It is an honour to everich that is heer
That ye mowe have a suffisant pardoneer
T’ assoille yow in contree as ye ryde,
For aventures whiche that may bityde.
– Geoffrey Chaucer
The Canterbury Tales, The Pardoner’s Tale. It is an honor for all of you to have me as a pardoner with sufficient power to absolve you from sin as you ride in the countryside, the Pardoner tells the pilgrims. For accidents may happen at any time, the unholy seller of Church pardons reminds them, like the good salesmanship that he is.