was all abasshed for fere and cryed with an hyghe voyce to the Iewes and sayd MeÌ„ what is this that ye wyll do I see that without gylte ye wyl shedde the blode of hym that hath nothynge mysse wrought Than rose pylat vp and toke Nycodemus to hym and these xii men whiche that sayd that our lorde was not borne in fornicacyon and thus he sayd to them Syrys I haue grete affeccyon iÌ„ you saye to me what I shall do with hym And they sayd syr we can saye for we wyll neuer assente to the wyll of the maysters of the lawe nor to theyr werkes therefor let them se well to ther sowl is that they maye be saued at the daye of Iugement than turned Pylat to the mastres of the lawe and to other Iewes and sayd thus to them Syrs ye knowe wel that it is the custome amonge vs to delyuer a prysoner to the pepyll for the loue of our sabot the hyghe daye of sacrafyce And syrs ye knowe well that I haue a presoner in my preson a noble presoner a maÌ„ slear whiche is worthy to be deed whos name is Barabas wyll ye that I delyuer you hym or ells Ihesu whiche is withoute gylt and not worthy to dye The prynces and the bysshopps and the olde men they sayd all with one voyce we wyll that thou delyuer to vs Barabas Than sayd pylat what wyl ye than saye that I do wyth Ihesu whiche is cleped cryste Than sayd the Iewes with an hyghe voyce lete hym be crucyfed aÌ„d so me sayd yf thou let hym go thus thou ne arte Cezars frende syn that he sayd this foule sclaunder that he is goddys sone And therto a kynge for who so euer sayeth that he is a kyÌ„ge he speketh ageynst Cezare And whan that Pylat herde this he was wondre heuy and thus he sayd to the Iewes all dayes fro the begynnynge haue ye be contraryous to them that hath do well to you And to hym ye haue do mykyll harme and mekyll turmentrye Than sayd the Iewes / what is he that hath do so mykyll good to vs Than sayd pylat our god whiche hath holpe you and delyuered you oute of the haÌ„dys of Egypte whiche drowned your enmyes in the depnesse of the rede see And ledde you thorughe the water of the see also drye as vpoÌ„ the erth And also in desert he reyned to you maÌ„na And made water out of the harde stone in deserte whiche yÌ„t ye dranke of all your bestys And also to you he gaue the .x. commauÌ„demeÌ„tys of the lawe And iÌ„ all these coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„tys that he hath charged you with ye haue beÌ„ contraryous to your god As whaÌ„ ye made a Calfe to be your god whiche wolde haue dysheryt you dystroyed you ne had moyses be your mayster that prayed to your god for you for the peryll that ye were in nowe ye saye to me that I hate my kynge And am not his frende yf I delyuer not this man Ihesu that hath curyd mekylle of your peple of many Infyrmytees whiche is your kynge / that neuer dyd euyll but euer moche goodnes prophet whaÌ„ the Iewes herde this they were full of wroth of maletalente And thus they cryed all togyder and sayd Our kynge is Cezare Emperour of Rome but we knowe wel that Ihesus is no kynge thoughe the kynges sought hym in bedleem sayd that they sought the kynge of Iewes offrede hym gyftes but yet is he therfore no kynge we knowe well that whaÌ„ herowde herde saye that they sought the kynge of Iewes herowde wolde haue slayne hym therfore And so he dede sle thosandys of chyldren therfore in bedleem and in all the contrye about as we haue sayd here to you afore whaÌ„ that Pylat herde this he commauÌ„ded them to be styll to holde them in pease and thus he sayd to them A is it not he than that herowde sought for to slee And the Iewes answered and sayd that it was he And anone Pylat dyd coÌ„mauÌ„de water to be brought hym afore theÌ„ all he wasshed his handes seynge thus I ne am gylty of spyllynge of this ryghtfulle mannes blode that maye ye welle se but the blode of hym be vpon you and on your chyldren Than coÌ„maunded Pylat that a grete coÌ„pany of knyghtes sholde be brought afore hym to his pareloure And than Pylatte kest the seÌ„teÌ„s vpoÌ„ our lorde Ihesu thus he sayd to hym ¶ Howe Pylat commaunded the Iewes that no vylayns sholde put cryste to his passyon but knyghtes THine owne peple hath dyspreuyd al that euer I haue spoke for ye. therfore I coÌ„mauÌ„de at the begyÌ„nyÌ„ge that no maÌ„ leye haÌ„des oÌ„ hyÌ„ but yf he be a knyght or ellis of gentyll blode for it is not syttyÌ„ge that a kyÌ„ge sholde be slayne of vylaynes And therfore I coÌ„mauÌ„de thou at the fyrst begyÌ„nyÌ„ge that he be scorged to the plesyÌ„ge of the fyrst prynces thaÌ„ lyfte hyÌ„ vpoÌ„ the crosse with hyÌ„ .ii. thefê whiche that hath be euyll doers the one by name Dysmas the other Gesmas lete theÌ„ be