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

CCCXCIV.
Intencio mala eciam bonum opus viciat.

Saynt Gregorie tellis how som̛ tyme þer was a holie man̛ þat hight Fortunatus, & he was a bisshop̛. And on̛ a day he drafe oute ane evuƚƚ spiritt oute of a man̛ þatt was vexid̛ þer-with, whilk spiritt agayn̛ evyn̛ fenyd̛ hym̛ selfe like a pylgrem̛, & went aboute in þe cetie þurgℏ þe stretis, & said̛ & cried̛; "O! þou holie man̛, Fortunatt þe bisshopp̛, þat putt oute a pylgram̛ oute of his hoste! And I seke now in his cetie þer I mot be lugid̛, & I can̛ gett no herberie." And þer was a man̛ þat satt in his howse be þe fyre with his wife & his childre, and he come furtℏ & askid̛ hym̛ what þe bisshop̛ had done vnto hym̛; & he tolde hym̛. & he tuke hym̛ in & herberd̛ hym̛, and as þai satt talkand̛ be þe fyre, þis same spiritt keste a barn̛ of hys in þe fyre and burnyd it o dead̛. And with þat he flew away with a grete noyse. And þis sorie man̛

purseyvid̛ þat he þat he had resayvid was not putt oute be þe bisshopp̛, bod at it was ane iƚƚ spiritt þat come for to disclander hym̛ [Harl. MS. Qui miser orbatus ... quia non hospitalitatis pietate delectabatur sed episcopi derogacione.] .

• ...Inuencio. Inuenta res debet restitui. Infra de promisso.
• ...Inuidia inter religiosos inuenitur. Infra de obediencia.