The Clergyman as Prosecutor. Two farmers (grandfather and grandson) go to confession. The clergyman asks the first (the grandson) where God is, but the man cannot answer. The clergyman asks the other one the same thing, but he also cannot answer. The…
Tales of Confessions. (Including the previous Type 1806B*.) This miscellaneous type consists of various anecedotes about confessions. E.g. the penitent offers to trade his fate (future) with the clergyman’s or gives some other quick-witted answer.…
Dinner in Heaven (previously Will Lunch with Christ). A clergyman visits a condemned criminal to offer him consolation, and tells him that tonight he will be having dinner with God. The criminal invites the clergyman to take his place, but the…
The Clergyman’s Children. A red-headed clergyman demands that a (cattle) thief confess his sins publicly from the pulpit. The clergyman tells the congregation that everything the man says there is true. The thief announces that the clergyman is the…
Confessions of a Pious Woman. An old woman confesses her carnal sins to a clergyman, who replies that they must have taken place many years before. The woman agrees, and adds that she still enjoys remembering them.
Tales about Payment for Absolution. This miscellaneous type consists of various anecdotes in which a penitent cheats a clergyman out of payment that he has demanded in return for granting absolution. Cf. Type 1806*.
The Eel Filled with Sand. A clergyman promises absolution to a penitent in return for a large eel. The penitent sends him an eelskin (skins from many eels) filled with sand. The clergyman says that the man’s sins will not be absolved.
Confession in Advance. A penitent has committed a small sin, for which he is assessed a small amount of money. He pays double so that he can commit another sin for free (can do the same thing again, steal a horse that belongs to the confessor…
The Shadow of the Donkey. A donkey driver lets a farmer rent his donkey. It is a hot day, so the farmer stands (sits) in the donkey’s shadow. The driver protests that the farmer rented only the donkey, not its shadow [J1169.7].
Poem for Poem. A poet sends a flattering poem to his ruler and hopes for a generous reward. Instead, the ruler sends a poem to the poet. The poet sends his ruler a little money, saying that it is all that he has. The ruler recognizes this trick and…
Payment with the Clink of Money. (Including the previous Type 1804A.) A man demands payment from other persons because they smelled the first man’s dinner (softened their bread in its steam) while it was being cooked. A judge decrees that the other…
Imagined Penance for Imagined Sin. This tale exists chiefly in two different forms: (1) A penitent (young woman) comes to confession and says that he has planned to do something sinful. The clergyman answers that the thought is as good as the deed,…
Stealing Something Small (previously Stealing Only a Small Amount). In confession, a man admits he has stolen something small – a rope. However, at the end of the rope there was a cow (sheep, ox, donkey) [K188]. Cf. Type 1630A*.
The Clergyman and the Sexton Steal a Hog. A clergyman steals a hog, kills it, hides it in his boat, and rows away. When his followers ask him if he has seen a hog thief, he denies it. He takes the hog home where he shows it to the sexton, who…
The Stingy Clergyman and the Slaughtered Pig. A clergyman (citizen, farmer), who has benefited from others’ communal slaughtering parties, does not want to give away any of his own pig. His sexton (neighbor) advises him to hang the animal’s carcass…
The Murderers’ House. Two young men lose their way on an autumn evening and stay overnight in a secluded house. One of them hears the owner (sees him take a knife and) say, “No matter how young they are, they have to die.” (“It’s lucky that he is so…
The Sexton Carries the Clergyman. (Including the previous Type 1525F.) Two thieves (farmhands, apprentices) decide that one of them will steal cabbage (nuts) while the other steals a sheep (pig, horses). They plan to meet in the graveyard (tomb) at…
The Clergyman and the Sexton Steal a Cow. A clergyman and a sexton steal a cow (other animal), and are suspected of the theft. The sexton is ready to find a solution (says his conscience troubles him; he wants to admit publicly to the theft; makes…
The Clergyman Rides an Ox in the Church (previously The Parson in the Church on the Ox). On Palm Sunday, a preacher wants to show his congregation exactly how Jesus came to Jerusalem, and rides into the church on an ox (horse). The sexton sticks the…
The Sexton’s Wasp nest. Boys (sexton) hide a wasp nest in the pulpit. During the sermon, the wasps sting the preacher. Finally he cannot stand it any more and leaves, saying, “I have the word of God in my mouth, but the devil is in my pants.”…
The Needle in the Pulpit (previously The Sexton Puts a Needle in the Sacramental Bread). (Including the previous Type 1836*.) A preacher has a habit of striking his hands on the pulpit (Bible, communion bread). Some boys (confirmation students,…
The Sausage in the Pocket (previously The Sexton’s Dog Steals the Sausage from the Parson’s Pocket). A preacher is given a sausage by one of his parishioners and goes directly to the church with it in the rear pocket of his coat. A dog smells the…
The Clergyman Put to Flight During his Sermon. Miscellaneous Type. For one reason or another, a clergyman runs away in the middle of the service. For example, he sees a dog eating his dinner or a man stealing his hat; or, a man hiding behind a…