Ful swetely herde he confessioun,
And plesaunt was his absolucioun:
He was an esy man to yeve penaunce,
Ther as he wiste to have a good pitaunce.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue. God’s forgiveness does not come free, it seems. The Friar offers a friendly ear in confession to penitants…but at a price. This corrupt and despicable character uses confessions as his course of income. Selling forgiveness is subverting the sacrament of penance and God’s forgiveness, which is supposed to be given freely to the true penitant. Friar Hubert is religious in name only, he’s the one who should go to confession and seek forgiveness for his sins.