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PILATUS Yhe cursed creatures that cruelly are cryand,
Restreyne you for stryvyng
for strengh of my strakis;
Youre pleyntes in my presence
use plately applyand,
Or ellis this brande in youre braynes,
schalle brestis and brekis.
This brande in his bones brekis,
What brawle that with brawlyng me brewis,
That wrecche may not wrye fro my wrekis,
Nor his sleyghtis noght slely hym slakis,
Latte that traytour noght triste in my trewys.
For Sir Sesar was my sier
and I sothely his sonne,
That exelent emperoure exaltid in hight
Whylk all this wilde worlde with wytes had wone;
And my modir hight Pila that proude was o plight,
O Pila that prowde, and Atus hir fadir he hight.
This Pila was hadde into Atus,
Nowe renkis, rede yhe it right?
For thus schortely I have schewid you in sight
Howe I am prowdely preved Pilatus.
Loo, Pilate I am, proved a prince of grete pride;
I was putte into Pounce the pepill to presse,
And sithen Sesar hymselffe with exynatores be his side,
Remytte me to ther remys, the renkes to redresse.
And yitte am I graunted on grounde, as I gesse,
To justifie and juge all the Jewes.
A, luffe, here lady, no lesse?
Lo, sirs, my worthely wiffe, that sche is;
So semely, loo, certayne scho schewys.
UXOR PILATI Was nevir juge in this Jurie of so jocounde generacion,
Nor of so joifull genologie to gentrys enjoyned,
As yhe, my duke doughty, demar of dampnacion
To princes and prelatis
that youre preceptis perloyned.
Who that youre preceptis pertly perloyned,
With drede into dede schall ye dryffe hym.
By my trouthe, he untrewly is troned
That agaynste youre behestis hase honed;
All to ragges schall ye rente hym and ryve hym.
I am dame precious Percula, of prynces the prise,
Wiffe to Ser Pilate, here prince withouten pere,
All welle of all womanhede I am, wittie and wise.
Consayve nowe my countenaunce so comly and clere.
The coloure of my corse is full clere,
And in richesse of robis I am rayed.
Ther is no lorde in this londe, as I lere,
In faith, that hath a frendlyar feere
Than yhe my lorde,
myselffe thof I saye itt.
PILATUS Nowe saye itt may ye saffely,
for I will certefie the same.
UXOR PILATI Gracious lorde, gramercye, youre gode worde is gayne.
PILATUS Yhitt for to comforte my corse, me muste kisse you, madame.
UXOR To fulfille youre forward, my fayre lorde, in faith I am fayne.
PILATUS Howe, howe, felawys, nowe in faith I am fayne
Of theis lippis so loffely are lappid,
In bedde is full buxhome and bayne.
DOMINA Yha, sir, it nedith not to layne,
All ladise we coveyte than
bothe to be kyssid and clappid.
BEDELLUS My liberall lorde, o leder of lawis,
O schynyng schawe that all schames escheues,
I beseke you, my soverayne, assente to my sawes
As ye are gentill juger and justice of Jewes.
DOMINA Do herke, howe you javell jangill of Jewes.
Why, go bette horosonne boy, when I bidde thee.
BEDELLUS Madame, I do but that diewe is.
DOMINA But yf thou reste of thy resoune thou rewis,
For all is acursed, carle, hase in, kydde thee.
PILATUS Do mende you, madame, and youre mode be amendand,
For me semys it wer sittand to se what he sais.
DOMINA Mi lorde, he tolde nevir tale that to me was tendand,
But with wrynkis and with wiles to wend me my weys.1
BEDELLUS Gwisse, of youre wayes to be wendand,
itt langis to oure lawes.
DOMINA Loo, lorde, this ladde with his lawes,
Howe thynke ye it prophitis wele
his prechyng to prayse?
PILATUS Yha, luffe, he knawis all oure custome,
I knawe wele.
BEDELLUS My seniour, will ye see nowe the sonne in your sight,
For his stately strengh he stemmys in his stremys;
Behalde ovir youre hede how he holdis fro hight
And glydis to the grounde with his glitterand glemys.
To the grounde he gois with his bemys
And the nyght is neghand anone.
Yhe may deme aftir no dremys,
But late my lady here
with all her light lemys
Wightely go wende till her wone,
For ye muste sitte, sir, this same nyght of lyfe and of lyme;
Itt is noght leeffull for my lady
by the lawe of this lande
In dome for to dwelle
fro the day waxe ought dymme,
For scho may stakir in the strete
but scho stalworthely stande.
. . .
Late hir take hir leve whill that light is.
PILATUS Nowe, wiffe, than ye blythely be buskand.