slayne with vylaynes no geÌ„tylles to touche theÌ„ thaÌ„ was our lorde Ihesu / lede oute of the parelour the .ii. thefes with hyÌ„ thaÌ„ they ledde theÌ„ iÌ„ to another parelour wheriÌ„ was a pylar of whyte marble there they spoyled our lorde out of his clothys bouÌ„de hyÌ„ naked vnto the peler there they bette hyÌ„ scourged hym with yerdes whyppys so hugely that there was no skyn vpoÌ„ hyÌ„ that was a synfull syght for to se the blyssed body stoÌ„dyÌ„ge al nakyd afore all the peple scornyÌ„ge sayenge thus to our lorde god iÌ„ his scourgynge Do gladly our kyÌ„ge for this is our fyrste begyÌ„nyÌ„ge thaÌ„ the masters of the lawe sayd to the knyghtes Do on our kyÌ„ge a softe garmeÌ„t lete vs crowne hyÌ„ for our kyÌ„ge And thaÌ„ the knyghtes dyd vpoÌ„ hym a cloth of sylke whiche for habuÌ„dauÌ„ce of blode was so cluÌ„ge to hyÌ„ that at the pullynge of it was C. folde more peyne to hyÌ„ thaÌ„ was his scourgyÌ„ge whaÌ„ they had pulled of this garmeÌ„t they dyde oÌ„ hyÌ„ a rede maÌ„tell of sylke after that they set a garlonde of thornys on his hede they pressyd so sore the garlonde of thornys on his hede that the thornys percyd downe iÌ„ to hys bravne so at the last they lede hyÌ„ to the crosse aÌ„d there they crucyfyed hyÌ„ betwene ii thefys Dysmas on the ryght syde and Gesmas on the lefte syde And so they put to hê mouth a spone that was drypped full of drynke that they had made with Ayzell and gall And that they put to his mowthe for to drynke of And thus that blessyd lorde Ihesu suffred all that euer they wolde do to hyÌ„ And than oure lorde Ihesu loked vp to the father and thus he sayd My fader foryeue theym this trespasse for they newot what they do
forfettyth ageyÌ„st god for he sayd hym selfe that he is goddys son For whan we counioured hyÌ„ that he sholde tell vs yf he were the sone of god And he denyed it not And yet he sayd we sholde se the son of man syttyÌ„ge vpoÌ„ the ryght hande of the godhede comynge oute of the skyes of heuyn And whan that Pylat herde this he ledde our lorde Ihesu on that other parte of the pareloure sayd to our lorde Man I ne wat what I maye do with the. ¶ Than sayd our lorde Ihesu to Pylate Moyses and the prophetys here byfore they prechyd of my passyon and of my resurreccyon Whan that Pylate herde this he pronowced all the wordes of our lorde to the Iewes And anone the Iewes sayd to Pylat what woldest thou here more of his fals sclauÌ„der Than sayd Pylate take hym in to your synagoge And deme there on hym your lawe the Iewes answered / our lawe coÌ„maundeth that yf any man syn or trespasse ayeÌ„st any maÌ„ he shall withdrawe hym .xlii. dayes out of the Temple And he that syÌ„ned or tresspassed ageyÌ„st god by sclauÌ„ders Our lawe byddeth that he shal be stonyd to deth And for asmoche as Ihesê° sayeth that he shall syt iÌ„ heuyÌ„ vpoÌ„ the ryght syde of the deuyne maieste And that he shall coÌ„e fro heuyÌ„ iÌ„ to the skyes For this sclauÌ„der we wyll that he be crucyfyed ThaÌ„ sayd Pylat that is not good that ye cast you for to do And than Pylat by helde aboute hyÌ„ sawe meny meÌ„ wymeÌ„ that sore wepce And helde ther couÌ„tenauÌ„ce vpoÌ„ hyÌ„ thaÌ„ sayd pylat to the bysshoppys maysters of the lawe I se well the mekyll of the peple they wyl not that thê maÌ„ dye ThaÌ„ sayd the maysters of the lawe Good Iuge we se well that he must be deed And for drede of deth worse he maye not leue Than sayd Pylate / what is the cause that he sholde be deed for thaÌ„ sayd the Iewes for that he sayeth that he is goddys sone aÌ„d therto a kyÌ„ge ¶ Howe Nychodemê° spake to Pylate for Ihesu Pylatte Nychodemê° the worthye Prynce / was that tyÌ„e afore Pylat thê° he sayd I haue ofte tymes spoke to the masters of the lawe aÌ„d to al the Iewes thê° I haue sayd vnto theÌ„ that vngodely vntrewly they do a mysse ayeÌ„st Ihesu For many gloryous sygnes tokyÌ„s hathe he wrought amoÌ„ge vs / that neuer none of oure forfaders wrought afore vs therfore I couÌ„sell you let hyÌ„ go do hyÌ„ no more harme For yf the tokyns the myracles be of god that he hath wrought it shall endlesly endure after his dayes yf it be not of god but by eÌ„chauÌ„temeÌ„te or by soÌ„e charme yt shalle not endure ¶ For moyses that was of god he shewed meny tokens in Egypt whiche that god bad hym do afore kynge Pharao than were there two men Iames. and zambres whiche that were Gogolers aÌ„d wyches that deceyued the peple they made the same tokyns that Moyses made And the Egypcyons helde the tokyÌ„s of god And for they were not of god they perysshed And all that euer helde withall And therfore I saye let this maÌ„ go And do hym no more harme for I saye forsoth he is not