The Death of Judas, and the Trials of Christ Before Pilate and Herod
Cayphas
Massangere! Massangere!1
Massangere! Massangere!1
Massangere
Here, lord, here!2
Here, lord, here!2
Cayphas
Massanger, to Pylat in hast þu xalt gon,3
And sey hym we comawnde us in word and in dede;
And prey hym þat he be at þe mot-halle anoon,
For we han a gret matere þat he must nedys spede.
Massanger, to Pylat in hast þu xalt gon,3
And sey hym we comawnde us in word and in dede;
And prey hym þat he be at þe mot-halle anoon,
For we han a gret matere þat he must nedys spede.
In hast now go þi way,7
And loke þu tery nowth.
And loke þu tery nowth.
Massanger
It xal be do, lord, be þis day;9
I am as whyt as thought.
It xal be do, lord, be þis day;9
I am as whyt as thought.
Here Pylat syttyth in his skaffald, and þe massanger knelyth to hym, þus seyng:
Al heyl, Sere Pylat, þat semly is to se,11
Prynce of al his Juré and kepere of þe lawe!
My lord, Busshop Cayphas, comawndyd hym to þe,
And prayd the to be at þe mot-halle by þe day dawe.
Prynce of al his Juré and kepere of þe lawe!
My lord, Busshop Cayphas, comawndyd hym to þe,
And prayd the to be at þe mot-halle by þe day dawe.
Pylat
Go þi way, praty masanger, and comawnde me also.
I xal be þere in hast, and so þu mayst say.
Be þe oure of prime I xal comyn hem to;
I tery no lenger, no make no delay.
Go þi way, praty masanger, and comawnde me also.
I xal be þere in hast, and so þu mayst say.
Be þe oure of prime I xal comyn hem to;
I tery no lenger, no make no delay.
Here þe massanger comyth a3en and bryngyth an ansuere, þus seyng:
Massanger
Al heyl, myn lordys, and buschoppys, and princys of þe lawe!
Ser Pylat comawndyth hym to 3ou and bad me to 3ou say
He wole be at þe mot-halle in hast sone after þe day dawe;
He wold 3e xuld be þer be prime withouth lenger delay.
Al heyl, myn lordys, and buschoppys, and princys of þe lawe!
Ser Pylat comawndyth hym to 3ou and bad me to 3ou say
He wole be at þe mot-halle in hast sone after þe day dawe;
He wold 3e xuld be þer be prime withouth lenger delay.
Cayphas
Now weyl mote þu fare, my good page.23
Take þu his for þi massage.
Now weyl mote þu fare, my good page.23
Take þu his for þi massage.
Here enteryth Judas onto þe Juwys, þus seyng:
Judas
I, Judas, haue synnyd, and treson haue don,25
For I haue betrayd his rythful blood.
Here is 3oure mony a3en, all and som.
For sorwe and thowth I am wax wood!
I, Judas, haue synnyd, and treson haue don,25
For I haue betrayd his rythful blood.
Here is 3oure mony a3en, all and som.
For sorwe and thowth I am wax wood!
Annas
What is þat to us? Avyse þe now,29
þu dedyst with us counawnt make:
þu seldyst hym us as hors or kow,
þerfore þin owyn dedys þu must take.
What is þat to us? Avyse þe now,29
þu dedyst with us counawnt make:
þu seldyst hym us as hors or kow,
þerfore þin owyn dedys þu must take.
þan Judas castyth down þe mony, and goth and hangyth hymself.
Cayphas
Now, serys, þe nyth is passyd, þe day is come;
It were tyme þis man had his jewgement.
And Pylat abydyth in þe mot-halle alone
Tyl we xuld þis man present.
Now, serys, þe nyth is passyd, þe day is come;
It were tyme þis man had his jewgement.
And Pylat abydyth in þe mot-halle alone
Tyl we xuld þis man present.
And þerfore go we now forth with hym in hast.
