The Middle-English Harrowing of hell and Gospel of Nicodemus. Now first ed. from all the known manuscripts, with introduction and glossary, by William Henry Hulme.

Galba MS. TEXT G.

Hic incipit euangelium Nichodemi.

(1)

BItid þe time Tiberius [leaf 57 bk.] rewled Rome with realte, þat same tyme Theodosius was proued prince in Galile, [ 4] þis stori wrate Nichodemus in ebreu for ful grete dainte; seþin þe emperoure Theodosius gert it þus translated be [ 8] þat men may vnderstand, both lered and lawed in ledes; a clerk of ingland in his remail þus redes: [ 12]

(2)

Simon, Zayrus and Caiphas, datan and Gamaliell, Neptalim, Leui and Iudas, With þaire accusinges fals and fell, Alexander and als annas, [ 17] Ogaines Ihesu þai speke and spell; bifore sir pilate gan þai pas, þaire tales vntill him gan þai tell: "þis mopp þat merres oure men, [ 21] kalles him god sun of heuyn, his sire, his dam we ken, bi name we kan þam neuyn; [ 24]

(3)

We wate wele Ioseph was a wright, suthly he was his sire, and mari vs menes his moder hight, we, whatkin goddes er þise? [ 28] he es þaire sun, þis weried wight, þat egges vs all till ire; oure lawes to breke both day & night, þat es his moste desire," [ 32] Sir pilate answerd þan: "sais me whilk er his sawes, on what maner þis man aleges ogaines oure lawes." [ 36]

(4)

"Oure law vs leres," þan said a Iew, "þe sabot to do no thing; þan wirkes he wonder werkes new, heles al þat askes heleing, [ 40] þe croked cripilles þat we knew, þis es a wonder thing;

he makes þam hale of hide & hew thurgh his fals charmeing." [ 44] to pilat said þai all: "for soth slike er his dedes, slike fare he fares withall, with fendes craft he him fedes." [ 48]

(5)

Þan said pilat: "ȝe have no right to blame him by no way; his miracles musters his might, it es noght als ȝe say; [ 52] sen he to blind has gifen þe sight and raised þat beried lay, whi suld he vnto ded be dight þat mendes all þat he may?" [ 56] þan all þe iewes cride: "sir pelate, we þe pray, bring him to bar þis tide þat makes vs all þis dray." [ 60]

(6)

A bedell to bring him gan he bid, Romayne he hight, we rede, and he þat was for curtais kid did it sone in dede; [ 64] a wonden wrethe þat his heuid hid spred he all furth on brede: "lord, þe to call domesman me did, bot walk in on þis wede." [ 68] þe iewes all of þat gate wex all ful gul and grene and said to sir pilate: "a deuil, what may þis mene? [ 72]

(7)

Þe bedel suld to þe be trew [leaf 58] and do þi comandment;

on knese here knelid he to ihesu right in þine auwen present; [ 76] vs noyes gretly þir notes new, we toke þarto gude tent, slike curtaisy vnto him he knew, right on his wreth he went." [ 80] þai asked him whi he kid ihesu slike curtaysy; and he said: "þat I did I had encheson whi; [ 84]

(8)

Til Alisander, wele ȝe wate, in message was I made, to Ierusalem I come so late þat till þe morn I bade; [ 88] þis ihesus on ane Ass þare sate and thurgh þe toun he rade; childer byfore him in þe gate spred þaire clothes obrade, [ 92] to him all gan þai bow; 'Osanna,' was þaire sang, 'blisced be he þat cumes now in goddes name vs omang.'" [ 96]

(9)

Þan said þe iews: "traytur vntrew, with lies þou has vs led, þaire carping þare no thing þou knew, we lay oure heuiddes in wed; [ 100] iherusalem langage es ebrew, ful fer þeþin was þou fed." he said: "I spirde at men inowe þat in þat burgh war bred." [ 104] "Osanna," quod pilate, "what es þat forto say?" þai said: "it menes algate, 'Lord, saue vs, we þe pray.'" [ 108]

(10)

Þan said pilate: "me think in thoght þe bedell wrang ȝe blame; Ȝowre childer sawes forsake ȝe noght, Ȝowreseluen sais þe same; [ 112] bot, bedell, to bar sen þou him broght to schilde þiself fro schame, haue him furth þat þou wirschip wroght and call him in by name." [ 116] Out of þat rout romayne oure lord Ihesu he ledes, and calles him in ogayn, als he þat domesman dredes. [ 120]

(11)

Of Emperoures þat are had bene þis was used in þat land, for folk suld on þair menskes mene, men suld hald in þaire hand [ 124] þaire armes set on schaftes schene, graythed of gold gleterand; so did þai þare þat day bidene, and stabilly gan þai stand; [ 128] when he þat all sall welde was led into þe hall, þe heuides haly gan helde and did him honors all. [ 132]

(12)

Þan þe iews ful sterne and stout said: "þis es hard hething, þir lurdans lattes þaire schaftes lout and wroght him wirschiping." [ 136]

þan pilat asked þam all obout: "Whi did ȝe swilk a thing?" þai said: "we do ȝow out of dout, it was noght oure witing, [ 140] we toke no tent him till, þe baners gan him bow; it was ogains oure will, þat sall ȝe trewly trow." [ 144]

(13)

Þai said þat it was weterly Ogains þaire will algate; þe iews þan ful loud gan cry and pleinde þam to pilate; [ 148] he bad þam tak men more mighty, strang and stabill of state, and lat þam hald þe schaftes in hy, þaire baret to abate. [ 152] In þaire iewry aiwhare on ilk side haue þai soght, of men þat mighty ware þe boldest haue þay broght. [ 156]

(14)

Sir pilat to þase iews þan sware, suld hald þo schaftes in hand: "if þai lout vnto ihesu mare, ȝe sall lose life and land." [ 160] þe men þat wight and willy ware said: "to þi steuin we stand; whas heuid so heldes brede of ane hare, hardily hag of his hand." [ 164] "haue ihesus out of þe hall," said pelat þe bedell vntill, "and eft in þou him call, on what wise so þou will." [ 168]

(15)

[lf. 58, bk.] His heuid vnhild on knese he knelid, his clathes on brede he spred, with all wirschip þat he kouth welde oure lord eft in he led; [ 172] þe heuides on heght halely gan helde and bowing to him þai bed; þe men when þai þam failand feld drowpid and war adred. [ 176] when pilat saw in sight how þe baners gan bow, for drede he rase vpright ogans oure lord ihesu. [ 180]

(16)

Broght was he þus to bar ogain, þe king of all mankin; þe fende þan thoght: "if he war slayn, he suld saue men of sin, and sawles þat he had tane with traine fro him þat tyme suld twin." forþi he dose his might & mayn to ger þat bargan blin; [ 188] on þe night als ane angell he appered to pilates wife: "vnto þi lord þou tell he lett noght ihesus life." [ 192]

(17)

Sir pilates wife, dame procula, till hir lord þus gan say: "deme ȝe noght ihesus till ne fra, bot mensk him þat ȝe may, [ 196] I haue bene drechid with dremis swa þis ilk night als I lay; if ȝe him deme to ded at ga, oure welth mun wend oway." [ 200]

pilat als man amayde stode in a grete stody, seþin to þe iewes he sayd: "ȝe wrigh him wrangwisly; [ 204]

(18)

My wife, ȝe wate wele, es no iew, scho es a sarizene; mynsters has scho made ȝow new and done gude dedis bidene; [ 208] scho sais Ihesus es gude and trew, slepand þus has scho sene; if we him reyne, it mun vs rew euermore þaron to mene." [ 212] þai said: "þis wist we are, ilk man þe suth may se; he fares with fendes fare, witched þi wife has he." [ 216]

