The first tome or volume of the Paraphrase of Erasmus vpon the Newe Testamente

¶The .xxvii. Chapiter.

[ The texte.] ¶Whan the morning was come, all the chiefe priestes, and elders of the people helde a counsel against Iesus to put him to death. And broughte hym bounde, and deliuered hym to Pontius Pilate the devi••ie.

THerfore that night was throughly watched of the heades of religion, with these wicked & cruell deedes. And when day drew nere, againe the chiefe priestes and the seniours of the people, went to counsayl against Iesus, to put hym to death. Therfore they deliuered him bound vnto Pon∣tius Pilate president, to take punishment of the condem∣ned man. Here Iudas that betrayed hym, seeing that he was now condemned, and that they went to extremities, moued with repentaunce, broughte agayne the thirtie pieces of syluer to the heades of the priestes and senioures of the people, saying: I haue synned be∣cause I haue betrayed the innocente bloud. Truely this mannes confessyon should haue moued the prynces mindes. He confesseth that it was doen by the infeccion of auarice, and he confesseth that he hath betrayed an innocent. But they vtterly raging, and thirsting after nothing els but innocent bloud, aun∣swered: what is that to vs, whether thou hast betrayed an yll doer or an inno∣cente? Looke thou to that.

[ The texte.]

¶ Than Iudas whiche had betrayed him, seing that he was condemned, repented hym∣selfe, and brought againe the thirtie plates of siluer to the chiefe priestes and elders, saying: & haue sinned, betraying the innocente bloude, but they sayde: what is that to vs? See thou to that: and he cast downe the siluer plates in the temple, and departed and hong himselfe.

Iudas now repenting of his gayne, desired to breake of his bargayne, but theyr crueltie coulde by no meanes be mitigated. Iudas therefore casting the pieces of siluer at their feete departed away, heaping and increasing his wic∣ked dede with a more wicked dede. He knowledged the greatnes of his sinne, but he knowledged not the greatnes of goddes mercy. Peter wepte bitterly, and obtayned mercy. Iudas wept also, but with a desperate minde, rather thā a conuerted minde, and therfore he went asyde, and hanged himselfe and burst in the middes, and his bowels fell out.

[ The texte.] And the chiefe priestes tooke the pieces of siluer, and sayde: It is not lawfull to put them into ••or••on, because it is the price of bloude. And they tooke coun••el, and bought with them a potters fielde to bury straungiers in. Wherefore the fielde is called the fielde of bloude vnto this day. Than was fulfilled that whiche was spoken by the Prophete Hieremye, saying. They tooke thirtie siluer pieces, the price of hym that was valued whome they bought of the children of Israell, and gaue them for the potters fielde, as the lorde appoynted me.

After this the heades of the priestes went to counsayl agayne, and that theyr crueltie mighte be the better knowen to all menne, they dyd nothing without a common counsell. They consulte to what vse the thirtye pieces of syluer shoulde goe, whiche Iudas had cast at theyr feete. And being menne of auke∣warde religion hauing no religion nor feare in killing of an innocente, who had doone so muche for them: It is not lawfull ({quod} they) to put this money in∣to Corbon, that is, emong the gyftes of the temple, whiche they woulde haue estemed and regarded religiousely. For it is the price of bloude. But the holines of the temple must not be poluted with bloud. And in the meane sea∣son, they dysclose theyr vngraciouse conscyence, confessyng hym to bee inno∣cente, whose betraymente they had boughte. Therefore because that they all shoulde bee partakers of the synne, they counselled together, and with that money they bought a grounde of a certayn potter for godly vses, that straun∣giers mighte be buried there, as though they woulde haue recompenced the sinfull dede that they had in ha••de, with thys good dede. And yet by thys meanes they prouyded very yll for theyr good name. For they coulde not by any other meanes, more blase abrode theyr wickednes. For the thyng is come to suche a common saying, that at this daye that grounde is called of the Si∣rians, Acheldema, that is to saye, the grounde of bloude. Neyther was thys thing done by chaunce, for Hieremie prophecied that it shoulde come to passe: and they tooke thirtie pieces of siluer, the price of him that was prised, whome they boughte of the children of Israell, and they gaue them for the grounde of a potter, as the lorde appoynted me.

[ The texte.] Iesus stode before the debitie, and the debitie asked him, saying: Arte thou the king of Iewes? Iesus sayeth vnto him: Thou sayest. And whan he was accused of the chiefe priestes and elders he aunswered nothing. Than sayde Pilate vnto him hearest thou not how many witnesses they laye agaynste thee? And he aunswered hym to neuer a woorde, insomuch that the debitie matuayled greatly.

