þis abbott Pastor wold̛ com̛ vnto hym̛ & pray hym̛ for hym̛, he suld̛ delyver hym̛ hym̛. And pan̛ þe moder of þis childe come vnto þis abbott ceƚƚ dure, and̛ callid̛ þer-att & besoght hym̛ to speke with hur, & he wolde no wurd̛ ansswer. And when̛ sho saw þatt, sho wepid̛ & made mekuƚƚ sorow, & sayd̛; "And þou had̛

a harte & bowels of yrn̛ & mott not be movid̛ with no compassion̛, yit at þe leste marke, þou suld̛ hafe compassion̛ of þine awn̛ blude, þi sister son̛." And þan̛ þis abbott sent wurd̛ vnto þis iustis & sayd̛; " Pastor filios non generauit; Abbott Pastor gatt nevur child̛." And when̛ þis iustis saw at þe abbott wold̛ not com̛ hym̛ selfe & pray for hym̛, he said̛ & he wold̛ send wurd̛ for hym̛ be mowthe he suld̛ send̛ hym̛ hym̛. And þan̛ þis Abbott sent hym̛ wurd̛ & sayd̛; "Examyn̛ þe cauce as þe law wyƚƚ, & if he be wurthi to dye lat hym̛ dy; or els do with hym̛ as þou plesis." et c̛.