(19)

Sir pilat said: "it meruailes me þat þou standes so still, sen þat þiself þe suth may se what þai tell þe vntill." [ 220] crist said: "ilk man a mowth has fre to welde at his awin will; þaire wordes ful wide sall witen be wheþer þai be gude or ill." [ 224] "Ihesus, lat be þi dyn!" said all þe iews on raw, "a horcop born in syn ilkane wele we þe knaw; [ 228]

(20)

We wate wele for þi sake was slayne all þe barnes in Bedlem born; to fle with þe þi frendes war fayn, and els had þi life bene forlorn; [ 232]

when herod died, es noght at layn, þat þi ded hertly had sworn, till ȝowre cuntre ȝe come ogayn þat ȝe war fled fro byforn." [ 236] pilat said: "es þis he þat herod soght to sla?" þai said: "sir, ȝa parde, bot þus he passed him fra." [ 240]

(21)

Pilat when he herd how it was, he dred mekill þe mare; he chesed a quest on him to pas and by þaire law þai sware, [ 244] þai said to pilat and to Cayfas: "þe soth we will noght spare, mary with ioseph wedid was, at þaire weding we ware." [ 248] pilat said to þam þan þat had blamed him biforn: "with wrang ȝe wrigh þis man, in wedlayk was he born." [ 252]

(22)

Þan stirt vp iews bitter and bald and said to sir pilate: "þe tales þat we haue of him talde will we avow algate; [ 256] at þir men es ful litell halde, sir, þai say als þai wate, þai er bot barnes, sir, be ȝe balde, cumen till oure law now late." [ 260] þis quest stedfast als stele said to þase oþer twelue: "we er Iews, wit ȝe wele, born frely als ȝowreselue." [ 264]

(23)

[[leaf 59] Sir pilat to bar a boke has broght þir two questes to twin; with swering sal þe suth be soght, first quest he biddes bigin; [ 268] and þai say: "nay, þat falles vs noght, we say swering es syn; lat þam swere þat þis wrang has wroght, all knew we ihesus kyin; [ 272] if we be fun gilty in þis thing þat we say, we oblis vs forto dy bifor domesmen þis day." [ 276]

(24)

Þan spac annas and Cayfas and said to sir pilate: "we trow wele mari wedded was and þat ioseph him gate; [ 280] bot till anoþer point we pas þat sall hald him ful hate: we say a spirit enclosed he has, wharthurth all thinges he wate." pilat gert haue out all [ 285] þat þan war in þat hows, and þat quest gert he call þat proued him born in spowse;

(25)

He said: "I fand ȝow trew langare, telles me now ȝowre rede, whi hate þir iews ihesu so sare and will þus haue him ded?" [ 292]

þai say: "his lessons passes þaire lare, þarfore þai haue hatred, and als his miracles moues þam mare, þat standes þam mekill in stede." wrath es sir pilat þan [ 297] and sais: "þis es enuy; will þai þus deme a man for his gude dedes to dy?" [ 300]

(26)

Sir pilat highed out of þe hall and said þe iews vntill: "I witnes here byfor ȝow all I find in him none ill." [ 304] and þai answerd both grete & small: "syr, ift it war þi will, we gert him noght bifor þe call to deme withowten skill." [ 308] he sais: "þan bus him dy, I se wele by ȝowre saws; takes him to ȝow forþi and demes him by ȝowre laws." [ 312]

(27)

Þan said þe iews: "syr, wele þou wate, god biddes vs sla no man." vnto þam þus answerd pilate: "biddes god me sla men þan? [ 316] I haue wele herd whi ȝe him hate and whi ȝowre grefe bigan; with my will bese he ded nonegate by no craft þat ȝe can; [ 320] it sall noght stand in stede, for sertes it war no reson at deme a man to ded, bot ȝe had more encheson." [ 324]

(28)

He led ihesus þe iewes fra þat bifore stode him by and said till him bitwix þam twa: "þou es king of iewry?" [ 328] Ihesus sais: "oiþer was it tald þe swa, or þou red rightwisly?" þan said pilat: "me war full wa þi folk suld ger þe dy; [ 332] þou ert bytane to me forto be demid þis day; king of iews if þou be answer to þat, I say." [ 336]

(29)

Ihesus sayd þan to him ogayne: "my kingdom es noght here; if my kingdom, es noght at layn, within þis werld now were, [ 340] or I omang þir iews war slaine, my men þat er me dere wald put þam fro þaire purpos playn with ful grete powere." [ 344] "þan ertou king algate," says pelate, "sikerly?" Ihesus said to pilate: Þou sais it and noght I; [ 348]

(30)

Cumen I am to þis cuntre and þarto was I born, of suthfastnes witnes to be þat was noght sene biforn; [ 352] al þat suthfast lithes me lely both euyn and morn; þai sal be demed in þaire degre þat suthfastnes has lorn." [ 356]

pilat þan asked him eft: "what thing es suthfastnes?" with þat Ihesus he left als man þat stonayd es. [ 360]

(31)

[[lf. 59, bk.] He said vnto þe iewes al þus: "sirs, if it war ȝowre will, I haue enquered more of ihesus, I find in hym none ill." [ 364] þai sayd: "he was noght wrighed for vs withowen sertayn skill." sir pilat said: "dy sen him bus, I consent noght þartill, [ 368] I am withowten gilt, to proue in ȝowre present; his blude sal noght be spilt forsoth by myne assent." [ 372]

(32)

To þis answerd þe iewes all and made þam wonder wrath, þai say: "his blude mot on vs fall and on oure childer bath." [ 376] sir pilat said: "parchance so sall, þat es ful mekill wath; þarfore lat haue him out of hall and skape withowten skath." [ 380] þai say: "sir, wele þou wate, we say bot lawfully; wha blemis Kinges astate es wele worth forto dy; [ 384]

(33)

And whoso sklandres þe godhede es more syn þan swilk seuyn;

he þat es man withowten drede als god sun will him neuyn, [ 388] he hetes to sit, whoso tase hede, on goddes right hand in heuyn, to deme ilk man efter his dede at his awin ordinance euyn." [ 392] out of þat company pilat went Ihesu vnto and said: "syr, sekerly, I ne wate what es to do." [ 396]

(34)

Crist said: "als gifen þe and me, so bus be done alwise." pilat sais: "how?" and þan sais he: "als proues þe prophecise, [ 400] Moyses, dauid and Iosue, and oþer mo þan þise; als þai said, bese fulfild in me to suffer and dye and rise." [ 404] þan pilat went to hall als man þat was amayd and tald to þe iews all how þat Ihesus had sayd. [ 408]

(35)

Þan said þe iews to pilat: "lo, in swilk errowre he dwelles, with more witnes what suld we do? himself ful trewly telles." [ 412] pilat said: "takes him ȝow vnto, sen ilk man þus him melles, and demes als ȝe bigan þis bro, for I will say noght els." [ 416] þai say: "wha melling makes to man, þis find we wretyn, 'ane wane of fourty strakes with ȝerde he sal be smeten;' [ 420]

(36)

Wha sklanders god, ȝe wate he mon be staned to ded for syn; he telles ȝow þat he es god son, and we knaw all his kyn; [ 424] he sais þat he sall sit in trone, þarfore or euer we blin, we will þat he on cros be done and ded for all his dyn; [ 428] if he regne sekerly, all sall turn to his lare; and better es þat a man dy þan all þe folk forfare." [ 432]

(37)

In come sir nicodeme by þan, was prince of þe iewry, he said: "I rede ȝe do þis man no maner of velany; [ 436] slike sotell talkinges als he can and schewes vs opinly was neuer ȝit sene þe werld bigan sene in prophecy; [ 440] and if his fare war fals, it suld be sene ful sone; his sawes and his dedes als suld dy and be vndone. [ 444]

