39va] 5 39vb] 10 15 20 25 30 40ra] 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 40rb] 70 75 80 85 90 40va] 96 100 105 110 115 120 40vb] 125 130 135 140 145 150 41ra] 155 160 165 170 175 41rb] 180 185 190 195 200 205 41va] 210

Epistle a Claudie l'emperour [art. 3b] Ceste chartre enveia Pylate a Claudie, ki puis fud emperur aprés Tyberie. Vivant l’emperur Tyberie, mes Tyberie ert suspris de une grante enforrmeté, pur çoe si eslist Claudie pur estre emperur aprof lui. Dunc se purpensa Tyberie l’emperur qu’il enverreit un sage home en Jerusalem pur enquere de Jhesu Crist, kar il le covitout mult a veeir pur çoe qu’il aveit oi dire multes mairvailles de li: qu’il out resuscité les morz e les malades sanout par parole sulement, e ne | mie sulement il mes ses disciples par li. Uncore, dist Tyberie a sun privé consail: “Sil est Deus, dunc nus purrad il aider. E s’il est tant sulement home, dunc nus purra il valer a governer nostre Icestui desir jo aveir, kar m’enfermeté me constreint mult. Ore eslisum un sage home ki od grant honur le nus puisse amener.” Dunc eslistrent un bon barun par nun Volusien, provere de temple. Sil roverent que, s’il peut Jhesu trover, qu’il la meint od lui. La dolur des plaies qu’il aveit el plus secré lu de sun cors l’anguissent a mort, e le venim senz retenement en issist. Ne de quanque il feseit de richez mescines nel li pout rien valier, ne nule sancté ne pout par mescines recoverer. Mult sembla a Tyberie lunge la demurance de Volusien, sis manda qu’il venist a lui. E quant il fud venuz, si li dit: “Je te conjur, par l’autorité a tuz les deus, qui tu hastivement facies mun message. E quanque tu meisme me voldras requere, tuit te frai.” Quant Volusien oi la haste l’emperur, si fist sa devise sulunc la vielz lei. A tuz seus de sa maisun prist congié, si entra en la nef pur faire le message ki li ert esgargié. E si mist el aler vers Jerusalem un an e treis meis, pur les perilz ki aveient esté en mer. Quant il vint a la cité de Jerusalem, tuz les plus halz dé Judeus furent esponté en sa venue. Si alerent a Pilate, ki aveit esté prince de Judee, pur lui nuncier l’avenement Volusien, kar il quidouent qu’il fust venu pur guarder Judee. Dunc ala Pilate estu dulcement encontre Volusien, si li dist: “Purquei ne peumes nus saveir devant, bel sire, de vostre venue, ke nus puissum aveir enveie encontre vus?” Dunc dist Volusien: “Nus ne sumes pas enveié pur prendre garde de ches cuntreez, ne pur les cités guarder, ne pur les communes rentes, mes pur quere le sancté de nostre tres piu seignur Tyberie Cesar, ki mult est suspris de grant enfermeté, si que nule mescine ne nul enchantement ne li poet valer. Kar la tres perçant gute festre l’ad desfait, e çoe est l’achaisun de nostre avene|ment en cest pais. Mes nus demandum un home Jhesu par nun, lequil noz desirum a veir, ke, seet, senz mescine e senz conjurement d’erbes puet sancté doner as enferms, sicum un home dist que ci est venu od nus que dit: qu’il garist tutes les enfermetez, e santé ad en poesté, e les morz resuscité.” E quant çoe oi Pilate, si fud tristes, e geinst. Dunc parla un Judeu par nun Thomas, ki ces choses aveit cunté a Tyberie Cesar l’emperur, si dist qu’il esteit Deu e Fiz Deu, e neis les deables le regehirent: “E ci poez trover de ces ki vus dirrunt tute la verité du lui.” Dunc dist un des chevalers Pilate a Pilate: “Icil tres sage home desir aveir Tyberie Cesar ke vostre haltesce pas ne dota a crucifier.” Dunc fud Pilate confundu a la parole de sun chevaler. A ceste parole, demanda Volusien a Pilate: “Oi tu, Pilate, purquei volsis tu, senz le congé del tres piu Tyberie Cesar nostre seignur, Jesum, que tuit le pople teneit a dreiturer, dampner a mort?” Respundi Pilate, e dit: “Jo ne pas suffrir le cri des Judeus, kar il diseit qu’il ert Reis.” Dunc dist un des chevalers Pilate a Volusien: “Bel sire, saciez que nus le veismes resusciter de mort al tierz jur qu’il fu mis el sepulchre. E mulz out od nus qui puis le virent haitement aler, e