It hath been every where seen, that Owlglass was a most knavish wight. And when it had come to pass that he had worked these such deceiving actions, he thought of the old proverb which saith:

And Owlglass was aweary of his own devices, and thereat wished that he might find another like unto him. So departed he, and he journeyed forward, and at last came unto Rome. There entered he into an inn, which a widow kept, and she saw that he was a goodly man to look upon, and she spake unto him, and asked him of what country was he. And Owlglass told her that he was of the land of Saxony, and that he had come unto Rome because that he craved to confer with the Pope touching a certain business. Then answered the widow and said unto him: “The Pope canst thou see, but as to speaking with him that mayest thou not do. I have been bred and born in this place, and of gentle birth also, yet have I never spoken with the Pope. How then, think ye, that ye will do this thing? Truly would I give a hundred ducats an if that I could have speech of him.” And Owlglass answered and said: “My good hostess an if I gat ye speech of him would ye give me the hundred ducats?” The woman said: “Marry that would I,” and straightway promised them unto him. But she thought that it could never be that Owlglass would do this thing; for she knew that it was a heavy and long labour to bring it about. But Owlglass said unto her that if he did cause it to come to pass, then would he demand the hundred ducats; and therewith were they both content.

And Owlglass tarried until it fortuned that the Sunday came round, on which the Pope read the mass in the chapel called Jerusalem, in the church of the holy Saint John Lateran, the which he did once in every four weeks. Then gat him Owlglass to the chapel, and thrust himself in as near as might be unto the Pope’s person, and stood there; and when that the host was lifted up, or a blessing given from the altar, then did Owlglass turn his back thereunto, the which was a thing not fit to be done. And thereafter was the Pope told of this, that a very proper handsome man had stood at the mass and so acted. Then said his Holiness that such a thing was an abomination, and that he feared the man who had done so was in unbelief and an heretic. If that this were not punished, it would be a great scandal. Then sent the Pope for Owlglass, and the messengers came unto him and carried him before the Pope. Then said the Pope unto Owlglass: “What manner of man art thou?” And Owlglass answered and said: “I am a good Christian.” Then said the Pope: “What belief hast thou?” To which Owlglass made reply: “That he was of the same belief as his hostess,” and named her by name, and she was a woman well-known. And the Pope commanded that she should be brought to him; and he asked her, saying: “What belief hast thou, woman?” And she made answer unto the Pope and said: “I am a thorough Christian, and a believer in that which the Holy Church ordaineth is to be believed, and no other belief have I.” In the which the good woman did marvellously resemble divers other excellent Christians, which take from the mouth of ignorance the confirming grace of wisdom.

Then stood Owlglass by, and with much humility, did seem to be very pious, and said: “Most gracious Father! this true faith hold I also, and that most firmly, and am a good Christian man.” Then said the Pope unto him: “Wherefore dost thou turn thy back to the altar?” And Owlglass answered and said: “That did I, forasmuch as I am a grievous sinner, and one not worthy to behold the altar, as I have not received absolution for my crimes.” Thereat was the Pope content, and giving him absolution, he let Owlglass go; and he returned unto his inn, and demanded the hundred ducats, the which the widow gave unto him. Yet found not Owlglass the knave he sought, and himself was not a whit more honest than before; so that his Roman journey did him no great good.