worthy to be dede And parauenture this Ihesus maye be a prophet sente to vs as Moyses sayd to our forfaders that our lorde god sholde chese and sende a prophet of our owne nacyon And that we sholde here byleue hym as god his owneselfe And parauenture thê maye be the same man that god sayd thus of And this Ihesus be the same man sente of god he is come to the saluacyon of them that byleue truly And to the dampnacyon of them that beleue not ryght as our lorde god sayd vnto Moyses that yf any man refuse the prophet And wyll not here what he shall say in my name he shall be put out of my people All this haue I sayd vnto the Prynces and Bysshoppes of the lawe whan that the Iewes herde this that Nycodemus sayd afore Pylat they sayd thus we se well that thou arte a dyscyple of Ihesu aÌ„d therfore thou spekyst for hym Than sayd Nycodemus to the Iewes a than is not thys lorde Pylat here a dyscyple of Ihesu that hath spoke thus for hym is not he the hyghe Iustyce vnder Cezare the Emperour whaÌ„ the Iewes herde this thaÌ„ they sayd to Nycodemus ye take thou the trouth of Ihesu And more thou haue thy dwellynge place with hym Than lyfted vp Nycodemus hys handys to heuen and sayd God graunt that I maye haue parte of the trouthe of Ihesu And a dwellynge place more I haue with hym god grauÌ„te it as ye haue sayd so more it be ¶ Howe certayne Iewes shewed to Pylate the myracles that Cyrste had done ANd anone there sterte forth a Iewe afore Pylate And thus he sayd My lorde Pylate I laye bedredde in my bedde .xxxviii. yere And all the dayes for the moste parte in ê‘yll of deth And so it befell that my lorde Ihesu came by me had pyte on me And than he had me take my bedde and go home into my howe 's And anone with his wordes / I was made hole And anone after came another Iewe afore Pylate and thus he sayd My lorde Pylate I was pore blyÌ„de And as my lorde Ihesu passed afore me I cryed vnto hyÌ„ And sayd Ihesu the son of Dauyd haue mercy on me And he had mercy oÌ„ me And he put his hande to myn eyen and than I sawe ¶ And thaÌ„ another Iewe that stode afore Pylate sayd Syr I was a mezell and my lorde Ihesu made me hole with his worde ¶ After that came an agyd woman afore Pylate aÌ„d thus she sayd My lorde Pylate I was desezed with the red flyx .iii. yere and more And I dede not but touchyd the hem of the vesture of my lorde Ihesu And anone I was made hole of my maladye and therfore my lorde Pylate haue marcy on hym and do hym not to deth And whan that Pylate herde this / he feryd / And anone a grete coÌ„panye of Iewes whyche that our lorde Ihesu had helyd they cryed al with on voyce A grete Sauyour of the peple is our lorde Ihesu Whan Pylate herde this he sayd vnto Cayphas and Amyas And other maysters of the lawe I merueyl why that your forme faders and prynces and Bysshoppys of the lawe helyd not men of theyr Infyrmytees as this man doth And they answered no worde therto And these men that our lorde had helyd cryed with one voyce Oure blysshyd Lorde Ihesu hath wrought many deuyne myracles as he that reysed Lazare / fro deth to lyfe Whyche that had layne dede foure dayes in the erth And our lorde Ihesu by the vertu of his worde he reysed hym oute of the moÌ„ment and brought hym alyue amonge vs his sustres And dyde hym syt wyth hym at hys table / And whan that Pylate herde this he
ageyÌ„st thê ryghtfull maÌ„ for I haue this nyght be hugely dremyde for hym And be that I wote well that he is a ryghtfull man And whaÌ„ that Pylat had red this letter he sayd to all the Iewz ¶ Syrs ye knowe wel that my wyfe is a paynym And ye wose well that she hath edyfyed meny of youre Synagoges she sendyth vnto you that she knoweth this man for a ryghtfull man For mykell trybulacyon and dysease she hath suffred this nyght for nym Than sayd the Iewys to Pylat haue we not sayd vnto the that he is aÌ„ euyll man And werketh by deuylls crafte For by deuylls hath he thê° tysed thy wyfe Than clepyd Pylat our lorde to hyÌ„ and sayd thus Seest thou not that alle the Iewes bere wytnesse ageyÌ„st the And thou gyuest no maner of answere than sayd our lorde Ihesu vnto Pylat euery man hath power to speke with his mouth be it good oryll and so shall ye well se than the Iewes sayd vnto our lorde Ihesu what shal we se We all knowe well that thou were begoten in fornycacy on And for thy byrth dyde herowde sle all the chyloren iÌ„ bed leem and in the countrey aboute that were within .ii. yere a halfe of age And Iosepe mary went in to Egypt for drede of herowde And whaÌ„ herowde was dede they came ageyne into the cyte of Nazareth And whan Pylat herde this he sayd vnto the Iewes Than is that Ihesu that