neis Josep ki l’ensevili le vit puis.” Dunc comanda Volusien aneire que um amenast Joseph od grant honur. E quant il fud venu, si li demanda Volusien: “Tu qui sulz es e sages e courtes el pople des Judeus, sicum nus avum oi dire, di nus la verité de Jhesu, qui fud prové a dreiturer en nostre gent, lequel neis le Deable regeisent qu’il esteit Deuz, si çoe est veirs, qu’il relevast de mort. Kar, tuen testimoine sulement receverum pur vaire.” Dunc respundi Josep, e dist: “Jo su cerz qu’ele mien Seignur Jesu Crist est resuscitez de mort, kar jo puis le vi e parlai od lui. E puis que joe l’enseveli en mun monument nuef que entaillai en la piere, le vi joe en Galilee vif, seant sur un Munt [Olivete], enseignant.” Dunc enveiat Volusien par tut le regne de Jerusalem pur saveir si l’um purrait Jhesum trover, kar mult le desirout a veir. E quant hom ne poet trover, si s’endolut anguissusement Volusien. Dunc vindrent duze homes, | e Joseph ensemble od els, qui distrent: “Nus veimes Jhesu munter el ciel.” E çoe sunt les nuns d’els: Didimus, Lucius, Ysaac, Didarus, Addadas, e les altres qu’il nome devant. Dunc comanda Volusien prendre Pylate e mettre en chartre. E il le pristrent si l’encloistrent en une forte jaole. Puis vindrent a Volusien e homes e femmes, ki cunterent a lui e a ces chevalers les granz merveilles ke Jhesu fist en tere. Quant Volusien out oi ces marvailles, si dit devant tuit le pople: “Jhesu esteit Deu, dunc nus poet il aider e aveir merci de nus. E s’il esteit tant sulement home, dunc poet il governer tuit nostre empire.” Dunc comanda Volusien a tut sun ost qu’il preisent tut le lignage Pilate si meisent en chartre. E si comanda amener Pilate devant lui e devant ses chevalers. Si li dist, en plurant: “Tu, enemi de verité e del regne de Rome, purquai ne demandastes tu a Tyberie Cesar la grant bunté e la grant puisance ke ert en Jhesu, e ke tut le pople l’out e teneit pur Seignur?” Respondi Pylate, e dist: “Joe ne sui pas culpable de sun sanc, mes li Judeu s’esforcent sovent de li oscire.” E Volusien li dist: “Coment te porras defendre que tu ne seiez culpable de sa mort, quant nel deliveras des feluns einz lur liveras?” Dunc se leva sus un de ces disciples Jhesu par nun Symun. Si estust devant Volusien e devant tut le pople, si dist: “Pilate, quant feisiez batre Jhesum de nerfs e de curgies, e si li diseis: ‘Jo ai poeté de tei laiser, e si ai poesté de tei oscire.’ E coment tu puez ore escundire que tu ne seiez de sa mort culpable?” “Joe cremeie les engins as Judeus, e pur çoe lur liverai. E pur mustrer ke joe ne fui culpable de sa mort, jo lavei mes mains devant tuz les Judeus, si dis: ‘Joe ne sui pas culpable del sanc de cest dreitural home. Vus le verrez.’ A içoe, si me respundirent li plus ancien des Judeus, si me distrent: ‘Sun sanc seit sur vus e sur voz fiz.’” E quant Volusien oi çoe, en plurant, dist a Pilate: “Ahi, Pilate, mun piu, quant tu le pues deliverer? Tu ne lur deus pas aveir laisse.” Puis si comença Volusien a enquere | od grant desirer qu’il peut saveir par alcun home semblance de lui. Dunc vint un home par nun Marcus qui sout le segrei de une bone femme, si dist a Volusien: “Treis anz ad passez que Jhesu salva une femme de la cursum de sanc. E quant ele fud garie de la grant amur qu’ele out vers lui, si fist prendre un ymage del semblant Jhesu dementers qu’il ert vivant. E il bien le saveit que la bone femme le fit par bone entente e pur la grant amur qu’ele aveit vers lui.” Dunc dist Volusien a celui: “Di mai cum la femme ad nun.” E il li respondi: “Veronica ad nun.” “U maint cele?” E li dist: “En Tyr.” Dunc comanda Volusien que hum li amenast. E quant ele fu amenee, si li dist Volusien: “Multe gent me unt dit de la vostre bunté e unt loé la vostre cointise, e pur çoe vus pri joe que vus me mustrez l’imagene Jhesu, del veir Deu e del grant Deu, ke te rendi la sancté de tun cors.” Dunc respundi la femme, si dist qu’ele pas ne l’aveit. E Volusien, sicum cestui ki quidout estre escharni, amiablement la