DOMINA I am here, sir, hendely at hande.
PILATUS Loo, this renke has us redde als right is.
DOMINA Youre comaundement to kepe to kare for thee I caste me;2
My lorde, with youre leve, no lenger I lette yowe.
PILATUS Itt were a repreve to my persone
that prevely ye paste me,
Or ye wente fro this wones
or with wynne ye had wette yowe.
Ye schall wende forthe with wynne
whenne that ye have wette yowe.
Gete drinke, what dose thou, have done!
Come, semely, beside me and sette yowe.
Loke, nowe it is even here that I are behete you,
Ya, saie it nowe sadly and sone.
DOMINA Itt wolde glad me, my lorde, if ye gudly begynne.
PILATUS Nowe I assente to youre counsaille, so comely and clene;
Nowe drynke, madame; to deth all this dynne.
DOMINA Iff it like yowe, myne awne lorde, I am not to lere;
This lare I am not to lere.
PILATUS Yitt efte to youre damysell, madame.
DOMINA In thy hande, holde nowe, and have here.
ANCILLA Gramarcy, my lady so dere.
PILATUS Nowe fareswele, and walke on youre way.
. . .
DOMINA Now farewele the frendlyest, youre fomen to fende.
PILATUS Nowe farewele, the fayrest figure that evere did fode fede,
And farewele, ye damysell, indede.
ANCILLA My lorde, I comande me to youre ryalté.
PILATUS Fayre lady, here is schall you lede.
Sir, go with this worthy indede,
And what scho biddis you doo,
Loke that buxsome you be.
FILIUS I am prowde and preste to passe on apasse,
To go with this gracious hir gudly to gyde.
PILATUS Take tente to my tale, thou turne on no trayse,3
Come tyte and telle me yf any tythyngis betyde.
FILIUS Yf any tythyngis my lady betyde,
I schall full sone, sir, witte you to say.
This semely schall I schewe by hir side,
Belyffe, sir, no lenger we byde.
PILATUS Nowe fareswele, and walkes on youre way.
Nowe wente is my wiffe, yf it wer not hir will,
And scho rakis tille hir reste as of nothyng scho rought.
Tyme is, I telle thee, thou tente me untill,
And buske thee belyve, belamy, to bedde that I wer broght,
. . .
And loke I be rychely arrayed.
BEDELLUS Als youre servaunte I have sadly it sought,
And this nyght, sir, newe schall ye noght,
I dare laye, fro ye luffely be layde.
PILATUS I comaunde thee to come nere, for I will kare to my couche;
Have in thy handes hendely and heve me fro hyne,
But loke that thou tene me not with thi tastyng, but tendirly me touche,4
BEDELLUS A, sir, yhe whe wele.
PILATUS Yha, I have wette me with wyne.
. . .
Yhit helde doune and lappe me even here,
For I will slelye slepe unto synne.
Loke that no man nor no myron of myne
With no noyse be neghand me nere.
BEDELLUS Sir, what warlowe yow wakens
with wordis full wilde,
That boy for his brawlyng
were bettir be unborne.
PILATUS Yha, who chatteres, hym chastise,
be he churle or childe,
For and he skape skatheles
itt were to us a grete skorne.
Yf skatheles he skape, it wer a skorne.
What rebalde that redely will rore,
I schall mete with that myron tomorne,
And for his ledir lewdenes hym lerne to be lorne.
BEDELLUS Whe, so sir, slepe ye, and saies no more.
DOMINA Nowe are we at home, do helpe yf ye may,
For I will make me redye and rayke to my reste.
ANCILLA Yhe are werie, madame, forwente of youre way,
Do boune you to bedde, for that holde I beste.
FILIUS Here is a bedde arayed of the beste.
DOMINA Do happe me, and faste hense ye hye.
ANCILLA Madame, anone all dewly is dressid.
FILIUS With no stalkyng nor no striffe be ye stressed.
DOMINA Nowe be yhe in pese, both youre carpyng and crye.
DIABOLUS Owte, owte, harrowe! Into bale am I brought.
This bargayne may I banne,
But yf I wirke some wile, in wo mon I wonne.
This gentilman Jesu of cursednesse he can,
Be any syngne that I see, this same is Goddis Sonne,
And he be slone, oure solace will sese.
He will save man saule fro oure sonde
And refe us the remys that are rounde.
I will on stiffely in this stounde
Unto Ser Pilate wiffe pertely, and putte me in prese.
O woman, be wise and ware, and wonne in thi witte
Ther schall a gentilman, Jesu, unjustely be juged
Byfore thy husband in haste, and with harlottis be hytte;
And that doughty today to deth thus be dyghted,
Sir Pilate, for his prechyng, and thou
With nede schalle ye namely be noyed:
Youre striffe and youre strenghe schal be stroyed,
Youre richesse schal be refte you that is rude
With vengeaunce, and that dare I avowe.