Primus Judeus
It xal be don, and þat in short spas.38
It xal be don, and þat in short spas.38
Secundus Judeus
3a, but loke yf he be bownd ryth wel and fast.39
3a, but loke yf he be bownd ryth wel and fast.39
Tercius Judeus
He is saff anow. Go we ryth a good pas.40
He is saff anow. Go we ryth a good pas.40
Here þei ledyn Jesu abowt þe place tyl þei come to þe halle.
Cayphas
Sere Pylat, takyht hede to þis thyng:41
Jesus we han beforn þe browth,
Wheche oure lawe doth down bryng,
And mekyl schame he hath us wrowth.
Sere Pylat, takyht hede to þis thyng:41
Jesus we han beforn þe browth,
Wheche oure lawe doth down bryng,
And mekyl schame he hath us wrowth.
Annas
From þis cetye into þe lond of Galylé
He hath browth oure lawys neyr into confusyon,
With hese craftys wrowth be nygramancye
Shewyth to þe pepyl be fals symulacyon.
From þis cetye into þe lond of Galylé
He hath browth oure lawys neyr into confusyon,
With hese craftys wrowth be nygramancye
Shewyth to þe pepyl be fals symulacyon.
Primus Doctor
3a! 3et, sere, another, and werst of alle,49
A3ens Sesare, oure emperour þat is so fre:
Kyng of Jewys he doth hym calle,
So oure emperourys power nowth xulde be.
3a! 3et, sere, another, and werst of alle,49
A3ens Sesare, oure emperour þat is so fre:
Kyng of Jewys he doth hym calle,
So oure emperourys power nowth xulde be.
Secundus Doctor
Sere Pylat, we kannot telle half þe blame53
þat Jesus in oure countré hath wrowth.
þerfore we charge þe in þe emperorys name
þat he to þe deth in hast be browth.
Sere Pylat, we kannot telle half þe blame53
þat Jesus in oure countré hath wrowth.
þerfore we charge þe in þe emperorys name
þat he to þe deth in hast be browth.
Pylat
What seyst to these compleyntys, Jesu?57
These pepyl hath þe sore acusyd
Because þu bryngyst up lawys newe
þat in oure days were not vsyd.
What seyst to these compleyntys, Jesu?57
These pepyl hath þe sore acusyd
Because þu bryngyst up lawys newe
þat in oure days were not vsyd.
Jesus
Of here acusyng me rowth nowth,61
So þat þei hurt not here soulys, ne non mo.
I haue nowth 3et founde þat I haue sowth;
For my faderys wyl, forth must I go.
Of here acusyng me rowth nowth,61
So þat þei hurt not here soulys, ne non mo.
I haue nowth 3et founde þat I haue sowth;
For my faderys wyl, forth must I go.
Pylat
Jesus, be þis þan I trowe þu art a kyng.
And þe Sone of God þu art also,
Lord of erth and of allþing.
Telle me þe trowth if it be so.
Jesus, be þis þan I trowe þu art a kyng.
And þe Sone of God þu art also,
Lord of erth and of allþing.
Telle me þe trowth if it be so.
Jesus
In hefne is knowyn my faderys intent,69
And in þis werlde I was born.
Be my fadyr I was hedyr sent
For to seke þat was forlorn.
In hefne is knowyn my faderys intent,69
And in þis werlde I was born.
Be my fadyr I was hedyr sent
For to seke þat was forlorn.
Alle þat me heryn and in me belevyn73
And kepyn here feyth stedfastly,
þow þei weryn dede, I xal hem recuryn,
And xal þem bryng to blysse endlesly.
And kepyn here feyth stedfastly,
þow þei weryn dede, I xal hem recuryn,
And xal þem bryng to blysse endlesly.
Pilate
Lo, serys, now 3e an erde þis man, how thynk 3e?
Thynke 3e not all, be 3oure reson,
But as he seyth it may wel be,
And þat xulde be, be þis incheson?
Lo, serys, now 3e an erde þis man, how thynk 3e?
Thynke 3e not all, be 3oure reson,
But as he seyth it may wel be,
And þat xulde be, be þis incheson?