(38)

When signes war schewed thurgh Moises vntill pharao þe kyng, two witnes, Iamnes and mambres, did him ful grete hething; [ 448] signes þat he schewed made þai lese with þaire fals enchaunting, als goddes þam held all hathenes; bot lithes þe last ending; [ 452]

for his dedes war suthfast and þaires bot sorcery; his dedes sall euermore last, and þaires bud nedely dy. [ 456]

(39)

[leaf 60] And parchance þis man may be sent a prophet vs forto lere; i n[e] wat by wham þat moises ment [459. MS. in what for i ne wat.] þat telles on þis manere: [ 460] 'a prophet till oure lawes bese lent and born omanges vs here;' he said þai sall be schamely schent þat him þis will noght here." [ 464] þe iews bifor pilate sayd vnto nichodeme: "his lare be þine algate, and his pese might þe ȝeme." [ 468]

(40)

Nichodeme answerd and said "a∣men," and held up bath his hend, "vnto his lare I tak me þen, his pese in me might lend." [ 472] into þe hall þan come þare ten þat for lazars war kend, þai said: "we war vnclene, ȝe ken, hale thurgh his word we wend." [ 476] in come anoþer and said: "sir, blind born was I, handes on mine eghen he layd, þus sagh I sekerly." [ 480]

(41)

Anoþer said: "sirs, seke I lay fourty ȝere al bot twa,

I asked mercy, and he gan say: 'tyte tak þi bed and ga!' [ 484] sone was I helid and went my way." þus come ay ma and ma, þai said: "sirs, no man nowmber may how many he has helid swa." [ 488] all haly say þai þus: "a grete prophet es he, oure sauiore dere Ihesus, blisced ay mot he be." [ 492]

(42)

"Ȝowre prestes, ȝowre bisschoppes," quad pilate, "þusgat why hele noght þai?" and þai answerd and said: "we ne wate, bot þus wirkes he alway; ane lazar þat was ded now late [ 497] and in his graue lang lay, he lifes ogain in ful gude state, þis es suth þat we say." [ 500] hereof had pilat drede and said: "whi will ȝe spill þe man þat helpis in nede all þat will call him till?" [ 504]

(43)

He cald nichodeme and þat quest þat he fand trew algate and said: "lordinges, how hald ȝe best? þir folk falles in debate." [ 508] and þai said: "sir, als haue we reste, what es to do we ne wate; þam forto pay er we noght prest, forto les his astate; [ 512] we pray god þat he send right dome þam omang, on þam self moght it lend [ 515] wha dose right and who wrang."

(44)

At pasch of Iews þe custom was ane of preson to slake, withowten dome to lat him pas for þat high fest sake. [ 520] a prison þai had hight barabas þat many murthers gan make; wheþer him or ihesu, pilat ass, þai will fro presoun take, [ 524] þai cried fast: "baraban!" and pilat askes þam all: "what sall Ihesus do þan?" þai say: "cros him þou sall; [ 528]

(45)

Bot þou do so, it es wele sene þou es noght Cesares frende; who makes þam kyng, withowten wene ogains cesar þai wende." and pilat said þan in a tene: [ 533] "ȝe folk ful of þe fende, till ȝowre belders ay haue ȝe bene schrewes and ill at þe ende." [ 536] for wroth þai wex nere wode and said: "why says þou so? who did vs euer ȝit gude, [ 539] [þ]at we ne did þam slike two?"

(46)

"Fro egipt," said he, "war ȝe led with moyses þe trew prophete, fro pharao thurgh þe se ȝe fled and filed noght ȝowre fete; [ 544] in wildernes, when god ȝow fed with angell mete ful swete, owles to ȝowre fode þat neuer war bred and rayn fro heuyn he lete; [ 548]

out of þe stane he sent fress water weterly; Ȝe brac his cumandment and lifed on maumetry; [ 552]

(47)

[[lf. 60, bk.] Bot þat moyses gan for ȝow pray, god had fordone ȝow þare; and here þis man þat ilka day heles ȝow seke and sare, [ 556] for I deme noght vnto ȝowre pay bot wald þe giltles spare; I am noght Cesars frende, ȝe say, þis es vnrightwis fare." [ 560] þai sai: "we haue no king bot þe Emperoure of rome; to trow on þis tratilling þat war no rightwis dome. [ 564]

(48)

We find how thre kinges her biforn fro perse to bedlem soght, þai asked whare þe king of iews was born and till him ofrandes broght; [ 568] bot when herod wist on þe morn on what wise þai had wroght, þat he and þai both suld be lorn, þis was in herodes thoght; [ 572] for he knew noght him þis, al childer bad he sla þat of twa ȝere oght mys, and ȝit he scapid him fra." [ 576]

(49)

Pilat hereof had grete pete and bad all men be still: "withowten caus þa kinges thre soght noght so fer him till." [ 580]

water wighty askes he and wesse his hend by skill: "I am giltles, als ȝe sall se, þis rightwis blode to spill." [ 584] þan cried þe Iews all: "þareof haue þou no dout, his blode on vs might fall, put vs in and þe out." [ 588]

(50)

Þan gert pilat vnto bar bring knightes ful grete plente, he sais: "his folk vnproues him king, and kingdom claymes he; [ 592] þarfore with scowrges ȝe sall him ding, þus byd I þat it be, seþen on a cros ȝe sall him hing high þat þe men may se; [ 596] a thef on aiþer syde ȝo do at my biding, als king of mekill pride in middes ȝe sall him hing." [ 600]

(51)

Þase knightes kene laid hand him on and led whare he suld dy, his clathes of him þai don, [603. þai erased before of; on erased before don.] a white towayle in hy, [ 604] a purpure mantell þareopon and hid his eghen hastily; þare þai defouled him als a fon and king of iews gan cry; [ 608]

a crown of thorn ful sare to threst þai haue bygun on his heuid, till þe hare was all of blude biron; [ 612]

(52)

On rode þai raised him þan gude spede, a thef on ayther syde; aysell and gall raised on a rede within a spounge þai hide, [ 616] vntill his mowth at drink þai bede, and ihesus sayd þat tyde: "fader, forgif þir men þaire dede of þis bale þat I byde." [ 620] þe Iews þan þat þare stode said: "god sun if þou be, cum doun now fro þat rode, and we sall trow in þe." [ 624]

(53)

A blind knight, so thoght þam best, a spere þai gaf gude spede; to ihesu side þai gan it threst, and blude and water out ȝede. [ 628] pilat, for folk bi est and west suld haue mynde of þat dede, a bill obouen his heuid he fest þat ilka man myght rede, [ 632] latin, Ebrew and gru; his titill was þusgate: "þis ilk man es Ihesu, king of iews," þus he wrate. [ 636]

(54)

On his left side hanged Iestas and said to him bi name: "if þou be god, hethin lat vs pas, saue þe and vs fro schame!" [ 640]

and on his right hand hanged dismas, his fere fast gan he blame: "als þou haues serued so þou has, and I may say þe same; [ 644] ouer litill god þou dredes, we haue þis for oure gilt, and he for his gude dedes full wrangwisly es spilt." [ 648]

(55)

Vnto Ihesu þan gan he pray: [leaf 61] "als þow es high Iustise, when þou cumes in þi regne for ay, mend me with þi mercyse." [ 652] and Ihesus sone to him gan say [653. Last stroke of h in Ihesus omitted.] ane answer on þis wise: "I hete þe forto be þis day with me in paradyse." [ 656] at vnderon was þis done, omang þam wex it mirk, þe son wex dim ful sone, þe vail rafe in þe kirk. [ 660]

(56)