DOMINA A, I am drecchid with a dreme full dredfully to dowte.
Say, childe, rise uppe radly and reste for no roo;
Thow muste launce to my lorde and lowly hym lowte:
Comaunde me to his reverence, as right will I doo.
FILIUS O, what, schall I travayle thus tymely this tyde?
Madame, for the drecchyng of heven,
Slyke note is newsome to neven,
And it neghes unto mydnyght full even.
DOMINA Go bette, boy, I bidde no lenger thou byde,
And saie to my sovereyne, this same is soth that I send hym.
All naked this nyght as I napped
With tene and with trayne was I trapped
With a swevene that swiftely me swapped
Of one Jesu, the juste man the Jewes will undoo.
She prayes tente to that trewe man, with tyne to be noght trapped,5
But als a domesman dewly to be dressand
And lelye delyvere that lede.
FILIUS Madame, I am dressid to that dede,
But firste will I nappe in this nede,
For he hase mystir of a morne slepe that mydnyght is myssand.
ANNA Sir Cayphas, ye kenne wele
this caytiffe we have cached
That oftetymes in oure Tempill
has teched untrewly,
Oure meyné with myght
at mydnyght hym mached
And hase drevyn hym till his demyng
for his dedis undewly.
Wherfore I counsaile that kyndely we carie
Unto Ser Pilate, oure prince, and pray hym
That he for oure right will arraye hym,
This faitour, for his falsed to flay hym
For fro we saie hym the soth
I schall sitte hym full sore.
CAYPHAS Sir Anna, this sporte have ye spedely aspied,
As I am pontificall prince of all prestis.
We will prese to Ser Pilate and presente hym with pride
With this harlott that has hewed owre hartis fro oure brestis
Thurgh talkyng of tales untrewe;
And therfore, ser knyghtis . . .
MILITES Lorde.
CAYPHAS Sir knyghtis, that are curtayse and kynde,
We charge you that chorle be wele chyned.
Do buske you and grathely hym bynde
And rugge hym in ropes, his rase till he rewe.
I MILES Sir, youre sawes schall be served schortly and sone,
Yha, do felawe, be thy feith, late us feste this faitour full fast.
II MILES I am douty to this dede, delyver, have done,
Latte us pulle on with pride till his poure be paste.
I MILES Do have faste and halde at his handes.
II MILES For this same is he that lightly avaunted,
And God Sone he grathely hym graunted.
I MILES He bese hurled for the highnes he haunted;
Loo, he stonyes for us, he stares where he standis.
II MILES Nowe is the brothell boune for all the boste that he blowne,
And the Laste Day he lete no lordyngs myght lawe hym.
ANNA Ya, he wende this worlde had bene haly his awne
Als ye are dowtiest today
tille his demyng ye drawe hym,
And than schall we kenne
how that he canne excuse hym.
I MILES Here, ye gomes, gose a-rome, giffe us gate;
We muste steppe to yone sterne of astate.
II MILES We muste yappely wende in at this yate,
For he that comes to courte, to curtesye muste use hym.
I MILES Do rappe on the renkis
that we may rayse with oure rolyng;
Come forthe, sir coward,
why cowre ye behynde?
BEDELLUS O, what javellis are ye that jappis with gollyng?
I MILES A, goode sir, be noght wroth, for wordis are as the wynde.
BEDELLUS I saye, gedlynges, gose bakke with youre gawdes.
II MILES Be sufferand, I beseke you,
And more of this matere yhe meke yowe.
BEDELLUS Why, unconand knaves, an I cleke yowe,
I schall felle yowe,
be my faith, for all youre false frawdes.
PILATUS Say, childe, ill cheffe you,
what churlles are so claterand?
BEDELLUS My lorde, unconand knaves, thei crye and thei call.
PILATUS Gose baldely beliffe, and thos brethellis be batterand,
And putte tham in prisoune uppon peyne that may fall.
Yha, spedely spir tham yf any sporte can thei spell,
Yha, and loke what lordingis thei be.
BEDELLUS My lorde, that is luffull in lee,
I am boxsom and blithe to your blee.
PILATUS And if they talke any tythyngis
come tyte and me tell.
BEDELLUS My felawes, by youre faith,
can ye talke any tythandis?
I MILES Yha, sir, Sir Cayphas and Anna ar come both togedir
To Sir Pilate o Pounce and prince of oure lawe,
And thei have laughte a lorell
that is lawles and liddir.
BEDELUS My lorde, my lorde!
