The fifth bough of avarice is sacrilege. Sacrilege is when one breaks or
injures, or takes away foully, the holy things, or the men of holy
Church, or the hallowed places that are appropriated to God’s service,
and that often cause covetousness in many ways. First, when one takes
away foully the body of our Lord, as do the heretics and the witches and
the wicked priests, in order to make gain. Also I speak of the other
sacraments. Afterwards, when one breaks, or steals, or takes away
foully, the hallowed things, the crosses, the chalices, the chrism, the
fine linen, the consecrated vestments, and other consecrated things.
Afterwards, when one burns or breaks churches, or holy places,
church-towns, or religious houses, or when one takes those out that flee
to holy Church, or into church-towns, in order to be protected.
Afterwards, when one makes quarrels in church so that there is blood
shed, or when one commits sin of lechery. Afterwards when one lays hands
wickedly on clerk, or on man or on woman of religion. Afterwards, when
one steals, or carries out of the holy place for an evil cause
consecrated things or unconsecrated, whatever it may be. Of these sins
those are not quit that spend the goods of holy Church, the patrimony of
Jesu Christ, for an evil purpose, nor those any the more that steal, or
withhold by wrong or by force, or hide the things that are appropriated
to holy Church, or pay them badly, as the rents, the offerings, the
tithes, and the other rights of holy Church. Of this same sin those are
not quit that break Sundays, and the feasts that are to be observed. For
the holy day has its freedom, as have the holy places. These are the
small boughs that grow from the bough of sacrilege.