I fynde in hym non obecyon81
Of errour nor treson, ne of no maner gylt.
The lawe wole in no conclusyon
Withowte defawth he xuld be spylt.
Of errour nor treson, ne of no maner gylt.
The lawe wole in no conclusyon
Withowte defawth he xuld be spylt.
Primus Doctor
Sere Pylat, þe lawe restyth in þe,85
And we knowe veryly his gret trespas.
To þe emperour þis mater told xal be,
Yf þu lete Jesus þus from þe pas.
Sere Pylat, þe lawe restyth in þe,85
And we knowe veryly his gret trespas.
To þe emperour þis mater told xal be,
Yf þu lete Jesus þus from þe pas.
Pylat
Serys, þan telle me o thyng:89
What xal be his acusyng?
Serys, þan telle me o thyng:89
What xal be his acusyng?
Annas
Sere, we telle þe al togedyr,91
For his evyl werkys we browth hym hedyr;
Sere, we telle þe al togedyr,91
For his evyl werkys we browth hym hedyr;
And yf he had not an evyl-doere be,93
We xuld not a browth hym to þe.
We xuld not a browth hym to þe.
Pylat
Takyth hym þan aftyr 3oure sawe,95
And demyth hym aftyr 3oure lawe.
Takyth hym þan aftyr 3oure sawe,95
And demyth hym aftyr 3oure lawe.
Cayphas
It is not lefful to vs, 3e seyn,97
No maner man for to slen.
þe cawse why we bryng hym to þe,
þat he xuld not oure kyng be.
It is not lefful to vs, 3e seyn,97
No maner man for to slen.
þe cawse why we bryng hym to þe,
þat he xuld not oure kyng be.
Weyl þu knowyst, kyng we have non101
But oure emperour alon.
But oure emperour alon.
Pylat
Jesu, þu art Kyng of Juré?103
Jesu, þu art Kyng of Juré?103
Jesus
So þu seyst now to me.104
So þu seyst now to me.104
Pylat
Tel me þan,105
Where is þi kyngham?
Tel me þan,105
Where is þi kyngham?
Jesus
My kingham is not in þis werld,107
I telle þe at o word.
My kingham is not in þis werld,107
I telle þe at o word.
Yf my kyngham here had be,109
I xuld not a be delyveryd to þe.
I xuld not a be delyveryd to þe.
Pylat
Serys, avyse 3ow as 3e kan;111
I can fynde no defawth in þis man.
Serys, avyse 3ow as 3e kan;111
I can fynde no defawth in þis man.
Annas
Sere, here is a gret record; take hed þerto!113
And knowyng gret myschef in þis man
(And not only in o day or to —
It is many 3erys syn he began),
We kan telle þe tyme, where and whan,
þat many a thowsand turnyd hath he,
As all þis pepyll record weyl kan,119
From hens into þe lond of Galylé.
Sere, here is a gret record; take hed þerto!113
And knowyng gret myschef in þis man
(And not only in o day or to —
It is many 3erys syn he began),
We kan telle þe tyme, where and whan,
þat many a thowsand turnyd hath he,
As all þis pepyll record weyl kan,119
From hens into þe lond of Galylé.
Et clamabunt, "3a! 3a! 3a!"
Pilat
Serys, of o thyng than gyf me relacyon:121
If Jesus were outborn in þe lond of Galelye.
For we han no poer ne no jurediccyon
Of no man of þat contré.
Therfore þe trewth 3e telle me
And another wey I xal provyde.
If Jesus were born in þat countré,127
þe jugement of Herowdys he must abyde.
Serys, of o thyng than gyf me relacyon:121
If Jesus were outborn in þe lond of Galelye.
For we han no poer ne no jurediccyon
Of no man of þat contré.
Therfore þe trewth 3e telle me
And another wey I xal provyde.
If Jesus were born in þat countré,127
þe jugement of Herowdys he must abyde.
Cayphas
Sere, as I am to þe lawe trewly sworn,129
To telle þe trewth I haue no fer.