PILATUS Howe?
BEDELLUS My lorde, unlappe yow belyve wher ye lye.
Sir Cayphas to youre courte is caried
And Sir Anna, but a traytour hem taried;
Many wight of that warlowe has waried,
They have brought hym in a bande, his balis to bye.
PILATUS But are thes sawes certayne in soth that thou saies?
BEDELLUS Yha, lorde, the states yondir standis,
for striffe are they stonden.
PILATUS Now than am I light as a roo
and ethe for to rayse;
Go bidde tham come in both,
and the boye they have boune.
BEDELLUS Siris, my lorde geves leve
inne for to come.
CAYPHAS Hayle, prince that is pereles in price,
Ye are leder of lawes in this lande,
Youre helpe is full hendely at hande.
ANNA Hayle, stronge in youre state for to stande,
Alle this dome muste be dressed at youre dulye devyse.
PILATUS Who is there? My prelates?
CAYPHAS Yha, lorde.
PILATUS Nowe be ye welcome, iwisse.
CAYPHAS Gramercy, my soverayne,
but we beseke you all same;
Bycause of wakand you unwarly
be noght wroth with this,
For we have brought here a lorell,
he lokis like a lambe.
PILATUS Come byn, you bothe, and to the benke brayde yowe.
CAYPHAS Nay, gud sir, laugher is leffull for us.
PILATUS A, Sir Cayphas, be curtayse yhe bus.
ANNA Nay, goode lorde, it may not be thus.
PILATUS Sais no more, but come sitte you beside me
in sorowe, as I saide youe.
FILIUS Hayle, the semelieste seeg undir sonne sought,
Hayle, the derrest duke and doughtiest in dede.
PILATUS Now bene veneuew, beuscher,
what boodworde haste thou brought?
Hase any langour my lady newe laught in this leede?
FILIUS Sir, that comely comaundes hir youe too
And sais, al nakid this nyght as sche napped,
With tene and with traye was sche trapped
With a swevene that swiftely hir swapped
Of one Jesu, the juste man the Jewes will undo.
She beseches you as hir soverayne that symple to save;
Deme hym noght to deth, for drede of vengeaunce.
PILATUS What, I hope this be he that hyder harlid ye have.
CAYPHAS Ya, sir, the same and the selffe,
but this is but a skaunce;
He with wicchecrafte
this wile has he wrought.
Some feende of his sand has he sente
And warned youre wiffe or he wente.
PILATUS Yowe, that schalke schuld not shamely be shente.
This is sikir in certayne, and soth schulde be sought.
ANNA Yha, thurgh his fantome and falshed and fendes craft
He has wroght many wondir
where he walked full wyde,
Wherfore, my lorde, it wer leeffull
his liffe were hym rafte.
PILATUS Be ye nevere so bryme, ye bothe bus abide,
But if the traytoure be taught for untrewe
And therfore sermones you no more,
I will sekirly sende hymselffe fore
And se what he sais to thee sore.
Bedell, go brynge hyme,
for of that renke have I rewthe.
BEDELLUS This forward to fulfille
am I fayne in myn herte moved.
Say, Jesu, the juges and the Jewes
hase me enjoyned
To bringe thee before tham
even bounden as thou arte,
Yone lordyngis to lose thee
full longe have thei heyned.
But firste schall I wirschippe thee
with witte and with will:
This reverence I do thee forthy
For wytes that wer wiser than I;
They worshipped thee full holy on hy,
And with solempnité sange Osanna till.
I MILES My lorde that is leder of lawes in this lande,
All bedilis to youre biding schulde be boxsome and bayne,
And yitt this boy here before yowe
full boldely was bowand
To worschippe this warlowe;
methynke we wirke all in vayne.
II MILES Yha, and in youre presence he prayed hym of pees
In knelyng on knes to this knave;
He besoughte hym his servaunte to save.
CAIPHAS Loo, lord such arrore amange them thei have
It is grete sorowe to see, no seeg may it sese.
It is no menske to youre manhed that mekill is of myght
To forbere such forfettis that falsely are feyned,
Such spites in especiall wolde be eschewed in your sight.
PILATUS Sirs, moves you noght in this matere
but bese myldely demeaned,
For yone curtasie I kenne had som cause.
ANNA In youre sight, sir, the soth schall I saye,
As ye are prince, take hede, I you praye,
Such a lourdayne unlele, dare I laye,
Many lordis of oure landis
might lede fro oure lawes.
PILATUS Saye, losell, who gave thee leve
so for to lowte to yone ladde
And solace hym in my sight
so semely, that I sawe?
BEDELLUS A, gracious lorde, greve you noght
for gude case I hadde.