In þis ilk stori als we rede, who will it vnderstand, ane angell was sene do þat dede with a swerd bright brinand, [ 664] he said: "I cum, whosom tase hede, als witnes and warand of Ihesu ded þat ȝe se blede, nayled thurgh fote and hand." [ 668] Ihesus said: "in þi hend, my fader of mightes maste, my saul now sall I send." with þis he gaf þe gaste. [ 672]

(57

Centurio said, when he suld dy, vnto þe iews ful right: "þis ilk was god sun sekerly, þat þus to ded es dight." [ 676] and many oþer þat stode him by and saw þis selkuth sight knocked on þaire brestes & cried mercy and mendid þam at þaire might. [ 680] of þis wonderful dede when sir pilate herd say, for dole and als for drede he ette no mete þat day. [ 684]

(58)

Þan pilat sembled þe Iews all and said: "what es ȝowre rede? swilk ferlis wist we neuer bifall als fell in Thesu ded." [ 688] þai said: "þir clerkes þe clippes it call þat made þe sun so rede." he asked: "what made þe stanes so small þat none might stir of þe stede? [ 692] also, what raf þe vayl þat in ȝowre temple hang? vs all to wrotherhail I dout we haue done wrang." [ 696]

(59)

Centurio come furth by þan and oþer þan with him ware; till all þe iews þus þai bigan to tell þis ferly fare: [ 700] "of wreghing of þis rightwisman Ȝe may ȝow drede ful sare; þe sun at his ded wex all wan wele thre mile way or mare, [ 704]

þe stanes in sunder brac, þe erth trembild and quaked, with noyse als man it spac, slike mane for him it maked; [ 708]

(60)

Ded men er risen out of þaire graue right in oure aller sight; þarfore we trow and hope we haue he was god son ful right." [ 712] als þai all þus togeder straue, to pilat come a knyght, and ihesu cors fast gan he craue þat þus to ded was dight; [ 716] Pilat granted þat bone till ioseph of aramathy; and he fra cros ful sone toke done þat blisced body. [ 720]

(61)

He wand þat cors with gude entent in sendell new and clene and layd it in his monument whare nane byfore had bene. [ 724] þan said þe iews with ane assent: "als ill we sall him tene." men forto seke him haue þai sent, and he dar noght be sene. [ 728] þat quest þat gan him deme trew in sposage born, and rightwis nichodeme, to sla all haue þai sworn; [ 732]

(62)

And forto sla all haue þai thoght þat helid of ihesu ware; þai bad sone þat men spare þam noght, so war þai greued sare. [ 736]

Sone when þai war togeder broght, þe maysters of þaire lare, to þe temple nichodem þam soght, to speke he wald noght spare, [ 740] he said: "ȝe wers þan wode, how dar ȝe negh þis stede and ȝowre handes ful of blode of rightwis ihesus ded?" [ 744]

(63)

[lf. 61, bk.] Þe iews þan answerd al in fere: "þou outcast of all men, how dar þou negh þis tempill nere, his frend se we þe ken? [ 748] sen þat þou held his dedis so dere, [749. dedis: first d like b.] his pese we þe biken, and his lare light opon þe here." he answerd and said: "amen!" when all þir saws war said, [ 753] Ioseph of Aramathy þat him in graue had laid come in al opynly; [ 756]

(64)

He said: "lordinges, als god ȝow saue, whi er ȝe wrath with me? for I layd ihesus in his graue þat ȝe hanged on rode-tre? [ 760] with ful grete wrang slane him ȝe haue, þat sal men here and se; when ȝe bifor sir pilat straue, als ȝe said sall it be; [ 764] when pilat wesch his hend him giltles forto make, ȝe bad on ȝow decend [ 767] his blude, vengance and wrake."

(65)

Omang þam þare was Ioseph tane, in presoun þai him kast, had no window and dore bot ane, and þat þai sperd ful fast; [ 772] þai said halely he suld be slane when þaire sabot war past; on þe dore þai set þaire seles ilk ane with lokkes þat wele wald last. "for he gan ihesu graue," [ 777] þai sai, "fer in þe felde his beriele sall he haue, wilde bestes his banes to welde."

(66)

Efter þaire sabot day alssone of iosep haue þai thoght: "he sal be ded bi son and mone for þat werk he has wroght." [ 784] þai hied þam withowten hone and wend him furth haue broght, þai bad þe dore tite be vndone, bot Iosep fand þai noght. [ 788] "allas!" þan gan þai say, "þis es a wonder thing, how might he win oway þus in oure awin kepyng?" [ 792]

(67)

Þan come a knight of þam þat woke ihesus in þe monument: "þat body þat ȝe vs bitoke es resin and fro vs went; [ 796] þe erth trembled and al toschoke, ane angell doun was sent,

we dared for drede and durst noght luke, ne to him tak no tent; þe mekill stane þat lay his rising forto let þat angell put oway and þareopon him sett. [ 804]

(68)

He bad wemen be noght affraid þat war of his menȝe: "for he es resen, þarfore bese payd, Cumes nere þe suth to se! [ 808] þis es þe place whare he was laid, go biddes his appostels be, he sal be sene als he þam said þis day in galile." [ 812] þe iews grete wonder thoght, "lifes Ihesus?" gan þai say, "trayturs, we trow ȝow noght, sertes he es ded for ay." [ 816]

(69)

Þe knightes gaf answer ful swith till all þat cumpany: "what wonder werkes gan he ȝow kith here whils he wond ȝow by! [ 820] he musterd miracles many sith omang all þis Iewry; how suld ȝe leue or till vs lyth þat left him so lightly? [ 824] when he was laid in graue, we kepid him, als ȝe wate; schortly lorn him we haue, he es resen and gane his gate. [ 828]

(70)

And als wele wate we ȝisterday how ioseph presond was,

and how ȝe kepid him vnder kay for þat he suld noght pas; [ 832] we wate wele he es went oway, þarfore þis thing we ass: bides þam bring Ioseph if þai may þat him in kepeing has, [ 836] and we sall bring ihesus withowten langer threpe." þai say: "bring him till vs, and we sall bring Ioseph." [ 840]

(71)

[leaf 62] Þe knightes said: "warand will we þarfore to lyf and dy þat Iosep es in his cete at hame in aramathi, [ 844] and ihesus gase in Galyle with his appostels him by." when þe iews herd it þus suld be, þai drowped and war drery; [ 848] omans þam sone þai say: "bot if þir wordes fall, oure folk sall leue oure lay and trow on ihesu all." [ 852]

(72)

A sowm of tresore haue þai tane and to þe knightes þai pay, and charges þam by ane þat þai sall algate say, [ 856] þat when þai war to sleping gane and in þaire beddes lay, his appostels put oway þe stane and stale þe cors oway; [ 860] þe mone made þam faine, þai toke it ilka dele, and furth þai talde þis traine, and ilk man trowed þam wele. [ 864]

(73)

[This letter is ver•• large and red.] To ierusalem þat riche cete thre prestes þaire way has tane, vnto þe temple þai went al thre and cald þe klerkes onane, [ 868] þai said: "Iesus, þis warand we, þat ȝe with wrang haue slane, on þe mount of oliuet þis day sat he and his appostels ilk ane; [ 872] we saw þam in a rowt þat he was won to teche, þai sat all him obout and þir wordes gan he preche: [ 876]

(74)

'Thurgh all werld I will ȝe wend, and wisely luke ȝe wake and baptiss all men with ȝowre hend þat trowth trewly will take; [ 880] þat trowes and er for cristen kend safe I sall þam make; and all bese dampned withowten end þat right trowth will forsake.' [ 884] in þat stede þam omang he stegh till heuyn vpright, and we loked efter him lang till clowdes reft vs þe sight." [ 888]

(75)

Hereof þe iews awonderd ere, þai sai: "þus sall noght blin, þis þat ȝe say all sall ȝe swere." a boke þai bid bring in, [ 892] þai sayd: "þat may do vs no dere, gladly we will bigin; bot we wald þarof witnes bere, for soth we suld haue syn." [ 896]

handes on þat boke þai laid and sware all with a voice: al es suth þat we sayd of him ȝe hanged on croyce." [ 900]

(76)

Þe iews a buke in handes hent and gert þam eft on lay: "þis þat ȝe speke in oure present ȝe sall layn forward ay." [ 904] sone fro þat cete er þai sent, for þai no suth suld say, and armed men with þam er went to wis þam fast oway. [ 908] in [dred] þir iews þus dwell and sais: "what may þis mene? in þe land of irraell [ 911] was neuer slike selkuthes sene."