cumence a enquere e a pramettre granz louers. E tant la requist e tant li pramist que la femme que ert suieté a Deu sun Seignur ja seit içoe que entuz li regeiseit: qu’ele aveit l’ymagene de l’Auctur de Salu. E Volusien enveia dunc od icil grant plenté des chevalers, si troverent la ymagene de l’Autur de Salu desuz les chevez de sun lit, kar tant l’aveit chere qu’ele ne volt pas esloigner la de li. Ainz, ert tuteveie a sun chief quant ele dormeit. Ele prist le imaigne, si l’aportat a Volusien. E quant Volusien la vit, si dist: “Est cest le ymagne Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist?” Anere s’esfremi si l’aura, e dist: “Veirement, je vus di que mal guerdun avera qui livra Jhesu Crist a crucifier — ki les malades sanout e les morz resuscitout.” E quant tut çoe ert apparaillé, si comanda a tuz ses armez cumpaignuns des nes qu’il s’aparaillassent. E il od ses chevalers, e ensemble od Pilate e Veronica la bone femme od tute l’ymagne Nostre Seignur Jesu Crist, a grant honur est entré en la nef. | Dunc ses hasterent d’aler al plus tost qu’il porent vers la cité de Rome, e aprés nuef mais sunt venu a la cité de Rume. E quant l’advenement Volusien fud nuncié a Tyberie Cesar, si fud lilie cum estre pout par sa grant enfermeté. Dunc se vint Volusien aprés si entra a Tyberie Cesar, si se baisa devant lui, si li salue. Si li cunta tut cum ert avenu enz l’eiere, e qu’il tant aveit demuré pur les tempestes qu’il aveit eues en la mer. Dunc li dist Tyberie Cesar: “Purquei n’est, dunc, Pilate oscis?” Respundi Volusien: “Joe crei ens la vostre pité si ne l’osi pas faire oscir. Enz, l’ai sa amené, e vus en frez faire vostre commandement.” Dunc se curiça forment Tyberie Cesar. E ne volt suffrir que Pilate veit sa face. Einz, jura iriément e dit que il ne mangereit de chose quite ne enz fu ne en ewe jamés. Einz, le dampna sil comanda enveir en une cité de Tuscie par num Amerine eloec le comanda a mettre en chartre. Dunc dist Volucien a Tyberie Cesar: “Une femme guari Jhesu de la cursun de sanc qu’ele aveit euue diz e nuef anz, ki pur l’amur Deu de li fit depeindre un ymagne a suen oez en la semblance Jhesu en sa vie. E cele ai jo aporté e la femme od mai ai menee kar cele mesme femme ad guerpie tute sa sustance qu’ele aveit si ad siwi lungement de sun Deu, disant: ‘Jo ne larrai pas ma vie ne l’esperance de ma salu. E la force de m’[ame] amane me.’” Quant ço oit Tyberie Cesar, si comanda que hom li amenast la femme ensemble od l’imagne Jhesu Crist. E quant Tiberie vit l’ymagne e la femme qu’il aveit aporté, si dist a la femme: “Tu deservis a veeir e a tucher la frenche del vestement Jhesu.” [Compare Mark 5:27–29.] E quant il out çoe dit, si esguardat le ymagne Noste Seignur Jhesu Crist e chai a tere od cremur e od lermes. Si l’aura. E quant il out auree, aneire fud sané de l’enfermeté e de la poreture de ses plaies qu’il aveit dedenz le cors. E puis qu’il senti la santé de sun cors par çoe qu’il aveit l’ymagene vue, aneire si comanda a la bone dame doner grant aveir de la commune rente a l’emperur. Puis si comanda | aurner l’ymage d’or, e d’argent, e de precioses. Dunc si dist Tyberie Cesar a Voluisien: “Quel est la requeste de mun seignur?” E Volusien respundi: “Sire, jo ne desir nient el fors ke icest pople seit tut baptizé en l’onur de Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist, e ke tuz le creient qu’il est le verrai Fiz Deu.” Dunc dist Tyberie Cesar: “Allas, que jol nel puis veeir vivant!” Aproef le nuefime meis si se fist Treberie Cesar baptizer, si fud gari de tutes ces enfermetez. Dunc si ad receu sun concilie od glorie emperial. Si comanda a sun concilie que tuz communalement aurassent Jhesu Crist, e sil tenissent pur veir Deu, e qu’il meisent l’ymagne e sur les ymagnes a tuz les emperus e sur les ymagnes a tuz les deus, e si la dediasent noblement en l’onur Deu e de la cité. E quant le cuncilie pas nel consenti al comandement l’emperur de recevire le nun Jhesu Crist, dunc se corucea forment e si en out