Yhe comaunded me to care
als ye kende wele and knawe,
To Jerusalem on a journay, with seele,
And than this semely on an asse was sette
And many men myldely hym mette.
Als a God in that grounde thai hym grette,
Wele semand hym in waye with worschippe lele.
Osanna thei sange, “the sone of David,”
Riche men with thare robes, thei ranne to his fete,
And poure folke fecched floures of the frith
And made myrthe and melody this man for to mete.
PILATUS Nowe, gode sir, be thi feith,
what is Osanna to saie?
BEDELLUS Sir, constrew it we may
be langage of this lande as I leve,
It is als moche to me for to meve,
Youre prelatis in this place can it preve,
Als “Oure Saviour and soverayne,
thou save us, we praye.”
PILATUS Loo, senioures, how semes yow? —
the sothe I you saide.
CAYPHAS Yha, lorde, this ladde is full liddir, be this light,
Yf his sawes wer serchid and sadly assaied,
Save youre reverence,
his resoune thei rekenne noght with right.
This caytiffe thus cursedly can construe us.
BEDELLUS Sirs, trulye the trouthe I have tolde
Of this wighte ye have wrapped in wolde.
ANNA I saie, harlott, thy tonge schulde thou holde
And noght agaynste thi maistirs to meve thus.
PILATUS Do sese of youre seggyng, and I schall examyne full sore.6
ANNA Sir, demes hym to deth, or dose hym away.
PILATUS Sir, have ye saide?
ANNA Yha, lorde.
PILATUS Nowe go sette you with sorowe and care,
For I will lose no lede that is lele to oure law.
But steppe furth and stonde uppe on hight
And buske to my bidding, thou boy,
And for the nones that thou neven us a noy.
BEDELLUS I am here at youre hande to halow a hoy;
Do move of youre maister, for I schall melle it with myght.
PILATUS Cry Oyas.
BEDELLUS Oyas!
PILATUS Yit efte, be thi feithe.
BEDELLUS Oyes! [Alowde
PILATUS Yit lowdar
that ilke lede may lithe,
Crye pece in this prese uppon payne theruppon,
Bidde them swage of ther sweying
bothe swiftely and swithe,
And stynt of ther stryvyng and stande still as a stone.
Calle Jesu, the gentill of Jacob, the Jewe,
Come preste and appere,
To the barre drawe thee nere
To thi jugement here,
To be demed for his dedis undewe.
I MILES Whe, harke how this harlott he heldis oute of harre,
This lotterelle liste noght my lorde to lowte.
II MILES Say, beggar, why brawlest thou? Go boune thee to the barre.
I MILES Steppe on thy standyng so sterne and so stoute.
II MILES Steppe on thy standyng so still.
I MILES Sir cowarde, to courte muste yhe care.
II MILES A lessoune to lerne of oure lawe.
I MILES Flitte fourthe, foule myght thou fare.
II MILES Say, warlowe, thou wantist of thi will.
FILIUS O Jesu ungentill, thi joie is in japes;
Thou cannot be curtayse, thou caytiffe I calle thee.
No ruthe were it to rug thee and ryve thee in ropes.
Why falles thou noght flatte here, foule falle thee,
For ferde of my fadir so free?
Thou wotte noght his wisdome, iwys;
All thyne helpe in his hande that it is,
Howe sone he myght save thee fro this.
Obeye hym, brothell, I bidde thee.
PILATUS Now, Jesu, thou art welcome ewys, as I wene,
Be noght abasshed but boldely boune thee to the barre.
What seyniour will sewe for thee sore, I have sene.
To wirke on this warlowe, his witte is in waste.
Come preste, of a payne, and appere,
And sir prelatis, youre pontes bes prevyng,
What cause can ye caste of accusyng?
This mater ye marke to be meving
And hendly in haste late us here.
CAYPHAS Sir Pilate o Pounce, and prince of grete price,
We triste ye will trowe oure tales thei be trewe
To deth for to deme hym with dewly device,
For cursidnesse yone knave hase in case, if ye knew,
In harte wolde ye hate hym in hye.
For if it wer so,
We mente not to misdo;
Triste, ser, schall ye therto,
We hadde not hym taken to thee.
PILATUS Sir, youre tales wolde I trowe
but thei touche none entente.
What cause can ye fynde
nowe this freke for to felle?
ANNA Oure Sabbotte he saves not, but sadly assente
To wirke full unwisely, this wote I right wele,
. . .
He werkis whane he will, wele I wote,
And therfore in herte we hym hate.
Itt sittis you to strenghe youre estate
Yone losell to louse for his lay.
PILATUS Ilke a lede for to louse for his lay is not lele.