herowde dede seke for to sle And the Iewes answeryd and sayd that it was he Than doubted Pylat moche more than he dyd to fore And so there were .xii. Iewes that drewe them by themselfe And thus they sayd to Pylat Syr we knowe well that this man is not borne in fornycacyon for we knowe wel that Iosepe wedyd marye his moder And so he is not borne in fornycacyon it semyth that your wordes be not trewe / for For Iosepe wedyd marye as they saye that be of your own folke Than sayd Annas and Cayphas and other Iewes that had sayd that Ihesu our lorde was borne in fornycacyon and that he was an euyll werker And that his dyscyplis were fled and proselyty Than clepyde Pylat Annas and Cayphas and askyd them what was proselyty And they sayd that proselyty was paynemys chyldren and so be his dyscyples And for that they say that he is not borne iÌ„ fornycacyon thaÌ„ answered these .xii. men whos names be these Lazarus Asstorius Antonius Iacob Serius Gamaliel Isaak Fynees Azarius Agrippa Amenus Iudas We saye that wene are proselyty but we be Iewes chyldren and we saye trou the. that we were there that Iosepe wedyd marye Than clepyd Pylat these .xii. men that sayd thus And he coniured them by the hyght of holy Cezare Yf that he were borne in fornycatyon that ye bere wytnesse and suerce And othe byfore all this peple And these .xii. men answeryd to Pylat and sayd we haue by oure lawe that we ne oughte to swere for that is syÌ„ but we wyll swere by holy Cezare yf it be not as we saye we wyll be culpable of deth We se well that thyse .xii. men that Ihesu is not borne in fornycacyon to be byleued by her worde And we saye all that he is borne in fornycacyon and that he is an euyll werker And thus he sayth that he is goddis soÌ„ and therto a kyÌ„ge And yet thou wylte not beleue vs that haue the lawe to kepe Than coÌ„maunded Pylat that all sholde go out of the pareloure saue these xii men that sayde that oure lorde was not borne in fornycacyon And also he coÌ„maunded that our lorde Ihesu sholde be ledde oute vnto that one syde of the pareloure Than sayd pylat to these .xii. men For what cause is that they wyll brynge Ihesu to deth And they answered aÌ„d sayd that the masters of the lawe had hym iÌ„ hate for that he helyd maladyes and sekenesse vpon the Sabot Than sayd Pylat A I se well for his gode werkes they wyll sle hym Than wence Pylat oute of the pareloure ful of heuynes and sayd vnto all the Iewes I haue wytnesse that I can fynde in this man no poynte of deth The Iewes answered yf hene had be an euyll doer wene had a delyuered hym to the ThaÌ„ sayd Pylat to the Iewes / what sayd god that there sholde no man be slayne but of me than entred Pylat iÌ„ to the pareloure ageyne clepyd our lorde Ihesu to hym and sayd Thou arte kynge of Iewes Oure lorde Ihesu answered ageyne / thou sayest that of thy selfe or ellys other haue sayd that to the of me Than sayde Pylat to oure lorde Ihesu Thou wotest well that I am no Iewe but of thyne owne nacyon as Bysshoppys and prynces haue delyuered the to me but I neuer what euyll thou hast do them yf thou be kyÌ„ge Iewes answere to me Oure lorde answered to hym My kyngdome is not in this worlde for yf my kyngdome were in this worlde my mynysters wolde not be ageynst me that I sholde not haue be delyuered to the but my kyngdome is not nowe here Than answered Pylat than I se well thou arte a kynge than answeryd oure lorde Ihesu thou sayest that I am a kyÌ„ge and to that I was borne and for to declare to the worlde that who so be of crowth wyll here my worde ThaÌ„ sayd Pylat what is trouth be thy worde there is but lytyll trouth iÌ„ erth Our lorde sayd to Pylat vnderstonde trouth how that it is Iugged in erthe of them that dwell there in And thus sayd Pylat to the Iewes I haue wytnes both in heuen and in erthe sonne and mone that I can fynde no cause of deth in thê man ¶ Than answeryd the Iewes is not this a grete cause that he sayth of oure Temple That he myghte stroye it reyse it ageyne in .iii. dayes than sayd Pylat what temple is that / that ye speke of And the Iewes answered that it was the SalamoÌ„ temple whiche was in edyfyeÌ„ge .xlvii. yere And this Ihesus sayd that he sholde dystroye it and rayse it ageyne in .iii. dayes I am without gylte of spyllynge of this mannys blode And that shall ye well see what wyll ye do with hym the Iewes that were full of enuy cryed all with one voyce the shedynge of his blode be vpon vs and vpon our chyldren ¶ Howe Pylate toke of the moost Auncyent men of the lawe as bysshoppes other maysters to counsell Pylate toke of the moost Auncyent men as bysshoppes and maysters of the lawe Syrs do not ageynste this symple man for I do you to wyt that he is not worthy to be dede Is not he more worthy that hath helyd maladyes than he had broke the saboth Than sayd the Iewes A good Iuge taketh entent yf any man hath do a forfet ageynste Cezare were he not worthy to be dede And Pylate sayd yes Than sayd the Iewes moche more is he worthy that