si grant desdein ke plusers des plus nobles del concilie fist turmenter de deverz turmenz e tresqu’a la mort pener pur çoe qu’il ne voldreint Jhesu Crist aurrer. E qui devant çoe aveit esté suef de boen aire a eus desi dunc devint cruel e contralius al noble concilie dé senaturs de Rume. Mes aproef çoe, ne vesqui pas lungement. Einz, fud neié el Teivre, la qui alme seit od les fedeilz Nostre Seignur. Aprof li regna Claudius Cesar l’emperur, e aprof Claudie, si reçut Nerum l’empire de Rume. Un poi de tens aprof çoe, vindrent li disciple Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist: seint Pere, e saint André, e seint Pole en la cité de Roum. E devant ert venu un Samaritan Symoi par nun, qui mult ert enseigné de l’art d’enchantement en qui mulz diebles habitouent. E il diseit qu’il ert Deus e Crist le Fiz Deu, e que lé Judeu le crucifierent, e qu’il fud mort e ensevili. E qu’il ert le tierz jurz resuscité aformout. Mes, a Nerun Cesar furent cunté mult des faiz Jhesu Crist le Fiz Deu le vif qu’il aveit fait en Judee. E neis de Pilate, li fud cunté cum il aveid dampné Jhesu a mort. E il enveia ses chevalers hastivement en Amerine la cité si fist Pilate amener devant li. E quant Nerun | Cesar le vit en sa presence, si li ruva qu’il li cuntast tut sicum esteit avenu de Jhesu de Nazareth. Dunc fist Nerun Cesar amener saint Pere e saint Pol devant sei e devant sun enchanteur Symun. E li apostre desdistrent que Symun niert pas Crist. Si distrent al emperur: “Bon emperere, si tu velz saver les faiz Jhesu qu’il fist en Judee, pernez les lettres que Ponce Pylate enveia a Claudie Cesar l’emperur. Dunc purras tu saveir tuz les faiz Jhesu qu’il fist en Judee.” Dunc enveia Nerun Cesar al tresor del Capitolie u la chartre esteit. Quant il la vit, si la list. E quant il out lite les lettres, aneire si dist Nero Cesar: “Di mai, Pieres, sunt tutez ces choses veraiez que l’um [dit] que Jhesu ad faites?” Dunc respundi Pieres, si dist: “Bon emperur, tuz les bons faiz que avez oi sunt faiz par Jhesu Crist le Fiz Deu. Kar cest enchanteur Symun est plain de mençongez e des arz as debles avironez, e sil qu’il dit — qu’il est Deus — qui est home suillié. E si se ose apeler Fiz Deu, par qui nus sumes tuz reinz de la poesté del deble. Si dit qu’il est cele divine majesté ki prist char en la virgine Marie, laquele deigna pur home aver merci de homes, en laquele ad dous sustances, c’est a saver, de Deu e de home. En cest enchanteur Symun ad dous sustances, c’est a saver, ne mie de Deu e de home, ainz sunt del Deble e de home. E il est sudeuire. E par home, si volt les homes sedeuire.” Quant Nerun out oi icés paroles, si demanda a Pilate si veir fud çoe que Pieres li aveit cunté e qu’il aveit oi. Respundi Pilate, e dist: “De quanque Pieres vus cunte de Jhesu, n’i ad un mot de mençunge.” Aprof çoe, pur la circumcisiun que Pilate aveit receue des Judeus, est il altre feid enveié en eissil en Amerine la cité par le comandement Nerun Cesar. E iloc, pur la grant angusse qu’il suffri, se tresperça de une espee, de tel manere murut. E tute escrite l’achaisun purquai Tyberie Sesar, l’enveia en eissil, ki crei en Nostre Seignur Jhesu Crist e de cest siecle en pais s’en ala. Nerun adecertes l’osciur des martyrs, le felun, le nun piu, le paien, le feru del Deable. Sicum il errout sul par une fo|reste, d’un agu fust se trespersa e en cele guise si murut. E puis fu de lonz devoré, sicum Symun l’enchanteur li aveit dit devant par le ait del Deable. Nostre Seignur ad doné salu a ceus ki en li creient, e nus creium qu’il est le Fiz Deu, ke od le Pere e od le Saint Espirit vit e regne el secle des secles. Amen.

