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

DCXIX.
Penitencia nimis tarda nichil prodest.

Iacobus de Vetriaco tellis how on̛ a tyme Charlis þe Emperour garte caƚƚ befor hym̛ his iij sonnys, Gobardus, Lotharius, and Lodouicus; and he helde ane appyƚƚ in his hand̛ & bad þaim aƚƚ oppyn̛ þer mouthes. & þe ij yonger oppynd̛ þer mouthis, & þis Gobardus wold̛ nott. And he gaff vnto þe ij yonger, þe tone a kyngdom̛, and þe toder a dukedom̛. And when̛ þis Gobardus saw, he said̛ vnto his fader at he wolde oppyn̛ his mouthe & hafe parte of þis appyƚƚ. And his ffadur ansswerd̛ hym̛ agayn̛ & sayd̛ "Þou oppynd̛ þi mouthe to late, & þerfor̛ I wyƚƚ nowder gyff þe appyƚƚ nor land̛." And hereof come a proverb þat is said̛ in Franche, " A tart bea MS. 'Acarbea Gobard,' &c. Gobard, qe eu la tere nout parte."

• ...Penitent simul qui simul peccant. Supra de peccato, iiij MS. iij. .

• ...
• ...Penitencia viuorum facta pro mortuis valet eis. Supra de morte, xiij.
• ...Penitencia debet a confessore acceptari quam a confitente potest extorquere. Supra de confessore.