(77)

To þis spak annas and chaiphas: "we sall noght trow," þai said, "þe knightes þat him miskepid has, sen he in graue was layd;" [ 916] "þat he rase vp," þaire wordes was, "and mad þam all affraid; bot hou sone gan þat speche ouerpas fro we þam siluer payd. [ 920] his men, ful wele may be, come his cors forto stele and made þe knightes gre, als we did, forto hele." [ 924]

(78)

All þe iews þan þat þar ware answerd and said þus: "wheþer war oure knightes halden mare vntill his men or till vs?" [ 928] "sertainly ȝe say wele þare," þus said nichodemus,

"for his men saw þai neuer are, ne noght þai lufed ihesus; [ 932] þir two men þat sware right how þai saw him lifand and stegh to heuyn on hight with wrang er flemid of land. [ 936]

(79)

[leaf 62, bk.] We rede when þe prophet Elias up unto heuyn was tane, Elisius, his descipell was, [ 939] men asked wheder he was gane; he said: 'till heuyn I saw him pas,' men for him made grete mane. 'sum spirit,' þai said, 'him rauist has into þe mountes allane.' þai gert seke north and sowth [ 945] þe mowntes of israell, þai fand no man þat kowth þam tale of hely tell. [ 948]

(80)

Ȝe childer of irraell, listens me, þat has þis sakles slayne, in case þat crist so rauist be [ 951] with spirites to sum mowntayne, sendes furth men bilyue lat se, to seke with all þaire mayne; he sall forgif and haue pete, when he es funden ogayne." [ 956] for he suld noght be schent, þir tales he gan þam tell, and wight men furth er went to þe mountes of irraell. [ 960]

(81)

In þe land of irraell haue þai soght þe mowntaynes fer and nere;

þai come and said þai saw him noght, ne noght might of him here; [ 964] "Of Iosep bodword haue we broght Þat ȝe presond to ȝere, in Aramathi his wanes er wroght als lord of grete powere." [ 968] When þai herd sertaynly þat Iosep was in quert, þai thankid god forþi and war ioyful in hert. [ 972]

(82)

Sone þai made a grete gadering and kownsailed þam bitwene how þai might iosep to þam bring, als he bifore had bene. [ 976] a letter did þai to writeing þat said þus als I wene: "pes, frendschip and goddes greting on þe, sir, mot be senene." [ 980] þai said: "we knaw and wate oure trispas and oure gilt in god onence þi state, þat we þe wald haue spilt; [ 984]

(83)

Syr, vowchesaue to cum vs till, all halely we þe pray, and largely mak amendes we will, whatso þiself will say; [ 988] ful oft we stody opon þis skill how þat þou wan oway, bot god wald þat þou had none ill, þi dedes war to his pay; [ 992] haue pese with wirschiping, iosep of Aramathy." þai close it and þai hing þaire aller seles þarby. [ 996]

(84)

Of iosep frendes seþin haue þai sent þe message forto make; when þai wist what maters þai ment, þai wald it noght forsake; [ 1000] till aramathi wightly þai went, ful winly gan þai wake; þai tald to Iosep þaire entent, þe letter to him þai take. [ 1004] son when he had it red, he thankid god of heuyn; he kissed þam and seþin led vntill his hows ful euyn. [ 1008]

(85)

Sone on þe morn when it was day, Iosep was dight ful tyte, with þe messangers he went his way withowten more respite. [ 1012] of his come when þe iews herd say, withowten lenger lite with all þe wirschip þat þai may ogaynes him went þai quit, [ 1016] þai said: "at þi cuming, [1017. said above line.] Iosep, be pese and grith." and he sais: "goddes bliscing be all his puple with." [ 1020]

(86)

Nichodeme þat I are of spak at his hows gert him ly, and made grete festes for his sake to folk of þe iewry; [ 1024] and sone a gadering gan þai make in þe temple opynly; a boke in hand Iosep þai take and bad him swere þarby [ 1028]

þat he þe suth sall say; ful depely þai him charge how þat he wan oway fro preson vnto þe large. [ 1032]

(87)

[leaf 63, bk.] He said: "on gude friday at night when I to preson ȝode, till þe saterday at midnight right in my prayers I stode; [ 1036] þe preson in ayre was hinged on hight, þat meruaild all my mode; I luked and saw byfor my sight ihesus þat died on rode; [ 1040] till him gude tent I toke, his visage schane ful bright, I might no langer loke, for drede I fell doun right. [ 1044]

(88)

He bad me þan rise vp in hy and toke me by þe hand, my mowth he kissed curtaisly, ful dredeful gan I stand, [ 1048] I said to him: 'my lord Ely, wher þou be here lifand?' and he sayd: 'ȝa, ful faithfully, þat sall þou vnderstand; [ 1052] of me no drede þou haue, Iosep, I am þat ilk þat þou laid in þi graue in sendell and in silk.' [ 1056]

(89)

I answerd þus: 'if þou be he, of a thing I þe pray, þe monument þou lat me se wharein þi body lay.' [ 1060]

out of that preson þan went we, bot how I can noght say, his sepulcre sone schewed he me, þe body was oway; [ 1064] þan trowed I stedfastly when I had sene þat sight, I asked þat milde mercy [ 1067] and thanked him at my might.

(90)

In aramathi he set me seine, and þare I saw him last; he bad: 'nonegate luke þou go hein till fourty dais be past;' [ 1072] he said me ȝe suld noght ȝow fein to pursu cristen fast; [1074. fast: st almost faded out.] Sirs, oþerwise went I noght þeine, right on þis maner wast." [ 1076] þan said þe ihews halely: "þis es a ferly fare to seke all oure iewry, slike ferlis fell neuer are." [ 1080]

(91)

"Ely þe prophet in ful gude state," þai said, "quik to heuyn ȝede, [1082. heuyn: e added above line in different hand.] and moyses alswa, wele ȝe wate, of his dede neuer we rede; [ 1084] bot Ihesus was done to ded now late and dampned for his misdede, he may noght lif ogayne nanegate, þis es withowten drede." [ 1088] Iosep sais: "meruail ȝe þat he es risen to liue? to speke of his pouste, ȝe may meruail slike fiue. [ 1092]

(92)

Of saint Simion wele may þe mene, þat kepid ȝowre laws ful right, and his two suns al haue ȝe sene, þat Caryn and Lentin hight; [ 1096] ȝe wate þai war bath ded bidene and grauen in ȝowre sight; þaire bodis, I wate withowten wene, er raysed thurgh Ihesu might; [ 1100] I warand þat þai both ere lifand in aramathi, ay kneleand in praiere and spekes noght sekerly; [ 1104]

(93)

We will wend to þam, if ȝe rede, and pray þam, if þai will, tell vs how þai er raised fro ded. and eft life lent þam till; [ 1108] parauenture þai sall in þat stede schew vs sum sertaine skill, if þai war raised thurgh his godhed, and what thing to fulfill." [ 1112] vnto þaire graues went þai, whare þaire bodis war layd, and fand þam bath oway, als Iosep had þam said. [ 1116]