Therfore whan Iesus stode before the president as giltie, they accused hym

busily of many thinges, speaking nothing in the meane season of blasphemy, of the relygyon of the temple defyled and broken, and of the cummyng of the sonne of man, with the whiche thinges they knew that Pilate, passing litle of suche supersticion, woulde be litle moued: They leye in other fayned faultes whiche mighte stirre the presydentes minde agaynste Iesus, saying: we haue founde this man goyng about to subuert our nacion, and forbidding tributes to be geuen vnto Ceasar, and saying that he is Christe the kyng. Pylate hea∣ring mencyon of the kyng, because thys semed to touche Ceasar demaunded of Iesus:* 1.1 Arte thou the kyng of Iewes▪ Iesus leste he shoulde seeme proude yf he shoulde make no aunswere, sayeth: Thou sayeste: not vtterlye denying that he was king, but yet adding that hys kingdome is spiritual, & not world∣lye, that it pertayneth nothyng to Ceasar or Herode. Agayne whan hys ac∣cusers called vpon the matter, Pilate desiryng to get out of hym, wherby he mighte bee delyuered: Heareste thou not ({quod} he) howe sore faultes they laye a∣gaynst thee? But vnto these Iesus aunswered vtterly nothyng, insomuche as the president marueiled greatly, that an innocent man in daungier of deathe, did kepe silence with so greate meekenesse. Pylate perceiuyng by the counte∣naunce and behauiour of Iesus, that he was farre from suspicion of desiryng of the kyngdome, sayeth vnto the heades of the priestes and theyr folowers: I fynde no deadly offence in this man. But they were the more hote and ve∣hemente, saying: he is a sedicyouse manne, he hath styrred the people with hys doctrine, walkyng ouer all Iewry, begynnyng from Galile vnto thys place. Pilate perceyuyng that Iesus was innocente, but that the priestes and the Scribes went about that theyr purpose of enuie and malice, and therfore see∣kyng occasyon to delyuer Iesus, or at the leaste to sende hym from the courte: whan he hearde the name of Galyle, he asked hym what countrey manne he was: and when he knewe that he came oute of the coastes of Galyle, where Herode had rule and imperie, he sente hym agayne vnto Herode, who than, as it happened, was at Hierusalem. Truely Herode seeyng Iesus, was very glad. For of long time he desyred to see Iesus, because the fame wente that he did wonderfull thynges. Therfore he hoped wel that he woulde woorke some miracle before hym also. And whan Herode asked hym questyons of manye thynges, Iesus aunswered hym nothyng, who came not for this purpose to delight the curiositie of princes, but to see and prouyde for the health of men. And wheras he was accused before hym for many causes, and aunswered no∣thing, Herode contenmed him, with his garde: and putting vpon him a white garment in skorne, sente hym agayne to Pilate. And by this occasion Pilate and Herode were made frendes wheras before they were at stryfe. Therefore Pylate callyng together the heades of the pryestes, the magystrates, and the people, protested that he had founde none offences in Iesus whiche they ob∣iected againste hym: and that Herode also had sente hym away as innocente, whiche he woulde not haue dooen, yf he had iudged him in daunger of a capi∣tall crime. And to pacifye the enuie of the Iewes, I will refourme him ({quod} he) and let him goe.

[ The texte.] At that feaste, the debitie was wont to deliuer vnto the people a prisoner, whome they woulde desire. He had than a notable prisoner, called Barrabas. Therefore whan they were gathered together, Pilate sayde: Whether will ye that I geue looce vnto you Barra∣bas, or Iesus whiche is called Christe? For he knewe that for enuie, they had delyuered him.

And whan he could nothing preuayle by these woordes, he seketh an other occasion to delyuer Iesus. There was a custome emong the Iewes that v∣pon that holy day, for religions sake, the president shoulde set at libertie some one of them whiche were kept in holde. He had fast in holde at that tyme a cer∣tayne notable and famous theefe, named Barrabas, whiche name he knewe was hated of the people. Therfore calling the Iewes vnto him, he asked them whether they woulde haue geuen them, and pardoned, Barrabas, or Iesus: hoping that in comparison of so famouse, and so strong, and violente a theefe, they woulde rather deliuer Iesus.

[ The texte.] ¶Whan he was sette downe to geue iudgement, his wife sente vnto him, saying: Haue thou nothyng to dooe with that iuste man. For I haue suffered manye thynges thys daye in my slepe, because of hym. And the chyefe pr••estes and elders perswaded the people, that they shoulde aske Barrabas and destroy Iesus. The presidente sayed, and aunswered vnto them: whiche of the twoo wyll ye that I lette looce vnto you? They sayde, Barrabas. Pilate sayde vnto them: what shall I dooe than with Iesus which is called Christe? They all sayde vnto him: Let him be crucified. The president sayde, what eiuill hath he done? But they cry∣ed the more, saying: Let him be crucyfied.