Youre lawes is leffull, but to youre lawis longis it
This faitoure to feese wele with flappes full fele,
And woo may ye wirke hym be lawe,
for he wranges it.
Therfore takes unto you full tyte
And like as youre lawes will you lede
Ye deme hym to deth for his dede.
CAYPHAS Nay, nay sir, that dome muste us drede;
. . .
It longes noght till us no lede for to lose.
PILATUS What wolde ye I did thanne? —
the devyll motte you drawe.
Full fewe are his frendis, but fele are his fooes.
His liff for to lose thare longes no lawe,
Nor no cause can I kyndely contryve
That why he schulde lose thus his liffe.
ANNA A, gude sir, it raykes full ryffe
In steedis wher he has stirrid mekill striffe
Of ledis that is lele to youre liffe.
CAYPHAS Sir, halte men and hurte he helid in haste,
The deffe and the dome he delyvered fro doole
By wicchecrafte, I warande; his wittis schall waste,
For the farles that he farith with —
loo, how thei folowe yone fole,
Oure folke so thus he frayes in fere.
ANNA The dede he rayses anone,
This Lazare that lowe lay allone
He graunte hym his gates for to gone
And pertely thus proved he his poure.
PILATUS Now goode siris, I saie, what wolde yhe?
CAIPHAS Sir, to dede for to do hym or dose hym adawe.
PILATUS Yha, for he dose wele his deth for to deme?
Go layke you sir, lightly,
wher lerned ye such lawe?
This touches no tresoune, I telle you;
yhe prelatis that proved are for price,
Yhe schulde be bothe witty and wise
And legge oure lawe wher it lyse,
Oure materes ye meve thus emel you.
ANNA Misplese noght youre persone,
yhe prince withouten pere.
It touches to tresoune, this tale I schall tell.
Yone briboure, full baynly he bed to forbere
The tribute to the emperoure, thus wolde he compell
Oure pepill thus his poyntis to applye.
CAYPHAS The pepull, he saies, he schall save,
And Criste garres he calle hym, yone knave,
And sais he will the high kyngdome have.
Loke whethir he deserve to dye.
PILATUS To dye he deserves yf he do thus indede,
But I will se myselffe what he sais.
Speke, Jesu, and spende nowe thi space for to spede.
Thez lordyngis thei legge thee thou liste noght leve on oure lawes.7
They accuse thee cruelly and kene,
And therfore, as a chiftene I charge thee,
Iff thou be Criste that thou telle me,
And God Sone thou grughe not to graunte thee,
For this is the matere that I mene.
JESUS Thou saiste so thiselve, I am sothly the same,
Here wonnyng in worlde to wirke al thi will.
Mi Fadir is faithfull to felle all thi fame;
Withouten trespas or tene am I taken thee till.
PILATUS Loo, busshoppis, why blame ye this boye?
Me semys that it is soth that he saies.
Ye meve all the malice ye may
With youre wrenchis and wiles to wrythe hym away
Unjustely to juge hym fro joie.
CAYPHAS Nought so, sir, his seggyng is full sothly soth,
It bryngis oure bernes in bale for to bynde.
ANNA Sir, douteles we deme als dewe the deth
This foole that ye favour, great fautes can we fynde
This daye for to deme hym to dye.
PILATUS Saie, losell, thou lies be this light;
Naie, thou rebalde, thou rekens unright.
CAYPHAS Avise you, sir, with mayne and with myght,
And wreke not youre wrethe nowe forthy.
PILATUS Me likes noght his langage so largely for to lye.
CAIPHAS A, mercy, lorde, mekely, no malice we mente.
PILATUS Noo done is it douteles, balde be and blithe,
Talke on that traytoure and telle youre entente.
Yone segge is sotell, ye saie;
Gud sirs, wer lerned he such lare?
CAYPHAS In faith, we cannot fynde whare.
PILATUS Yhis, his fadir with some farlis gan fare
And has lered this ladde of his lare.
ANNA Nay, nay, sir, he was but a write, that we wiste;
No sotelté he schewed that any segge sawe.
PILATUS Thanne mene yhe of malice to marre hym of myght,
Of cursidnesse convik no cause can yhe knawe;
Me mervellis ye malyngne o mys.
CAYPHAS Sir, fro Galely hidir and hoo
The gretteste agayne hym ganne goo,
Yone warlowe to waken of woo,
And of this werke beres witnesse, ywis.
PILATUS Why, and hase he gone in Galely, yone gedlyng ongayne?
ANNA Yha, lorde, ther was he borne,
yone brethelle, and bredde.
PILATUS Nowe withouten fagyng, my frendis, in faith I am fayne,
For now schall oure striffe full sternely be stede.