syrye And thaÌ„ Ioseph asked her the pryce And she sayd .xxx. besauÌ„tys anone Ioseph payed to her .xxx. besauÌ„tes SyÌ„donia fyll downe to his fete prayenge hym / that he wolde telle her what he do with all sholde And than he answered to her and sayd Doughter this daye is dede an holy prophet that men clepyd Ihesus of Nazareth and that holy prophete I purpose me to bery hym and wynde hym in thys cloth Doughter now haue I tolde the what I wyll do withalle and therfore tell me who made this cloth that I haue bought of the / and this mayde sayd that herselfe made it And Ioseph asked her what her name was and she sayd Syndonya than sayd Ioseph nowe doughter after you I shall name this cloth forth is cloth shall be named Syndonya And than this mayd weÌ„te home to hyr moder and tolde her how she had spedde And her moder asked her what sholde be done with the cloth And Syndonya tolde her that the holy prophet that was that tyme dede sholde be veryed therin And who shall verye hyÌ„ ther in sayd this lady And Syndonya sayd that Ioseph of Barmathye sholde berey hym therin And whan this lady herde this she sayd thus Wolde my lorde god and that prophet that I had yeueÌ„ that cloth to his beryeÌ„ge And anone with the worde she was holer and more sowne than euer she was afore And anone the lady her doughter fyll downe on ther knes thankynge our lorde god of this gloryous myrakyll And so afterwarde our lorde yaue them suche grace that the moder was wedyd to a worthy duke and her doughter Syndonya was Empresse of Rome And so they leuyd euer after in our lordys seruyce And whan Ioseph of Barmathye had bought this precyous cloth whiche was lorde and Constable ouer all Pylatys meyne he was a full good man and a ryght full he was not assentyd to the accusacyons wordys of the Iewes he abode the kyngdome of god and so he came to Pylat and askyd hym the body of Ihesu And pylat graunted hym Than this Ioseph and Nycodemus / toke downe the body of Ihesu of the crosse and hym he wonde in this Sondonya / that he had bought And he beryed hym in his moÌ„ment wherein that neuer man was beryed and so the Iewes wolde a slayne Ioseph and the .xii. men that had spoke for our lorde Ihesu afore Pylat And also they wolde haue slayne Nycodemus and also tho that our lorde made hole of meny grete Infyrmyces And also they that had dyscouered afore Pylat al his good workys that he had do in euery place ¶ How the Iewes conspyred ageynst Nycodemus Ioseph of many other merueyles THaÌ„ Nycodemus shewed hymselfe to the Iewes for that he was ther prynce and ther gyde And not longe after there was gadered a grete assemble of Iewes into the temple and afore Nycodemus thus he sayd to them Howe maye thê be that ye are thus entryd in to this holy TeÌ„ple whiche that your handes be blody of the dethe of Ihesu that ryghtfull man whiche that ye vntruly crucyfyed Than answered to Nycodemê° Annas / and Cayphas / Symeon / and Datan / Gamalyell Iudas / Leuy / Neptalym / and all the oder Iewes / how art thou so hardy to come amonge vs that arte consentynge to Ihesu And therfore suche parte as he hath mutte thou haue with the in this worlde Than answered Nycodemus and sayd Amen the pease of of Ihesu be with me in this worlde in the other endlesly And the Iewes answered sayd Amen And as Nycodemus had answered thus Came Ioseph of Barmathye amonge them ano sayd thus to the Iewes why be ye heuy to me with maletalent for I askyd the body of Ihesu of Pylat And I do you to wyt that I haue beryed hym in my newe Mommente and wounde hym in a precyous clothe that is called Syndonya And I saye to you that ye haue wroughte euyl synfully that ye haue vntruly crucyfyed Ihesu without dyscernyÌ„ge also malycyously ye persed his syde with a spere whan the Iewes herde thê they toke Ioseph coÌ„mauÌ„ded hyÌ„ to be kepte well thê° they sayd to Ioseph we knowe wel that thou arte not worthy to haue a beryenge place amoÌ„ge vs for we shall gyue thy flesshe and careyne to wylde bestys aÌ„d wylde fowles to be deuoured wyth houndes ThaÌ„ Ioseph sayd to them these wordes be lyke to proude Golyas as the prophet sayeth to me longyth venyaunce And I shall yelde it sayth god And ye whan that Pylat wasshed his handes sayde I am vngylty of thys mannys blode shedynge ye answe ageyne sayd the blode