(94)

Iosep, Annas and Caiphas, and nichodeme alswa, þaire kownsail halely taken has till aramathi to ga; [ 1120] and on þe morn furth gan þai pas, to þaire iorne þai ta; fro þeþin sexti mile it was, and nowþer myn ne ma; [ 1124]

þir two men in þat toune fand þai at þe last on bare erth kneland doun, praiand till god ful fast; [ 1128]

(95)

[lf. 63, bk.] Þai kissed þam als men þat þai kend [1129. Initial letter flourished in yellow and black representing faces of two cherubs.] and of þam war ful fayne, to iherusalem þai gert þam wend wightly with þam ogayne; [ 1132] right in þe temple þai gert þame lend and þare of þam þai fraine, þe halidom put þai in þaire hend to swere þe suth to sayne: [ 1136] "by god of israell and by god adonay, þe suth of þis thing vs tell þat we ask, if ȝe may; [ 1140]

(96)

Alswa bi grete god we ȝow ath, þat till oure faders spak, if þat war ihesus þat raised ȝow bath, sertayne ȝe vs mak; [ 1144] how ȝe war raised ȝe schew vs rath, þat we right trowth may tak." and for þir wordes þai wex ful wrath, both gan þai tremble and quake; till heuyn vp gan þai stare, [ 1149] and þan takin of þe croyce on þaire mowthes mak þai þare and spak with symple voyce: [ 1152]

(97)

"Lordinges," þai said withowten lite, "tak vs parchemyn and pen;

þe preuetese we sall ȝow write þat we for suthfast ken." [ 1156] and sone withowten more respite serely þai sett þam þen, and þusgat bigan þai to write: "In þe name of god, amen! [ 1160] to þe, Ihesu, we pray, rayser till life fro ded, lat vs witnes þis day þe might of þi godhed; [ 1164]

(98)

Sen we er coniord forto tell þat we saw thurgh þi might, þe selkuths þat oftsithes byfell we sall reherce ful right. [ 1168] al Adams kind we war in hell, ful many a waful wight, till on a time it so bifell of sun we had a sight; [ 1172] when we in mirknes ware, a light gan on vs leme, till vs it semid þare like a bright suns beme. [ 1176]

(99)

Oure form faders þat was in wa, Adam and Eue his wife, and patriarkes and prophettes ma, spak all þaire resons rife: [ 1180] 'þis light es cumen oure sorow to sla, oure dirknes downe to drife, als oure lord ihesus schewed vs swa whils we war in life.' [ 1184] 'þis light,' said ysai, 'es sun of þe fader of heuyn, in my lif so said I omang mi sawes ful euyn; [ 1188]

(100)

I prechid and said: "all neptalym land and Zabulon land withall, þat es als mekill to vnderstand als fre bicomen es thrall, [ 1192] men in mirknes of ded walkand light vnto þam schine sall." þus I said whils I was lifand, I se it now bifall; [ 1196] now all fulfild it es in vs, þat prophecy: "light schines in oure mirknes oure thraldom forto by."' [ 1200]

(101)

Omang vs mekill mirth made we and grete ioy for þis thing. oure fader Simion þan come he and tald vs new tything, [ 1204] he said: 'ȝe mai mak gamyn & gle, gude bodword I ȝow bring, he cumes þat oure bier sall be oway fro þis woning; [ 1208] right in þe temple I toke þat barn in bath my handes, myne eghen gan on him loke þat sall vs bring of bandes; [ 1212]

(102)

Thurgh þe haly gaste þus gan I say: "lord, leue þi seruand lele in pese to rest, lord, I þe pray, for myne eghen saw þi hele [ 1216] þat þou ordand for euer and ay omang mankinde to dele light to schew folk night and day and ioy to all irraele."' [ 1220]

þe saintes þat ful ill ferd, ilk one in þaire degre, when þai þir tithinges herd, made grete solempnite. [ 1224]

(103)

[leaf 64] Ane said þan þat semyd bi liknes ane hermyt in pouer state, what he was spird we more and les, and he answerd þusgate: 'a voice criand in wildernes, [ 1229] and Iohn þe Baptist I hate, of syns I prechid forgifnes thurgh baptyme gifen now late; when þat he come me by [ 1233] þat vs fro wa sall wyn, "þis es goddes lamb," said I, "þat wastes þe werldes sin." [ 1236]

(104)

I baptist him right with my hend in þe water of flom Iordan, þe haly gaste on him gan lend in a dowue liknes þan, [ 1240] þe voice of þe fader doun was send and þus to speke bigan: "þis es my son withowten end, herkins him ilk man, [ 1244] in whilk sun me likes best." þus am I foreriner to schew ȝow signes of rest, bese faine, he es noght ferr.' [ 1248]

(105)

And sone when Adam herd him say of þe flum baptissing, he said: 'my son seth, I þe pray, tell vs a litill thing; [ 1252]

in erth lifand, seke when I lay, I had a grete langing; till paradis þou toke þe way oile of mercy me to bring; [ 1256] all if þou gat none þare, vntill vs ȝit may þou tell what þou had to answare of mighell, goddes angell.' [ 1260]

(106)

Þan said seth: 'I stode lang and praid at þe ȝates of paradise, and ane angell þan to me said þir wordes on þis wise: [ 1264] "trauell þe noght on þis manere, herof no help may rise, þe oile of þe tre of mercy here gettes þou by nonkins prise; [ 1268] bot if it be at þe last þat þe nowmber may fulfill, fiue thowsand ȝeres be past and fiue hundreth þartill, [ 1272]

(107)

Goddes sun sall þan vntill erth cum to mend þi faders mys, he sall be baptist in þe flom and bring ȝowre bale to blis; [ 1276] of þe oile of mercy þai sall haue sum þat he haldes for his, þai þat with noy er now bynom sall win to welth Iwis."' [ 1280] both patriark and prophete all thanked þai god at anes þat cumes, als he gan hete, to win vs fro þir wanes. [ 1284]

(108)

Sone efter þat spak satanas, þat mayster was in hell, and said till him þat porter was whare we presons gan dwell: [ 1288] 'opin ȝowre ȝates, lat him in pas, ihesus of irraell! sen he him god sun maked has, in wa here sall he well; [ 1292] he es made of manhede for all his frankis fare, in my hert haue I drede for dedis he has done are; [ 1296]

(109)

[Large flourish above in yellow and black in form of oak leaf, with comic face at lower end of leaf.] He has oft put me fro my pray, ful dere now bese it boght, þam þat I turned vntill oure lay has he gert chaunge þaire thoght, he has me tenid and trauerst ay in all þe werkes I haue wroght, and many sawles gert wend oway þat I till vs had broght.' [ 1304] he asked whethir þis be he þat cald lazar vs fra, þat we had in powste, and þai said ilk ane, 'ȝa.' [ 1308]

(110)

'Satan,' þai said, 'we þe forbede in all thinges þat we may, bring him noght hider for no nede, bot haue him heþyn oway; [ 1312] for cum he here, we haue grete drede þat alls sall we say;

all þat him likes heþin will he lede and we be pined for ay; [ 1316] he es a strenkithi swayn, when we all might noght hald a wofull sawl ogayne, when he did noght bot cald. [ 1320]

(111)

[leaf 64, bk] Sen he was slike and was bot man, to þe, satanas, we say, wenes þou, wrtht, to maister þan both god and man verray? [ 1324] trowes þou þat þou close him can þat he ne sall win oway, þat his pouer seruand fro þe wan and was dampned for ay?' [ 1328] þan answerd satanas: 'of him haue I no drede, I knaw wele what he was and what life he gan lede; [ 1332]