Sir Herowde is kyng ther, ye kenne;
His poure is preved full preste
To ridde hym or reve hym of rest.
And therfore, to go with yone gest,
Yhe marke us oute of the manliest men.
CAYPHAS Als witte and wisdome youre will schal be wroght;
Here is kempis full kene to the kyng for to care.
PILATUS Nowe, seniours, I saie yow sen soth schall be soght,
But if he schortely be sente it may sitte us full sore.
And therfore, sir knyghtis . . .
MILITES Lorde.
PILATUS Sir knyghtis that are cruell and kene,
That warlowe ye warrok and wraste,
And loke that he brymly be braste;
. . .
Do take on that traytoure you betwene.
Tille Herowde in haste with that harlott ye hye,
Comaunde me full mekely unto his moste myght,
Saie the dome of this boy, to deme hym to dye,
Is done upponne hym dewly, to dresse or to dight,
Or liffe for to leve at his liste.
Say ought I may do hym indede,
His awne am I worthely in wede.
I MILES My lorde, we schall springe on a-spede;
Come thens to me, this traitoure full tyte.
PILATUS Bewe sirs, I bidde you ye be not to bolde,
But takes tente for oure tribute full trulye to trete.
II MILES Mi lorde, we schall hye this beheste for to halde
And wirke it full wisely in wille and in witte.
PILATUS So, sirs, me semys itt is sittand.
I MILES Mahounde, sirs, he menske you with myght.
II MILES And save you, sir, semely in sight.
PILATUS Now in the wilde vengeaunce ye walke with that wight,
And fresshely ye founde to be flittand.
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crying (shouting); (see note)
for fear of my strokes
complaints
plainly appealing
sword
burst; break
brawler; brews (produces)
turn; vengeance; (t-note)
slyly; slackens
trust; truth (good faith); (t-note)
Caesar; sire
on high
wits (intelligence); conquered
of demeanor; (t-note)
was called
men
proudly proved [to be called]
Pontius; repress
senators
Sent; realms; people to reform; (t-note)
(t-note)
execute justice
love
lovely; she appears
Jewry; happy lineage; (t-note)
aristocracy joined
judge
put aside
boldly
death; drive
falsely; enthroned; (t-note)
delayed
shreds; tear
(see note)
peer
source
Perceive
body
arrayed
companion
though
(t-note)
good; pleasing
Yet
promise; glad
lovely; enclosed
willing
hide
hugged
expositor
show (appearance); shames shuns
judge
brawler; chatter; (see note)
go away whoreson
what is due
(i.e., stop talking); will be sorry; (t-note)
churl, go away, behave yourself
is appropriate
tending (i.e., about me)
Certainly
belongs (is in accord with)
profits well; (t-note)
love (dear)
My lord; sun; (see note)
reduces; beams
(t-note)
glides; radiant gleams
near at hand
judge; dreams; (t-note)
let
beams
Quickly; dwelling
limb
lawful
place of judgment
dim (at nightfall)
stumble
[line missing, see textual note]
leave
going
seemly
man; advised as
(t-note)
hinder
rebuke; (t-note)
secretly you left
place
before; wet yourself (i.e., became drunk); (see note)
joy
sit
ere promised; (t-note)
goodly
noise
learn
lore; (i.e., do not need to)
also
[two lines missing, see textual note]
foes; fend [off]
food eat
commend; royalty
(t-note)
she
obedient
prepared to go; apace; (t-note)
guide
quickly; (see note)
(i.e., tell you)
Quickly; abide
even if
goes; cared about
paid attention to
hurry; my friend; (see note)
[line missing, see textual note]
see that I am
annoyed
wager, when you
go
graciously; hence
weigh well (i.e., are heavy); (t-note)
[line missing, see textual note]
cover; (t-note)
slyly (surreptitiously); later
retainer
coming near
warlock
knight
if; unhurt (unscathed)
escape
menial fellow; shout
lazy person
harmful misbehavior; destroyed
say
go
exhausted from; journey
Do go
cover; go away quickly
sneaking around; bothered
talking; shouting
(see note)
curse
But unless; trick; dwell
maliciousness
By; sign
slain; cease; (see note)
from our safekeeping; (see note)
take from; realms; around
firmly; time
boldly; endeavor
aware; comprehend; (see note)
struck (beaten)
good fellow; put
need (deprivation); specifically annoyed
?striving; destroyed
taken from; great
tormented; fear; (see note)
quickly; rest (peace)
rush; bow
Commend
at this early time
tormenting
Such a matter is a nuisance to say
is nearly
quickly
true
trouble; deception
dream; struck
judge; endeavoring
