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

DCXVIII.
Penitencia modica MS. inordita. Lat. MSS. as above. ex corde facta placet Deo.

We rede in 'Vitis Patrum' how som tyme þer was a monk̘ þat askid̛ abbott Pastor, & said̛ on̛ þis maner of wyse; "I hafe done a

grete syn̛, & I wiƚƚ [After will, not, erased.] þis iij yere be penytent þerof." And þan̛ þis abbot Pastor ansswerd̛ hym̛ agayn̛, & sayd̛; "þat is mekuƚƚ!" & þis monk̘ bad hym̛ commawnd hym̛ a yere, & yitt þe abbott said̛ þat was mekuƚƚ. And þai at was aboute desyrid̛ at he sulde be enionyd̛ þerfor̛ XL^ti dayes, and yitt þis abbott said̛ it was mekuƚƚ, & said̛ on̛ þis maner of wyse; "I trow þat & a man̛ forthynk his syn̛ with aƚƚ his harte, & turn̛ not þerto agayn̛, at God wiƚƚ for iij dayes penans-doyng forgyff hym̛ hys syn̛."

• ...Penitenciam impedit gula. Supra de gula, iiij et vto.
• ...Penitenciam facit peccator inductus. Supra de abbate, iij.
• ...Penitencia debet esse firma et perseverans. Supra de familiaritate et infra de perseuerancia.
• ...Penitencia in fine vite valet. Supra de peccato, iij.