(112)

His fourty dayes when he had fast, þat tyme him tempid I; and to þe iews counsailes I cast þat þai suld ger him dy; [ 1336] when pilat wald þat he had past, I egged him egerly, till he was hanged at þe last with oþer theues him by; [ 1340] and þarfore als I ȝow say, ordans for him a stede, he cumes heder þis day, by þis I hald hym dede.' [ 1344]

(113)

Þus als þai gan togeder chide, a voice spak loud and clere:

ȝe princes, I bid ȝe opin wide ȝowre endles ȝates here, [ 1348] þe king of blis now in sall glide.' and þan spac lucifere: 'satanas, turn him ogayn þis tide, als þou lufes me dere.' [ 1352] þan satanas sperd þe ȝates and his felows he cald: haldes him þareout algates, or we foreuer be thrald.' [ 1356]

(114)

þan said saint dauid þare he lay vnto þai sayntes all: 'in erth lifand þus gan I say als I se now byfall; [ 1360] þat god has made, þis es þe day, mak ioy þarin we sall; brasen ȝates he brac for ay and Iren barres ful small; [ 1364] fro waies of wilsumnes, I tald, he has þam taken; I se now suth it es, he has vs noght forsaken.' [ 1368]

(115)

[Large flourish in yellow and black with bearded face of man.] Þan on þis wise said ysai: 'whils I had life in land, on þis same maner þan said I, whoso kowth vnderstand: [ 1372] "ded men þat in þaire graues ly sall rise and be lifand, al sall mak Ioy and melody þat erth has in his hand." [ 1376] eftsones I said alwa to ded: "whare es þi might, sen he fetches vs þarfra?" now se I all þis right.' [ 1380]

(116)

A voice spak þan ful hidosely, als it war thonors blast: 'vndo ȝowre ȝates biliue, bid I, þai may no langer last, [ 1384] þe king of blis cumes in ȝow by.' þan hell a voice vpkast: 'what es he þat þai say in hy? he sall be set ful fast.' [ 1388] þan said dauid: 'ȝe ne wate how þat I said þus right, "he es lord of grete state, in batayle mekill of might;" [ 1392]

(117)

Þe king of blis, trewly I tell, right at þi ȝates standes, he has bihalden fro heuyn to hell þe sorow of his seruandes. [ 1396] þarfore vndo, þou fende so fell, þi ȝates right with þi handes, þe king of blis cumes in ful snell to bring vs fro þi bandes [ 1400] thurgh might of his godhede.' þan ihesus strake so fast, þe ȝates in sunder ȝede and Iren bandes al brast. [ 1404]

(118)

He kyd þat he was mekill of might, þe fendes pouste he felled, all lemid þat lathly lake of light þat with mirknes was melled. [ 1408] when all þe saintes saw þat sight þat in þat dongon dwellid, none durst speke a word on hight, bot ilk one softly tellid: [ 1412]

'welkum, lord, vntill vs, ful lang here has vs thoght; blisced mot þou be, ihesus, ful dere þou has vs boght.' [ 1416]

(119)

He lowsed þan þaire bandes all [lf. 65] þat lang had bunden bene, he made þam fre þat are war thrall, of care he clensed þam clene; [ 1420] þe fendes þat saw slike light bifall ware none bifore was sene said: 'we er clomsed grete and small with ȝone caytef so kene.' [ 1424] ane sais þat mikel him dredes: 'what ertou schewes slike might and es so mekill in dedes and semes so litell in sight? [ 1428]

(120)

Sen þou was man, on what menere was godhede in þe hid? was þou noght ded? what dose þou here? slike maistris neuer was kyd; [ 1432] we fendes war all ful fayn in fere when þe iews to ded þe did; how ertou put to slike powere, and slike tene vs bytid? [ 1436] þe sawles þat vs war sent has þou won heþin oway, þou has vs schamly schent and priued vs of oure pray.' [ 1440]

(121)

Þan ihesus sone toke satanas, þat are was lord and sire, and him in thraldom bunden has to brin in endles fire. [ 1444]

þan said þe fendes þat with him was ful of anger and of ire: 'satan, þou has vs lorn, allas, þou did noght oure desire; [ 1448] we bad þe lat him ga and noght to cum herein, oure he feches vs fra, oure court waxes ful thin; [ 1452]

(122)

Þou duke of ded, leder fro liue, hething of goddes angels, ogains þat strang how durst þou striue þat vs þus frekly felles? [ 1456] þou hight to bind him here biliue, it es noght als þo telles; till endles ded he will þe driue and all þat with þe dwelles; [ 1460] when þou þe iews gan stir þat þai suld ger him dy, þou suld enquere and spir first if he war worthi; [ 1464]

(123)

[Large initial, ornamented in yellow and black.] And if þat he had done none ill, þou suld haue gert þam blin; whi suld þou bring a man vs till in wham was sene no syn? [ 1468] all has þou lost now by þis skill þe wightes þat war herein, and þou þaire paines sall ay fulfill with wo neuer out to wyn; [ 1472] þat we wan thurgh þe tre when eue þe fruit had etyn, ilk dele ogayn has he now with þe rode-tre getyn.' [ 1476]

(124)

[Large flourish of leaves in black and yellow, extending to seventh line below.] Ihesus þan spac with voice ful clere to þe sayntes þat he has soght: 'cumes vnto me, my childer dere, þat my liknes war wroght; [ 1480] ȝe þat for syn war presond here, to blis ȝe sall be broght.' þan all þa saintes drogh to him nere and þanked him in þaire thoght; on Adam his hand he laid, [ 1485] and he on knese gan fall, 'pese be to þe,' he sayd, 'and to þi childer all.' [ 1488]

(125)

Adam said þan and for ioy gret: 'lord, I sall wirschip þe, fro my famen þou has me fett in blis to bide and be, [ 1492] in sorows sere whare I was sett to my sare wald þou se; me will þou lede withowten let fro pine thurgh þi pete; [ 1496] þou fendes vs þat we ne fall till pine þat es pereles; makes ioy, ȝe saintes all, [ 1499] and thankes his grete gudenes.'

(126)

All patriarkes and ilk prophete and oþer saintes all fell doun on knese bifor his fete smertly both grete and small: 'lord, þou es cumen oure bales to bete, euermore serue þe we sall, þat þou thurgh prophecy gan hete we se it now bifall, [ 1508]

ded thurgh ded es destroid; lord, louyng be vnto þe, all es noght þat vs noyed, þat war thralles er made fre.' [ 1512]

(127)

[leaf 65, back. Flourish of yellow and black with bearded face and foliage where back of head should be.] By þe right hand gan he adam take and blisced him right þare, he led him fro þat lathly lake and all þat with him ware. [ 1516] Saint dauid þan ful baldly spake, als þai fro hell gan fare: 'a new sang till oure lord ȝe make, als I myself said are; [ 1520] he þat has bene wirkand meruailes omang vs here, he has saue his right hand to him and his powere; [ 1524]

(128)

Ful mekely has he schewed his might omang all cristen men, he has techid ilka werldly wight his rightwisnes to ken.' [ 1528] þus all þa sayntes thanked him right þat slike lane wald þam len: 'blisced be he þat cumes als he hight in þe name of god, Amen.' [ 1532] ilk prophet þus gan tell of þaire awin prophecy how he suld hery hell, how he suld for þam dy. [ 1536]

(129)

Þus als þai vnto welthis went þat war won out of wa,

a sang þai said with ane assent þat was þis, 'Alleluya.' [ 1540] by þe hand oure lord has Adam hent, with michell he bad him ga; þai toke þe way with gude entent vnto paradis ful thra. [ 1544] Michaell resaiued þam sone þat war to him bikend, in blis he has þam done þat lastes withouten end. [ 1548]