of hym be on vs our chyldren wyte it well that fro that tyme forwarde shall the wroth of god come vpoÌ„ you on your chyldren as your selfe sayd And whan the Iewes herde this answere they were wonder angrye ther they put Ioseph in pryson on whiche pryson was no wyndow no syde so that there myght no lyght come in but at the dore That dore they shet myghtely put therto kepers than Annas Cayphas and other bysshoppys masters of the lawe / kest them to assemble the nexte daye after the sabot there they sholde sle Ioseph / And whan they were at ther assemble they sente to the preson vndyde the dore but they founde not Ioseph therin as they had put hym so they were hugely a meruayled ¶ Howe one of the knyghtes that kepte the Sepulcre of our lorde came and tolde the masters of the lawe how our lorde was gone into Galylee ANd as they were in thê meruellynge they eÌ„trede iÌ„ to ther synagoge amoÌ„ge theÌ„ caÌ„e one of the knyghtys that kepte the sepulcre to theÌ„ he tolde sykerly that Ihesu was not iÌ„ the moÌ„meÌ„t anone the masters of the lawe askyd hyÌ„ where they had done hyÌ„ the knyght answered sayde thus As we kepte the Graue the erth shoke thaÌ„ we sawe verelly that aÌ„ auÌ„gyll dyscended downe fro heuyÌ„ lyfte vp the stone fro the mommeÌ„t set hyÌ„ there vpon his face bryght And there was as it beleuyn hê vesture as whyte as euer was snowe And for the grete drede that we had we were as we had ben deed Than we herde the Aungell saye to the women that were come to the sepulcre dysmaye ye not nor drede you not I knowe well that ye seke Ihesu that was crucyfyed I do you to wete that he is ryseÌ„ is not here for ye shal se hyÌ„ iÌ„ Galylee as he sayd to you afore And whaÌ„ the pryÌ„ces of the lawe herde this they sayd to the knyght Is Ihesê° thaÌ„ on lyue we may not beleue thê that ye say ThaÌ„ answered the knyght Ihesu hath wrought meny myracles that ye haue well herde se ye leue it not howe sholde ye thaÌ„ byleue vs. but your owne demauÌ„de is good whaÌ„ ye aske yf Ihesu
god as I sayd here afore whan I was on lyue in the londe of zabulon and neptalē ouer the flume iordayn The peple that sat in darkenes saw grete bryghtnesse of lyght and that lyght was sente to them that sat in the shadowe of deth that was there as it had be a sterre shynȳge aboue upō vs And as we were ī this Ioye gladnesse of this lyght that shoke vpon vs there came to vs our fader Symeon and thus he sayd to vs with grete Ioye Gloryfy our lorde god Ihesu cryst our sauyour whiche I receyued a chylde in the temple and toke hym in my armes sayenge thus lete now thy seruaunt passe for myn eyen haue sene thy helth whan all the grete company of sayntes that were in hell herde this they were wonder Ioyfull and mery And after there came another man to vs. as it had bene an Ermyte and our forfader askyd hym what he was And he answered ayē and sayd I am a voyce of a prophet of an hye companye for I haue go afore the face of hys comynge and also to make redy the waye of his comynge and to yeue helth and connynge to his peple in the remyssyon of ther sȳnes And whan I sawe hym come to me / I was fulfylled with the holy gooste and thus I sayd see the lambe of godde and beholde hym that dothe awaye synne of the worlde and hym I haue baptysed in the flume Iordā vpon hym I sawe the holy goost descende in lykenesse of a doue And than I herde a voyce that fyll fro heuyn sayenge thus this is my son in whome grete plesynge is to me And nowe I am come afore hym to you to shewe to you the sōne of god is come fro hyghte for to delyuer vs that syt in derkenesse in the shadowe of deth abydynge his mercy whan that Adam our forfader was baptyzed anone he sayd to seth his son Tell to thy chyldren to patryarkes prophets that the Aungell sayd to the whan I sente the to the gates of paradyse that thou sholdest praye our lorde god that he wolde sende to me by his aungell of the frute of lyfe also of the oyle of mercy for to anoynte with all my membres suche tyme that I was fulfylled full of malady with sekenes Than Seth sterte vp sayd with an hyghe voyce As I was at the gatys of paradyse prayenge our lorde god of the oyle of mercy Oure lorde sente Mychaell his archaungell to me sayenge thus Oure lorde god hath sente me to the. Trauayle not for to haue the oyle of mercy to anoynt with Adam thy fader I do the to wete thou mayste not haue it vnto the laste day be complete of v. M. v. C. yere than shalle the son of god Ihesu cryste cōe vpon erth to reyse the body of Adam thy fader And the bodies of his holy sayntes And than shall he be baptyzed in flom Iordane And whā he comyth out of the water than he shal