In Galelye I know þat he was born;
I can telle in what place and where.
A3ens þis no man may answere,
For he was born in Bedlem Judé.
And þis 3e knowe now all, and haue don here,135
þat it stant in þe lond of Galelye.
Sere, as I am to þe lawe trewly sworn,129
To telle þe trewth I haue no fer.
In Galelye I know þat he was born;
I can telle in what place and where.
A3ens þis no man may answere,
For he was born in Bedlem Judé.
And þis 3e knowe now all, and haue don here,135
þat it stant in þe lond of Galelye.
Pylat
Weyl, serys, syn þat I knowe þat it is so,
þe trewth of þis I must nedys se.
I vndyrstand ryth now what is to do:
þe jugement of Jesu lyth not to me.
Herowde is kyng of þat countré,
To jewge þat regyon in lenth and in brede.
þe jurysdyccyon of Jesu now han must he;143
þerfore Jesu in hast to hym 3e lede.
Weyl, serys, syn þat I knowe þat it is so,
þe trewth of þis I must nedys se.
I vndyrstand ryth now what is to do:
þe jugement of Jesu lyth not to me.
Herowde is kyng of þat countré,
To jewge þat regyon in lenth and in brede.
þe jurysdyccyon of Jesu now han must he;143
þerfore Jesu in hast to hym 3e lede.
In hall þe hast þat 3e may, spede,145
Lcde hym to þe Herownde anon present;
And sey I comawnde me with worde and dede,
And Jesu to hym þat I haue sent.
Lcde hym to þe Herownde anon present;
And sey I comawnde me with worde and dede,
And Jesu to hym þat I haue sent.
Primus Doctor
This erand in hast sped xal be,149
In all þe hast þat we can do.
We xal not tary in no degré,
Tyl þe Herowdys presens we com to.
This erand in hast sped xal be,149
In all þe hast þat we can do.
We xal not tary in no degré,
Tyl þe Herowdys presens we com to.
Here þei take Jesu and lede hym in gret hast to þe Herowde. And þe Herowdys scafald xal vnclose shewyng Herowdys in astat, all þe Jewys knelyng except Annas and Cayphas; þei xal stondyn, et cetera.
Primus Doctor
Heyl, Herowde, most excyllent kyng!153
We arn comawndyd to þin presens.
Pylat sendyth þe be us gretyng,
And chargyth us be oure obedyens
Heyl, Herowde, most excyllent kyng!153
We arn comawndyd to þin presens.
Pylat sendyth þe be us gretyng,
And chargyth us be oure obedyens
Secundus Doctor
þat we xuld do oure dylygens157
To bryng Jesus of Nazareth onto þe;
And chargyth us to make no resystens,
Becawse he was born in þis countré.
þat we xuld do oure dylygens157
To bryng Jesus of Nazareth onto þe;
And chargyth us to make no resystens,
Becawse he was born in þis countré.
Annas
We knowe he hath wrowth gret folé161
Ageyns þe lawe shewyd present.
Therfore Pylat sent hym onto þe
þat þu xuldyst gyf hym jugement.
We knowe he hath wrowth gret folé161
Ageyns þe lawe shewyd present.
Therfore Pylat sent hym onto þe
þat þu xuldyst gyf hym jugement.
Herowde Rex
Now be Mahound, my god of grace,165
Of Pylat þis is a dede ful kende.
I forgyf hym now his gret trespace
And schal be his frend withowtyn ende,
Now be Mahound, my god of grace,165
Of Pylat þis is a dede ful kende.
I forgyf hym now his gret trespace
And schal be his frend withowtyn ende,
Jesus to me þat he wole sende.169
I desyred ful sore hym for to se.
Gret ese in þis Pylat xal fynde.
And, Jesus, þu art welcome to me.
I desyred ful sore hym for to se.
Gret ese in þis Pylat xal fynde.
And, Jesus, þu art welcome to me.
Primus Judeus
My sovereyn lord, þis is þe case:173
þe gret falsnesse of Jesu is opynly knawe.