Letter of Pilate to Emperor Claudius [art. 3b] Pilate sent this letter to Claudius, who was emperor then along with Tiberius. Emperor Tiberius was alive, but Tiberius had been taken with a grave illness, so he chose Claudius to be emperor along with him. Then Emperor Tiberius decided that he’d send a wise man to Jerusalem to inquire about Jesus Christ, for he very much wanted to meet him because he’d heard many of his miracles spoken of: that he’d raised the dead and cured the sick solely by his word, and not | only he himself but also his disciples through him. Moreover, Tiberius said to his privy council: “If he is God, then he’ll be able to help us. And if he is such a singular man, then we intend to send for him to govern our empire. I wish to have this, for my infirmity much hinders me. Now may we choose a wise man who can lead us to him with great honor.” Then they elected a fine noble named Volusian, priest of the temple. And they commanded him, if he were able to find Jesus, that he bring him back with him. Pain from the wounds that he [Tiberius] had in the most private part of tormented him mortally, and poison flowed unceasingly from it. Whatever expensive medicines he tried were of no use to him, nor could he recover health by any treatment at all. The absence of Volusian seemed overly long to Tiberius, and he commanded that he come to him. And when he had come, he said to him: “I solemnly conjure you, by authority of all the gods, to convey my message quickly. And whatever you yourself want to request of me, I wholly grant it.” When Volusian heard the emperor’s urgency, he carried out the plan faithfully. He took leave of his entire household, and he boarded a ship in order to deliver the message charged to him. He traveled toward Jerusalem for a year and three months, through perils met at sea. When he came to the city of Jerusalem, all the highest-ranking Jews were frightened by his arrival. And they went to Pilate, who had been prince of Judea, to announce to him Volusian’s coming, for they thought he had come to oversee Judea. Then Pilate went nobly to meet Volusian, and said to him: “Why weren’t we informed in advance, good lord, of your coming, so that we might have arranged for envoys to meet you?” Then said Volusian: “We aren’t sent to oversee these regions, protect the cities, or collect the general payments, but rather to seek the health of our very devout Lord Tiberius Caesar, taken with a grave illness, whom no medicine or magic may cure. An excruciating ulcer has enfeebled him, and this is the reason for our com|ing to this country. But we ask for a man by the name of Jesus, whom we wish to see, and who, it seems, without medicine or conjuring of herbs can give health to the infirm, as someone who came from here reported among us: that he cured all sicknesses, has health in his power, and raises the dead.” And when Pilate heard this, he was quite upset, and he groaned. Then spoke a Jew named Thomas, who had related these things to Emperor Tiberius Caesar, and said that he was God and the Son of God, and that even devils confessed to him: “And you can find here some of his disciples, who will tell us the truth about him.” Then one of Pilate’s soldiers said to Pilate: “I wish to inform Tiberius Caesar that your Highness didn’t refrain from crucifying this very wise man.” Thus was Pilate put to shame by his soldier’s statement. Upon this word, Volusian questioned Pilate: “Listen, Pilate, why did you choose, without permission of the very devout Tiberius Caesar our lord, to condemn Jesus to death, whom all the people held to be righteous?” Pilate answered, and said: “I couldn’t bear the Jews’ outcry that he said he was King.” Then one of Pilate’s soldiers said to Volusian: “Good lord, know well that we saw him arise from death on the third day after he was placed in a sepulcher. And there are many among us who then saw him ascend on high, and then even Joseph who buried him saw him.” Then commanded Volusian immediately that someone fetch Joseph with great honor. And when he had come, Volusian questioned him: “You who alone are wise and courteous among the Jewish people, as we’ve heard, tell us the truth about Jesus, who was shown to be righteous among our people, of whom even the Devil professed he was God, and who, if it’s true, arose from death. Indeed, we