acquit; man
prepared
need; missed
know; (see note)
people
set upon
driven; judgment
wrong
by custom; proceed
provide for
deceiver; falsehood; punish
(i.e., make things go badly for him)
seen
(i.e., the high priest); (see note)
press
torn
churl; chained
immediately
harshly pull; behavior; rue; (see note)
words (sayings); obeyed
tie up
bold; hurry
strength
boasted
boldly; admitted to
dragged along; pride; pretended
is astonished; (see note)
[has] vented; (t-note)
thought; overthrow; (t-note)
wholly; own
boldest; (t-note)
pull
himself
men, make room; way
star; estate
nimbly; gate
men; (t-note)
agitating; (see note)
brawlers; behave foolishly; shouting
angry
gadlings (rascals); tricks
patient
humble yourself
stupid; catch
knock down
let evil overtake
noisy
ignorant
Go boldly quickly; beating; (t-note)
inquire; speak of
praiseworthy; tranquility
countenance
quickly
caught a rogue
wicked
uncover (i.e., get up)
come
delayed
cursed
bonds (ropes); sorrow to purchase
words
estates (magnates)
buck; (see note); (t-note)
(t-note)
graciously
estate; (see note)
addressed; legal deposition
(t-note)
beseech; together
waking; unexpectedly
rogue
in; bench hurry; (see note)
lower (i.e., more humble); suitable
must be
man; found; (see note)
boldest
welcome, good sir
message
illness; latched (caught); place; (t-note)
commends; to you
trouble; deception
dream
innocent person
hither dragged
joke (deception)
fiend; message
informed; before
fellow; unjustly be destroyed; (t-note)
secure; (t-note)
guile
lawful
reft (taken away)
angry
Unless; shown to be
speak
urgently
man; pity
henceforth
bound (in bonds)
untie
waited; (t-note)
(see note)
high
beadles
bowing
warlock
peace
error among
man; stop it
honor
allow; offenses
insults; should be
mild of manner
courtesy
rascal disloyal; wager
bow (reverence)
grieve
understand well
good fortune
handsome one
greeted
singing psalms to him; true
flowers; forest
explain
(t-note)
lords
wicked, by
sayings; assessed
(i.e., arrested)
(see note)
condemn
sit
man; loyal
high
nonce; proclaim; cry [of “Oyez”]
shout “hear ye” (“Oyez”)
(i.e., do it)
(t-note)
again
(t-note)
(t-note)
man; pay attention; (t-note)
peace; press (crowd)
stop; noise
quickly
stop; unruliness
quickly
(t-note)
illegal
is out of order
scoundrel; to reverence
take yourself
place for standing [in court]
go
have lost your mind
lowborn; (t-note)
worthy
pity; tug; tear
(see note)
fear; liberal
know
take
argue against you
lost
quickly; pain [of punishment]; (see note)
charges to prove
produce; (t-note)
undertaken
hear
trust; believe
lawful judgment
in [this] case
high (greatly)
offend
believe
not the point
man; cast down (condemn)
observes; solemnly offers
[line missing, see textual note]
when
strengthen
lose (i.e., kill); customs
man; customs (lifestyle); lawful
lawful; belongs
deceiver; punish; blows; many
wrongs
quickly
lead (demand)
[line missing, see textual note]
belongs; man (man’s life)
draw [as in an execution]
many
(i.e., is not legal)
happens; rife (everywhere)
places
men; loyal
lame; healed
deaf; dumb; sorrow
decline
marvels; busied himself with
fool
dismays (frightens) all together
dead; (t-note)
ways; go
cleverly; power
do; to death
play [the fool]
treason
allege; lies
amongst
briber; readily; bid (said); withhold
makes (them) call
space of time; (t-note)
grudge
in truth
dwelling
cast down
trouble
twist
saying; truly true
people; sorrow
deserving; (t-note)
by
avenge; wrath
out-of-bounds to be
Now; bold; (t-note)
man; subtle
where; lore (knowledge)
wonders began to entertain
taught; lore
carpenter
out of malice; by your might
[to] convict
accuse falsely amiss
Galilee; (see note)
[numbers of people] to him began to
incite to
gadling bothersome
(t-note)
deception; glad
firmly be fixed (settled)
power
clear (free); deprive
stranger
strong soldiers; go
(t-note)
Unless; be worse for us
(t-note)
bind; drag away
roughly; beaten
[line missing, see textual note]
go quickly
Commend
judgment concerning; judge; (t-note)
duly; ordain; do; (t-note)
live
if there is anything; to him
(i.e., I am Herod’s own man); livery
too
pay attention
hurry along; hold
fitting (legally appropriate)
honor (bless)
vigorously; proceed; departing
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