þer was nevyr man dede so gret trespas,
For he hath almost dystroyd oure lawe.
My sovereyn lord, þis is þe case:173
þe gret falsnesse of Jesu is opynly knawe.
þer was nevyr man dede so gret trespas,
For he hath almost dystroyd oure lawe.
Secundus Judeus
3a, be fals crafte of soserye177
Wrowth opynly to þe pepyll alle,
And þe sotyl poyntys of nygramancye,
Many thowsandys fro oure lawe be falle.
3a, be fals crafte of soserye177
Wrowth opynly to þe pepyll alle,
And þe sotyl poyntys of nygramancye,
Many thowsandys fro oure lawe be falle.
Cayphas
Most excellent kyng, 3e must take hede:181
He wol dystroye all þis countré, both elde and 3yng,
Yf he ten monthis more procede,
Be his meraclys and fals prechyng.
Most excellent kyng, 3e must take hede:181
He wol dystroye all þis countré, both elde and 3yng,
Yf he ten monthis more procede,
Be his meraclys and fals prechyng.
He bryngyth þe pepyl in gret fonnyng,185
And seyth dayly among hem alle
That he is Lord, and of þe Jewys kyng,
And þe Sone of God he doth hym calle.
And seyth dayly among hem alle
That he is Lord, and of þe Jewys kyng,
And þe Sone of God he doth hym calle.
Rex Herowde
Serys, alle þese materys I haue herd sayd,189
And meche more þan 3e me telle.
Alle togedyr þei xal be layde,
And I wyl take þeron cowncelle.
Serys, alle þese materys I haue herd sayd,189
And meche more þan 3e me telle.
Alle togedyr þei xal be layde,
And I wyl take þeron cowncelle.
Jesus, þu art welcome to me!193
I kan Pylat gret thank for his sendyng.
I haue desyryd ful longe þe to se,
And of þi meracles to haue knowyng.
I kan Pylat gret thank for his sendyng.
I haue desyryd ful longe þe to se,
And of þi meracles to haue knowyng.
It is told me þu dost many a wondyr thyng;197
Crokyd to gon and blynd men to sen;
And þei þat ben dede, gevyst hem levyng,
And makyst lepers fayre and hool to ben.
Crokyd to gon and blynd men to sen;
And þei þat ben dede, gevyst hem levyng,
And makyst lepers fayre and hool to ben.
These arn wondyr werkys wrougth of þe,201
Be what wey I wolde knowe þe trew sentens.
Now, Jesu, I pray the, lete me se
O meracle wrougth in my presens.
Be what wey I wolde knowe þe trew sentens.
Now, Jesu, I pray the, lete me se
O meracle wrougth in my presens.
In hast now do þi dylygens,205
And peraventure I wyl shew favour to the.
For now þu art in my presens,
Thyn lyf and deth here lyth in me.
And peraventure I wyl shew favour to the.
For now þu art in my presens,
Thyn lyf and deth here lyth in me.
And here Jesus xal not speke no word to þe Herowde.
Jesus, why spekyst not to þi kyng?209
What is þe cawse þu stondyst so stylle?
þu knowyst I may deme allthyng,
Thyn lyf and deth lyth at my wylle.
What is þe cawse þu stondyst so stylle?
þu knowyst I may deme allthyng,
Thyn lyf and deth lyth at my wylle.
What! Spek, Jesus, and telle me why213
þis pepyl do þe so here acuse.
Spare not, but telle me now on hey
How þu canst þiself excuse.
þis pepyl do þe so here acuse.
Spare not, but telle me now on hey
How þu canst þiself excuse.
Cayphas
Loo, serys, þis is of hym a false sotylté.
He wyl not speke but whan he lyst!
þus he dysceyvyth þe pepyl in eche degré —
He is ful fals, 3e veryly tryst.
Loo, serys, þis is of hym a false sotylté.
He wyl not speke but whan he lyst!
þus he dysceyvyth þe pepyl in eche degré —
He is ful fals, 3e veryly tryst.
Rex Herowde
What, þu onhangyd harlot, why wylt þu not speke?