anoynte with the oyle of mercy all tho that shall beleue ī hȳ and than shall the son of god go downe to hell ād lede adam thy fader into paradyse to the tre of lyfe and mercy whan the patryarkes and prophetes herde this that Seth sayd thā they made grete Ioye and as they made grete Ioye Satan the prynce of hel and master of deth sayd to the master of turmētry Make the redy for to receyue Ihesu whiche that gloryfyed hym selfe to be the son of god And yet he is man that dredyth deth for he sayd my soule is heuy ageȳst deth This Ihesu hath wrought meny heuynes euyllys ayenst me for thē that I made blynde crokyd and lame and mezel he hath made hole by his worde And also the dede that I brought to the he hath reysed to lyfe Than the prynce of turmentrye answered to Sathan what is he that is so myghty by his worde And thou sayest that he is man that dredyth deth All that euer were myghty in erth thou hast brought them to my bōdome and be bownde in my poust yf he be so myghty ī māhode as thou sayest I saye to the he is so myghty in dyuynyte so ferforth that we may neuer do ageynste hym And yf that he sayd that he drad deth I saye to the that he wyll dysceyue the and ouercome the at alle tymes And than answered Sathan to the master of turmentre sayd why dredyst thou for to receyue myne aduersary and thyne I haue made the Iewes for to be ageynst hym And I haue made redy that he shall be smyt with and I haue made redy the tre that he shal be crucyfyed on ād .iii. nayles for to fast hym therto And I haue made a drynke with ezyll gall that he shal drȳke And I tel the that he shall be dede anone And I shall brynge hym bowde to the Than answered the prynce of turmentrye this that thou sayest that he by his myght hath take fro me them that were deed what hopyst thou he maye be that doth suche masterys by his worde I drede me parauenture that this was he that toke a way Lazare fro me and reysed hym that was .iiii. dayes dede whome that I helde bownde in my preson hym he yelded to lyfe by his worde Than answered Satā sayd I do the to were that he is the same Ihesu And whan the prynce of turmentrye herde this he sayd to Satan I conioure the by thy vertu and myne that thou brynge hym not here to me for whan I herde the cōmaundement of his worde I trembled and shoke for drede and all my fell seriauntis with me so that we ne myghte kepe lazare but he flowe fro vs as swyfte as it had be an Egle oute of the bondys that we had hym in and the erth that he laye in dede vndyd ād yalde hȳ quyke fro hym wenyste thou sathan for to holde suche a lorde that toke his seruaunt fro vs manger of vs by the vertue of his worde wyt thou well this without dowte yf thou brȳge hym hyder that is so myghty to saue almankynde he wyl put vs hence I saye satan and all tho that be shet in oure preson and strayned be ther syn in our bondis by hym they shal be delyuered and brought to euerlastynge lyfe And as they spoke thus togyder there came a voyce as it had bene douder of the holy goost and thus he sayd Attollite portas principes vr̄as ye prȳces of deth vnclosyth your gatys for the prynce of glorye shall entre therin And whan the prynce of hell herde this voyce they sayd to Satā Go hens fro vs and yf thou be myghty to fyght Go fyght with hym that is kynge of glorye And so hel kest Satan fro hym and than he sayd to his fel seriauntes shet myghtly your yatys with Iron barrys and fyghte myghtely and withstonde hym strongely that the kynge of blys come not herin
the holy resurreccyon of oure lorde Ihesu cryste with your bretherne that rose with hyÌ„ and that ye speke to no person But be you as the domme in to the tyme that our lorde shal suffer you for to shewe the secretys of his deuynyte And so the holy Aungell saynt Mychaell coÌ„maunded vs to go to floÌ„me Iordane to a place there that many are rysen with vs in witnesse of the resurreccyon of our lorde Ihesu cryste Oure lorde god hath graunted vs .iii. dayes to be Iherusalem holde there the holy paske of our lorde god with our frendys And also that we shal be baptyzed in the flaÌ„me Iordan eche of vs at that tyme takynge whyte stolys thus saynt Mychaell coÌ„mauÌ„ded vs that we sholde be iÌ„ orysons iÌ„ the cyte of Barmathye that we sholde shewe to you these holy secretys And therfore yeue presynge to our lorde god and be a knowe your defaute and doo penaunce that he maye haue mercy vpoÌ„ you Nowe pease be with you of our lorde Ihesu cryste that is sauyour of vs all Amen ¶ Howe Nycodemus Ioseph tolde to Pylat all that thyse .ii. meÌ„ had sayd how pylat treatyd wih the pryÌ„ces of the lawe ANd whan this scrypture was wreten this Garyus