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

DCLXXXVII.
Sacerdotis malicia non polluit sacramentum.

Iacobus de Vetriaco tellis how þer was som̛ tyme a man̛, whilk þat of ane vnwurthie prest þat he knew wolde nowder here mes nor resayfe his sacramentis. So on̛ a tyme hym̛ thoght in his slepe þat hym̛ was passand thrustie, and þat he stude be a pitt with watir þer a leprus man̛ drew vp watir in a passand fayr vesseƚƚ with a corde aƚƚ of golde. And þer come many one & axkid̛ hym̛ a drynk of þat fayr watir, & he gaff þaim & þai drank̘ faste. And at þe laste þis man̛ drew ner & wolde hafe had a drynk̘, & þe layser man̛ drew bak his hand̛ & wolde not lat hym̛ drynk̘, & sayd̛; "How wiƚƚ þou take a drynke of a lepros man̛ hand̛, þat wiƚƚ not here mes nor take þe sacramentis of a preste at þou knowis is in syn̛? Do no mor̛ so, bod þink̘ of þis vers; 'vim sacramenti non mutat vita ministri.'" And with þat he wakynd̛.

And fro thens furtℏ he neuer gruchid̛ after to here þat prestis mes, nor for to take his sacramentis of holie kurk̘ of his hande.

• ...Sacerdos indiscretus terret confitentes. Supra de apostasia, iij.
• ...Sacerdos tenens vxorem militis et de hoc laico confessus, a confusione liberatur. Supra de confessione, vij.