Hast þu skorne to speke onto þi kyng?
Becawse þu dost oure lawys breke,
I trowe þu art aferd of oure talkyng.
What, þu onhangyd harlot, why wylt þu not speke?
Hast þu skorne to speke onto þi kyng?
Becawse þu dost oure lawys breke,
I trowe þu art aferd of oure talkyng.
Annas
Nay, he is not aferde, but of a fals wyle,225
Becawse we xuld not hym acuse.
If þat he answerd 3ow ontylle,
He knowyth he kannot hymself excuse.
Nay, he is not aferde, but of a fals wyle,225
Becawse we xuld not hym acuse.
If þat he answerd 3ow ontylle,
He knowyth he kannot hymself excuse.
Rex Hero[wde]
What! Spek, I say, þu foulyng! Evyl mot þu fare!
Loke up, þe devyl mote þe cheke.
Serys, bete his body with scorgys bare,
And asay to make hym for to speke.
What! Spek, I say, þu foulyng! Evyl mot þu fare!
Loke up, þe devyl mote þe cheke.
Serys, bete his body with scorgys bare,
And asay to make hym for to speke.
Primus Jude[us]
It xal be do withoutyn teryeng.233
Come on, þu tretour, evyl mot þu þe!
Whylt þu not speke onto oure kyng?
A new lesson we xal lere þe.
It xal be do withoutyn teryeng.233
Come on, þu tretour, evyl mot þu þe!
Whylt þu not speke onto oure kyng?
A new lesson we xal lere þe.
Here þei pulle of Jesus clothis and betyn hym with whyppys.
Secundus Jude[us]
Jesus, þi bonys we xal not breke,237
But we xal make þe to skyppe.
þu hast lost þi tonge, þu mayst not speke —
þu xalt asay now of þis whippe!
Jesus, þi bonys we xal not breke,237
But we xal make þe to skyppe.
þu hast lost þi tonge, þu mayst not speke —
þu xalt asay now of þis whippe!
Tercius Judeus
Serys, take þese whyppys in 3oure honde,241
And spare not whyl þei last,
And bete his tretoure þat here doth stonde;
I trowe þat he wyl speke in hast.
Serys, take þese whyppys in 3oure honde,241
And spare not whyl þei last,
And bete his tretoure þat here doth stonde;
I trowe þat he wyl speke in hast.
And quan þei han betyn hym tyl he is all blody, þan þe Herownd seyth:
[Rex Herowde]
Sees, serys, I comawnde 3ou be name of þe devyl of helle!
Jesus, thynkyst þis good game?
þu art strong to suffyr schame;
þu haddyst levyr be betyn lame
þan þi defawtys for to telle.
Sees, serys, I comawnde 3ou be name of þe devyl of helle!
Jesus, thynkyst þis good game?
þu art strong to suffyr schame;
þu haddyst levyr be betyn lame
þan þi defawtys for to telle.
But I wyl not þi body all spyl,250
Nor put it here into more peyn.
Serys, takyth Jesus at 3oure owyn wyl
And lede hym to Pylat hom ageyn.
Grete hym weyl and telle hym serteyn
All my good frenchep xal he haue.
I gyf hym powere of Jesus, þus 3e hym seyn,256
Whether he wole hym dampne or save.
Nor put it here into more peyn.
Serys, takyth Jesus at 3oure owyn wyl
And lede hym to Pylat hom ageyn.
Grete hym weyl and telle hym serteyn
All my good frenchep xal he haue.
I gyf hym powere of Jesus, þus 3e hym seyn,256
Whether he wole hym dampne or save.
Primus Doctor
Sere, at 3oure request it xal be do;258
We xal lede Jesus at 3oure demaw[n]de,
And delyver hym Pylat onto,
And telle hym all as 3e comawnde.
Sere, at 3oure request it xal be do;258
We xal lede Jesus at 3oure demaw[n]de,
And delyver hym Pylat onto,
And telle hym all as 3e comawnde.
2024 Mar 19 14:56:36