Capitulum vicesimum secundum.
GREGORIUS the vjthe, callede afore Gracianus, succedid Benedicte allemoste iiij. yere. Willelmus de Regibus. This pope, a man of grete religion and audacite, ȝafe batelle on a season to Henre the emperoure, whiche founde the state of the churche of Rome so decreased that he hade unnethe eny thynge to hym and to the cardynalles excepte fewe cites and places nye to the cite of Rome, and the offerynges of tru peple. For theire goodes were taken awey by thefes and robbers, inso|moche that thei come to the churches and toke awey goodes offrede in þeim; and mony of theym usede woodes and rob|bede pilgremes, that the visitacion of Petyr and of Paule was not usede, what for robbers in the wey, and what for murdre of peple in the cite and in the churche of Seynte Petyr. Gregory the pope perceyvnge this, movede the wickede peple by feire wordes to amende theire wickede lyfe, but noo profyte folow|ynge, he cursede all those wickede men solennly, and alle men havynge communicacion with theyme. The pope prevaylynge