shall receive as true only your own testimony.” Then Joseph responded, and said: “I’m certain that my Lord Jesus Christ has arisen from death, for I was able to see him and speak with him. And after I buried him in my new tomb that I hewed of stone, I saw him alive in Galilee, sitting on the Mount of Olives, teaching." Then Volusian sent throughout the kingdom of Jerusalem to know whether anyone was able to find Jesus, for he greatly desired to see him. And when no one was able to find him, Volusian mourned with anguish. Then there came twelve men, | and Joseph together with them, who said: “We saw Jesus rise up to the sky.” And these are their names: Didimus, Lucius, Isaac, Didarus, Addadas, and the others whom he named before. Then Volusian commanded Pilate be seized and put in prison. And they seized him and enclosed him in a strong jail. Then came to Volusian both men and women, who told him and his soldiers about the great wonders Jesus had performed on earth. When Volusian had heard of these wonders, then he said before all the people: “If Jesus is God, then he might have helped us and had mercy on us. And if he was merely a man, then he might have governed our whole empire.” Then Volusian commanded his whole army to seize Pilate’s entire lineage and put them in prison. And then he commanded that they lead Pilate before him and his soldiers. And, weeping, he said to him: “You, enemy of truth and the kingdom of Rome, why didn’t you acquire for Tiberius Caesar the vast goodness and vast power in Jesus, whom all the people held and honored as Lord?” Pilate answered, and said: “I am not guilty of his blood, but the Jews strove to kill him.” And Volusian said to him: “How are you able to deny that you’re guilty of his death, when you were able to set criminals free rather than hand them over to them?” Then rose up one of the disciples of Jesus named Simon. And he stood before Volusian and all the people, and said: “Pilate, for a time you had Jesus beaten with whips and scourges, and then you said to him: ‘I have the power to let you go, and I also have the power to kill you.’ How are you now able to deny that you were guilty of his death?” “I feared the plots of the Jews, and for that reason, I handed him to them. And to show that I was not guilty of his death, I washed my hands before all the Jews, and said: ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just man. Look you to it.’ To this, the eldest of the Jews responded me, and said: ‘Let his blood be on us and on our children.’” And when Volusian heard this, he said, weeping, to Pilate: “Ah, Pilate, my wretched one, why didn’t you free him when you were able? You shouldn’t have given him to them.” Then Volusian began to inquire | eagerly whether he might learn from someone about his appearance. Then there came a man named Marcus who knew the secret of a good woman, and he said to Volusian: “Three years ago Jesus saved a woman from an issue of blood. And when she was cured by means of the deep love she felt for him, she obtained a portrait of Jesus’ countenance while he was alive. And he knew well that the good woman did it with good intent and out of the deep love she felt for him.” Then Volusian said to him: “Tell me the woman’s name.” And he answered him: “Her name is Veronica.” “Where does she live?” And he said: “In Tyre.” Then Volusian commanded that she be brought before him. And when she was brought, Volusian said to her: “Many people have told me of your goodness and have praised your wisdom, and for this I ask that you show me the portrait of Jesus, the true and great God, who restored your body’s health to you.” Then the woman answered, and said she didn’t have it. And Volusian, because this woman thought she was being mocked, started to question her in a friendly way and promise her many honors. And he asked her so earnestly and promised so much that the woman who’d devoted herself to God her Lord confessed everything to him: that she had the portrait