Leuycyus rose vp And so Garyus delyuered the byll that he hath wryteÌ„ in to the handys of Annas Cayphas to Gamalyel And leuycyus yaue that he had wryt in to the handes of Nycodemus Ioseph of Barmathye and anone they were transfygured aÌ„d were no more sene of them for both byllys were all one hande as though one man had wrette them both And there was not one letter more iÌ„ the one than in that other And whan the Iewes masters of the lawe had red these bylles and vnderstonde them they were hugely abasshed all shamed And than they sayd amonge them that forsoth Ihesu was verye godys son blessyd moche be endlesly for al thynge beryth wytnesse therof And anone after they wente out of the Synagoge And than Nycodemus and Ioseph of Barmathye tolde al this to pylat And than Pylat dyd wryte al that was befall of Ihesu of that the Iewes had sayd of hyÌ„ And all these merueyles he dyd put in his bookys after that Pylat entred in to the Iewes and afore hym assembled al the Masters of the lawe as prynces and Bysshoppes And thaÌ„ Pylat dyde coÌ„maunde the gatys and dorys to be shyt And than pylat sayd to them Syrs it is do me wyt that ye haue amoÌ„ge you a newe story of grete scrypture whiche scrypture I couet for to se And therfore I charge you that it be broughte to my presence And whaÌ„ it was brought to his pÌ„seÌ„ce thaÌ„ sayd he to theÌ„ all I coÌ„ioure you all by the vertue of our lorde whiche that is fader maker of all thyÌ„ge that ye ne hyde no couÌ„sel but for to saye the trewthe Syrs ye knowe by the scryptures that is wryt here that Ihesu whiche that ye crucyfyed is very goddis son so it behoued hyÌ„ to come into this worlde to the helth of maÌ„kynde And therfore I charge you that ye tell me what tyme that cryste sholde come by your scrypture WhaÌ„ that Annas Cayphas were thê° coniured they charged coÌ„mauÌ„ded that all sholde go out of the teÌ„ple saue Pylat they .ii. ThaÌ„ they sayd to Pylat good Iuge thou hast so coÌ„iured vs that we must nedê shewe to the / the trouth of this that thou hast enquyred of vs syr into the tyme that we had crucyfyed Ihesu We knewe not that he was goddys son but we weÌ„de that the vertues that he wrought had ben done by some charme thaÌ„ made we vs to assemble in this temple And here we dyde reherce all the vertues that he had wrought And so there were many of our lynage that sayd that they had sene Ihesu after his passyoÌ„ that they had herde hym speke to his dyscyples And also they sayde that they sawe hym stye vp iÌ„ to heuyn And we wote well that we sawe .ii. men whiche that Ihesu reysed fro deth to lyfe whiche tolde vs meny merueyllys that Ihesu iÌ„ his dyenge dyde after that maye ye wyt bi ther scrypturs that we holde iÌ„ our haÌ„dis But our custome is suche that we do worshyp to storyes that haue be here afore iÌ„ our Sinagogys / so we fynde by wytnes of god iÌ„ the fyrste booke as it sayeth that Mychaell the ArchauÌ„gyll sayd to Seth that was the thyrde son of Adam WhaÌ„ .v. M. .v. C. yere were complette thaÌ„ sholde the soÌ„ of god Ihesu cryste come fro heuyn yet we abyde his coÌ„mynge And paradueÌ„ture this god of Israell that sayd to moyses that he sholde make an hutche of wydnes in the leÌ„gth of .ii. kebettys an halfe iÌ„ the length of a kepet aÌ„ halfe And these .v. kebettys we vnderstonde by the olde testameÌ„t that whaÌ„ .v. M. v C. yere is come thaÌ„ shal Ihesu cryst the son of god coÌ„e in to the hutche that is the wombe of the maydeÌ„ Mary thê° our scryptur berith witnesse of hyÌ„ that shal be the soÌ„ of god kyÌ„ge of the peple of Israel But after the passyoÌ„ of Ihesu we our prynces merueylled of the tokens workes that were do by hym And so we lokyd our storyes couÌ„ted all the lynage downe to Iosephes lynage And the lynage of Marye that was moder of Ihesu so we haue acounted that fro the tyme that god made the worlde AdaÌ„ the fyrste maÌ„ vnto Noyes flode is .ii. M. .viii C. yere And fro the flode to Abraham is .iii. M. v. C. yere And fro Moyses to Dauyd the kynge is .v. C. yere And fro the transmygracyon of Babyloyne vnto the iÌ„carnacyoÌ„ of Ihesu cryst is .iiii. C. yere And thus is the accouÌ„te in all .v. M. .v. C. yere All these thynges merueylles dyd Pylat wryte aÌ„d put in his offyce in fayer velommys so that it myght be red aÌ„d knowen of all meÌ„ that sholde come after hym after that Pylatte wrote a letter to the Cyte of Rome to Clawdyo the Emperoure Amen ¶ Here endyth the treatys of Nychodemus gospell ¶ Enprynted at London withoute Tempell Barre / in Saynt Clementys parysshe / By me Iulyan Notary dwellynge at the syne of the thre kynges In the yere of our lorde a. M. CCCCC.vii