It is a discussion of the ten commandments, the seven deadly sins, the seven sacraments, and the elements of confession, illustrated throughout by exempla, or moral anecdotes, thirteen of which do not appear in the Manuel.
Handlyng Synne is a 14th-century English confessional manual written by Robert Mannyng of Brunne to help educate laypeople about sin. It is an adaptation of the French Manuel des Péchés and is structured around the Ten Commandments, the Seven Deadly Sins, sacrilege, the seven sacraments, and confession. To make the lessons engaging, Mannyng uses a narrative style with numerous moral tales (exempla) and direct instruction, making it a valuable source for social history.