Þo þe luþere Men i-seien þis : a-nuyde huy weren sore;
huy nomen þat bok and seiden a-non : þat huy wolden ȝeot fondi more:
huy casten eft-sone in-to þe fuyr : and þe þridde tyme al-so:
Line 68
And euere þat writ was al-so sound : as it was þare-inne i-do.
þis Men of heore heresie : i-schende heom heolden þo—
And nolden nouȝt ȝeot al clanliche : out of heore folie go.
Seint domenic þis holie Man : ase ore louerd ȝaf þat cas,
Line 72
In þe Cite of tolouse : ten ȝer to-gadere he was.
he þouȝte bi-guynne a-godes name : ȝif he miȝte it bringue to ende,
An ordre of Men to prechi faste : and a-boute þe world to wende,
þat miȝten þoruȝ-out cristindom : Men wissi and rede;
Line 76
Ȝeorne he bad to Iesu crist : helpe him to þis dede.
So þat þe pope Innocent : a gret counseil I-nouȝ [folio 125]
Makede at rome þulke tyme : and muche folk þudere drouȝ.
Seint Domenic wel mildeliche : þudere gan to wende,
Line 80
Ȝif he miȝte anie grace habbe : to bringue is ordre to ende.
he cam and bad þe pope leue : swuch þing for-to do.
þe pope makede him dauncherous : and nolde ensenti þer-to.
¶ A niȝt, as þe pope lai a-slepe : ase ore louerd ȝaf þat cas,
Line 84
him þouȝte þat þe churche of rome : al a-doneward was
Of "seint Iohanes de lateran" : and as he lai þere
he lokede euere and al þat folk : ȝwane huy ouer-falle were;
And seint Domenic heold up a-ȝen : and faste schef with-oute,
Line 88
Wal ant tymber he pulte a-ȝein : and faste orn a-boute.
þe pope, þo he a-wok : In grete þouȝte lay
Ȝwat þis bi-tocningue miȝte beo : þat he slepinde i-saiȝ.
he þouȝte þat þe stat of holi churche : swuyþe i-febled were
Line 92
And þat cristine-dom in Manie studes : in riȝt guod stat it nere,
And þat seint Domenic þoruȝ is ordre : hire scholde helpe a-rere
þoruȝ his prechingue wide in londe : cristine men to lere.
þe pope a-morewe sente aftur him : and grauntede him wel fawe
Line 96
to maken is ordre a-godes name : and folk to guode drawe;
bote þat he [he on the margin.] heom scheowede is ruyle : to alle is cardinales þere,
And þat huy weren i-prouede guode : are huy i-confermede were.
So þat þe ordre of frere prechours : seint Domenic bi-gan þo,
Line 100
þat hath i-saued wel mani a man : and ȝeot it schal wel mo.