(130)

In paradis with ioyes sere when all þir saintes war set, two graihared men with face ful klere mildely þare with þam met; [ 1552] þir saintes asked al what þai were, how þai fro hell war fett, in body and saul: 'how come ȝe here? fand ȝe none ȝow to let?' [ 1556] 'oure names er,' þai answerd, 'Ennoc and als Ely, we er broght fro midlerd to be witnes worthy; [ 1560]

(131)

[Large flourish in yellow and black representing two bearded faces with backs of heads together.] We died noght ȝit, bot er olyue with antcrist forto fight, in iherusalem þan sall we striue and we to ded be dight; [ 1564] bot right fro ded god sal vs driue on þe thrid day thurgh his might, at þe dome þan sall we rede ful riue who dose ill and who right.' [ 1568] anoþer come þan þare, als þai so spac togeder; þe saintes awonderd ware how þat þai so come þeder; [ 1572]

(132)

Meruail þai had omang þam all and said: 'what man es þis?' he said: 'þe soth say ȝow I sall, al my life lifed I mys, [ 1576] on þe cros cristes mercy gan I call, he sayd þir wordes Iwis: "þis same day, son, be þou sall with me in paradis." [ 1580] his takin he made on me and þir wordes gan he say: "when michaell sall þe se, he sall noght say þe nay." [ 1584]

(133)

Anoþer word of him I had, he said: "sun, I þe rede, if þat þe angel be noght glad þat þou cumes in þat stede, [ 1588] þou sall say þat Ihesus þe bad, þat now was done to ded, þat þou suld in þat stede be stad, till he come in godhede." [ 1592] till þe angell sayd I þus, he opind þe ȝates ful ȝare.' and all þai thank ihesus haly both les and mare: [ 1596]

(134)

'God of gudenes, gifer of grace, blisced be þou euer and ay, þat gifes lif in so litill space to cristen sawles;' þai say, [ 1600] 'þai þat will trewly tak þi trace and mend þam whils þai may, in lastand liking þou þam laces, þai wend no wilsom way; [ 1604]

þou þat has broght vs all fro pain in light to lend, loue þe lely we sall euer withowten end.'" [ 1608]

(135)

[lf. 66] Þir childer said: "al þis saw we, wonand with sayntes in hell, it es anly goddes preuete þat in þis tyme bifell; [ 1612] and mekill more ȝit gan we se þat we may no man tell, we war biden it suld layned be with michaell, goddes angell; [ 1616] he bad vs tell no thing bot þis þat here wretin es; we rase of his rising þus forto bere witnes. [ 1620]

(136)

And with vs er resin many ane þat ded and doluen lay; þai dwell byȝond þe flum iordane in prayers nyght and day; [ 1624] bot vntill þir thre dayes be gane no langer lif we may, to blis þan sall we all be tane and won in welthis ay; [ 1628] on þis wise er we sent to schew ȝow in þis stede þat ȝe may ȝow repent þat did Ihesus to ded." [ 1632]

(137)

Þat Carin wrate he it bytoke till nichodem and annas, and Lentyn also gaf his boke till Iosep and till Cayphas; [ 1636]

togeder þan þai gan þam luke þat serely wretin was, and þat one wrate noght a letter noke, bot euyn als þat oþer has. [ 1640] when þe iews had of þam tane þa rolles þat wreten ware, þai vanist oway onane, of þam þai saw no mare. [ 1644]

(138)

When þai had red þa rolles, alssone þe iews haly gan say: "of grete god þat sites in trone es þis werk wroght þis day, [ 1648] and ilka dele þat here es done aledies ogaynes oure lay; þat þis ilk ihesus was goddes sun ful sare drede vs we may." [ 1652] goddes forbod þan þai fend þat euer it suld be swa; and so þaire waies þai wend, ilk one partes oþer fra. [ 1656]

(139)

When þis was tald vnto pilate, he dred him þan ful sare; als a dome haly he it wrate forto last euermare; [ 1660] vnto þe temple he toke þe gate and gert send efter þare bisschoppes and all þat he wate war best lered on þaire lare. [ 1664] omang þam sett was he and said till all at anes: "ȝowre bibill lattes me se þat es within þir wanes." [ 1668]

(14)

Foure prestes furth þe bibill broght, a boke of grete bounte; Annas and Cayphas sone war soght, and pilat sais: "lat se, [ 1672] all þat es written here wate ȝe noght?" þai say: "sir, ȝis parde." "a thing," he said, "es in my thoght þat I will clerid be." [ 1676] þan by þat boke swere þai, þai sall leue for no drede, bot þe suth sal þai say of þis note als es nede. [ 1680]

(141)

He sais: "by þe faith till god ȝe aw, of þis þing ȝow avise, if ȝe find oght wreten in ȝowre law omang ȝowre prophecise, [ 1684] or kan ȝe any witnes draw by kasting of clergise, if Ihesus war als was his saw, god sun by any wise; [ 1688] Also if ȝe oght ken, hereof tell vs ȝe sall in whilk ȝeres and when þat cristes cuming suld fall." [ 1692]

(142)

Þus when þat þai charged were, þai said to sir pilate: "sir, we will noght þat all men here of þis thing þat we wate." [ 1696] he gert haue out þe folk in fere, and to þam sperd þe ȝate;

þai say: "sir, we war athed ful nere and we answer þusgate: [ 1700] we wate withouten wene þat goddes son was he right; we wend wichecraft had bene þat he did thurgh his might; [ 1704]

(143)

Also we wate by sere witnes [lf. 66, bk.] here of oure awin kinred, þat he ogayn eft lifand es sen he was done to dede. [ 1708] two þat he raysed grete halines haues schewed vs in þis stede, whilk we wele wote both more and les es done thurgh his godhed; [ 1712] ilk ȝere a tyme we bring þis haly boke in hand to luke of his cuming, and þus þarof we fand: [ 1716]

(144)

In þe first buke of sexty and ten þat er all contened here, till Adam son seth, telles it þen, was spoken on this manere: [ 1720] 'þi fader and all oþer men sall crist gif grete pouere efter fiue thousand, we ken, and als fiue hundreth ȝere.' [ 1724] þan rekin we þus oureselue: twa thowsand ȝeres suld be and twa hundreth and twelue fro Adam till noe; [ 1728]

(145)

And fro noe flude till Abraham es nyen hundreth and twelue ȝere; fro Abraham þan vntil moyses foure hundreth and threty were; fro moyses vntill god dauid chese king of grete powere, fiue hundreth and ten withouten lese, þus telles oure bibill here; [ 1736] vntill þe transmigracione, fiue hundreth ȝere fro þeþin, and till cristes incarnacione [ 1739] foure hundreth ȝere was seþin.

(146)

Þus oure law if we lely luke, þis proues oure prophecy, þat Ihesus flessch and blude bath toke of his moder mary [ 1744] V thowsand ȝere, als sais þis boke, and fiue hundreth þarby, sen þis werld was wroght ilka noke. and ouer sais ysai: [ 1748] 'of þe rotes of Iesse,' he sais, 'a wand sall spring and a flowre faire and fre þat sall gouern al thing;' [ 1752]

(147)

'And on þat flowre,' he sais, 'sal rest with al gudenes þe haly gast.' þan may we se, sir, þusgates est, he was god sun of mightes maste." þan said sir pilate: "what es best? oure werk, I wene, be all in waste."

þan langer þare wald þai noght rest, botilk one hame sone gan him haste. þus beres þaire bokes witnes [ 1761] to þam þe soth will ken. to won whare welth euer es, God grant vs grace, amen. [ 1764]

A—M—E—N.