For I wol preche and begge in sondry landes;
I wol nat do no labour with myne handes,
Ne make baskettes and lyve therby,
By cause I wol nat beggen ydelly.
I wol noon of the apostles countrefete.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner’s Prologue. In the Pardoner’s lengthy confession of sin, he admits that he will preach for money in various lands. But will not labor with his hands, make baskets for a living or imitate the apostles, he says. Clearly a mugs game to him and nowhere near as profitable as cashing in on his preaching talent! Mind you, there’s no confusing the hypocritical Pardoner with the saintly apostles.