of the Author of Salvation. And Volusian then sent many soldiers with her, and they found the portrait of the Author of Salvation under the head of her bed, for she loved it so dearly that she didn’t wish to be far away from it. Instead, it was always at her head while she slept. She took the portrait and carried it to Volusian. And when Volusian saw it, he said: “Is this the portrait of Our Lord Jesus Christ?” Immediately she trembled and prayed, and said: “Truly, I say to you that an evil reward shall he have who delivered Jesus Christ to be crucified — he who cured the sick and raised the dead.” And when all this had been readied, he commanded all his armed comrades to ready themselves. And he along with his soldiers, together with Pilate and the good woman Veronica with the full portrait of Our Lord Jesus Christ, boarded the ship with great ceremony. | Then they hastened to travel as quickly as they could to the city of Rome, and after nine months they arrived at the city of Rome. And when the arrival of Volusian was announced to Tiberius Caesar, he was as pleased as possible given his grave illness. Then Volusian approached and entered into the presence of Tiberius Caesar, bowed before him, and greeted him. And he related everything as it had happened in the journey, and said that he’d been so slow to return because of storms encountered at sea. Then Tiberius Caesar said to him: “Why, then, is Pilate not killed?” Answered Volusian: “I feared your compassion and dared not have him killed. Instead, I’ve brought him here, and you may do with him as you command.” Then Tiberius Caesar grew very angry. And he wouldn’t allow Pilate to come before his face. Instead, he angrily swore and said that he couldn’t eat cooked food or bathe ever again. And he condemned and sentenced him to be sent to a city in Tuscany called Ameria and imprisoned there. Then said Volusian to Tiberius Caesar: “Jesus cured a woman of an issue of blood that she’d suffered for nineteen years, and she for love of God had painted an eyewitness portrait of Jesus’ image during his lifetime. And this I’ve brought, and I’ve led with me the woman who’s forsaken all her sustenance and long followed her God, saying: ‘I won’t abandon my life or the hope of my salvation. And the strength of my soul leads me.’” When Tiberius Caesar heard this, he commanded that a man bring the woman to him along with the portrait of Jesus Christ. And when Tiberius saw the portrait and the woman who carried it, he said to the woman: “You were worthy to see and touch the fringe of Jesus’ garment.” [Compare Mark 5:27–29.] And when he had said this, then he looked at the portrait of Our Lord Jesus Christ and fell down to earth with awe and tears. Then he worshiped it. And when he had worshiped, immediately was he cured of sickness and decay from the wounds inside his body. And when he felt his body’s health because he’d seen the portrait, he immediately commanded that a large sum from the emperor’s general revenue be given to the good woman. And then he commanded that | the portrait be ornamented with gold, silver, and precious gems. And then said Tiberius Caesar to Volusian: “What is my lord’s request?” And Volusian answered: “Lord, I wish nothing other than that all these people be baptized in honor of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and that all believe regarding him that he is the true Son of God.” Then said Tiberius Caesar: “Alas, that I couldn’t see him alive!” After nine months Tiberius Caesar had himself baptized, and he was cured of all his sicknesses. Then he received his consuls with imperial glory. And he commanded all his consuls to worship Jesus Christ communally, accept him as true God, set his portrait above the portraits of all the emperors and all the gods, and consecrate it nobly in honor of God and the city. And when the consuls didn’t consent to the emperor’s command to receive the name of Jesus Christ, then he grew very angry and had so much scorn