For hooly chirches good moot been despended
On hooly chirches blood, that is descended.
Therfore he wolde his hooly blood honoure,
Though that he hooly chirche sholde devoure.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Reeve’s Tale. If Symkyn is increasing his wealth by cheating customers at the mill, his wife is an even greater source of wealth through her blood line to the church. She is the daughter of a parson, who had a substantial dowry when she married, and the parson intends to pass on the church’s property to his blood heirs. The parson and his heirs are thus dishonestly feeding off the church, with property that should be held in common by the church.