‘Friar William of Montserrat of the Order of Preachers having been sworn, said that some sixteen years ago or thereabouts he came to the Roman City, there to keep Lent.

‘And the Lord Pope who now is who was then Bishop of Ostia received him into his house.

‘In those days Friar Dominic, the inventor and first Master of the Order of Preachers, was at the Roman Court. He often came to the house of the Lord Bishop of Ostia. Hence from that time he had knowledge of him.

‘The behaviour of the said Friar pleased him so that he began to love him. Very often he talked with him of what concerned the salvation of themselves and other men.

‘Now it seemed to the witness that Friar Dominic was of great religious holiness, greater than any man he had ever seen, though the witness had spoken with many religious.

Moreover it seemed to him that he was the greatest seeker Delator] of the salvation of mankind he had ever seen.

‘In the same year he, the witness, went to Paris to hear Theology; because he had promised and given his word to him that after having read Theology for two years and he had put his brethren in order they would both go together to convert the Pagans who dwelt in Persia and other southern parts.’