I know that in this wretched life our sins expose us to many tribulations of soul and passions of the body […] I also see that since my birth forty years ago, I have given little heed to God’s commandments. Distrusting my own power to reform, but hoping to advance by degrees along the path of virtue, I resolve from this day forward to refrain from going to the shop or conducting business on solemn church holidays […] Whenever I make exceptions I promise to distribute alms of one gold florin to God’s poor. I have written this down so that I may remember my promise and be ashamed if I should chance to break it.

— Gregorio Dati, personal diary, 1404