for them that he had many of the noblest consuls tormented with various afflictions and tortured to death because they didn’t want to worship Jesus Christ. And he who’d before been gentle and meek toward them became from this time cruel and hostile to the noble consulate of Roman senators. But after that, he didn’t live very long. Instead, he was drowned in the Tiber, he whose soul may rest with the faithful of Our Lord. After him there reigned Emperor Claudius Caesar, and after Claudius, Nero received the Roman Empire. A short time later, there came to the city of Rome the disciples of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Saint Peter, Saint Andrew, and Saint Paul. And earlier there had come a Samaritan named Simon, who had learned much of the art of magic wherein many devils dwelled. And he said that he was God and Christ the Son of God, that the Jews had crucified him, and that he’d been dead and buried. And he asserted that he’d arisen on the third day. Moreover, to Nero Caesar were related many of the deeds that Jesus Christ Son of the living God had performed in Judea. And regarding Pilate, it was related that he had condemned Jesus to death. And he sent his soldiers hastily to the city of Ameria and had Pilate brought before him. And when Nero | Caesar saw him in his presence, he commanded that he recount everything to him as it had happened concerning Jesus of Nazareth. Then Nero Caesar had Saint Peter and Saint Paul brought before him and his magician Simon. And the apostles said that Simon was not Christ. And they said to the emperor: “Good emperor, if you wish to know about the deeds that Jesus performed in Judea, look at the words that Pontius Pilate sent to Emperor Claudius Caesar. Then you’ll be able to know about all the deeds Jesus performed in Judea.” Then Nero Caesar sent to the treasury of the Capital where the letter was. When he saw it, then he read it. And when he had read the words, Nero Caesar immediately said: “Tell me, Peter, are all these things true that people say Jesus performed? Then answered Peter, and said: “Good emperor, all the good deeds that you’ve heard about were performed by Jesus Christ the Son of God. This magician Simon is full of lies and given to the devils’ arts, and what he asserts — that he is God — he asserts as a sullied man. And he by whom we’re all beguiled by the Devil’s power also dares call himself the Son of God. And he also says that he is the divine majesty who took flesh in the Virgin Mary, who deigned for mankind to have mercy on men, and in whom there are two substances, namely, of God and of man. In this magician Simon there are two substances, namely, not of God and of man, but rather of Devil and of man. And he is a seducer. And as a man, he wished to lead men astray.” When Nero had heard these words, he asked Pilate if what Peter had told him and what he’d heard were true. Answered Pilate, and said: “In what Peter has recounted to you about Jesus, there’s not one word of a lie.” After that, on account of the circumcision that Pilate had received from the Jews, he was once again sent into exile in the city of Ameria at Nero Caesar’s command. And there, for the great anguish he suffered, he stabbed himself with a sword, and in this way he died. And all recognized the reason for which he’d been sent into exile by Tiberius Caesar, who believed in Our Lord Jesus Christ and left this world in peace. Nero was certainly a killer of martyrs, a criminal, an impious man, a pagan, and an instrument of the Devil. As he wandered alone in a fo|rest, he was pierced by an arrow and died in that manner. And then he was devoured by lions, just as Simon the magician had prophesied to him earlier by help of the Devil. Our Lord has given salvation to those who believe in him, and we believe that he is the Son of God, who with the Father and with the Holy Ghost lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

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