But the president sitting agayne in iudgement, his wife sendeth vnto him one that shoulde saye to hym in her name, that he shoulde not contamynate hymselfe with the bloude of the innocente, saying that she was vexed that nyghte with horryble visyons for Iesus sake. And thys chaunced not with∣out cause, but by the ordinaunce of god, that there should yet be some of whome Iesus should haue testimonie of his innocencie. For that was very expedient for all men to knowe, that hys deathe was freely bestowed to redeme vs. And wheras the people were in doub••e, whether of both they might desire to be ge∣uen vnto them, it came to passe by the counsell of the priestes and the seny∣oures, that they asked Barrabas, that Iesus in his place myghte bee kylled. Suche is the iudgemente, and thys is the kyndnes of the people: thys is the counterseyted religyon of the pryestes, and the elders. It was a matter of religion to them to enter into the courte of Pilate that they mighte eate theyr pascall Lambe beeyng pure and cleane, and it was no matter of relygyon with suche ra••••••g madnes to put hym to deathe, whiche was innocente, and throughly tryed with so many vertues and benefites towarde them. Pylate therefore proposed vnto them agayne, whether they woulde haue Barrabas or Iesus sette al libertie. They cryed vnto hym: Barrabas. Pylate agayne sayde: Than what shall I doe with Iesus whiche is called Christe? Trustyng that they woulde bee content with some more gentle punishement. But they cryed with a greate consente of voyces, let hym bee crucifyed. Thys kynde of punishmente, was bothe cruell and very slaunderouse, and shamefull. Agayne ({quod} Pylate) shall I crucifie an innocente? what hath he deserued? I fynde no∣thing in him woorthy death: Therefore I will chastice hym, and let hym goe. With these woordes the madnes of the people was more styrred, crying out: vp with him, vp with him, crucify the man.

[ The texte.] Whan Pilate sawe that he coulde preuayle nothyng, but that more busynes was made, he tooke water and washed his handes, before the people, saying: I am innocent of the bloud of this iust person▪ see you to it. And all the people aunswered and sayde: Hys bloud be vpon vs, and oure children. Than let he Barrabas looce vnto them, and scourged Iesus and deli∣uered hym to be crucifyed.

Pylate perceyuyng that prouyng all wayes and meanes he preuayled no∣thyng, but that the tumulte of the people was styred vp more, he assoyled Iesus before that he condemned hym. For in the presence of the people he toke water and washed hys handes, saying: I am innocente from the bloude of this iuste manne, ye be the authours of his deathe, and not I: the vengeaunce of the innocent bloude shall lyght vpon youre head. Yet the vnhappie Iewes were not feared with thys saying, but the whole people cryed out altogether. Let hys bloude lighte vpon vs, and vpon our chyldren. They wished destruc∣cyon to them and to theyr successoures. But Chryste more gentile towarde them than they were themselues, hath repelled none from pardone and for∣geuenes so that they doe repente. For many afterwardes dyd wurshyppe the Crosse of Chryste, whiche than cryed in the multytude, vp with hym, vp with hym, crucyfie hym. Therefore Pylate ouercome with theyr stiffe madnes, gaue vnto them Barrabas the authour of sedicyon, and a murderer, and condem∣ned by all mennes iudgementes, yea, before iudgemente. But after the maner of Rome, whan Iesus was scourged, he deliuered him to be crucifyed.

[ The texte.] ¶ Than the souldiers of the president toke Iesus in the common hall, and gathered to him al the coumpany. And they stripped him, and put on him a purple robe, and platted a crowne of thornes, and put it on his head, and a reede in his ryghte hande, and bowed the knee before him and mocked hym, saying: All hayle the kyng of Iewes. And whan they had spit on hym they tooke the reede, and smote hym on the head. And after they had mocked hym, they tooke of agayne the robe, and put on him his owne garmentes, and toke him away to crucifie him.

Than the souldiers of the presidente, after that they had receiued Iesus in the courte, gathered the whole garde about hym, cruelly to take theyr plea∣sure by mocking of the innocent, partely folowyng theyr owne naughtye dis∣posicyon, partely prouoked by the Iewes. And because they hearde, that he made himselfe king of the Iewes, they in manner hitting him in the teeth, be∣cause being such an abiect he woulde proudely clyme vp to a kyngdome, they spoyled him of hys owne garmentes, and put vpon hym a purple garmente, that is to saye a kyngly robe. After that in the stede of a dyademe, they sette a crowne vpon hys heade made of thornes. In the stede of a scepter they gaue hym a reede in hys right hande. And nowe as salutyng theyr newe kyng, they kneele downe before him and mocke hym, saying: Hayle king of Iewes. Nor beyng contente with these despites, they spit vpon hym and stryke hys heade crowned with thornes with the reede that they gaue hym in stede of a mace. And whan they omytted no manner of despyte, he suffered all thynges with great meekenes, to shewe vnto hys a perfecte exaumple of pacience. Therfore after that the souldiers had satisfyed the myndes and the iyes of the company with all kindes of mockes and skornes, they plucke of his robe agayne and put on hys owne apparell, that he mighte be the better knowen of all menne.

[ The texte.] And as they came out, they founde a man of Cyren named Syman, him they compelled to beare hys Crosse. And they came to the place, whiche is called Golgatha, that is to saye, a place of dead mennes sculles: and gaue him vineger to drinke, mingled with gall. And whan he had tasted ther of, he woulde not drynke.

Than they bring furth Iesus out of the courte, bearing his crosse. And as they wente, they founde one Symon a Cyrenyan, whome they forced to beare the crosse of Iesus, and they came into the place where he shoulde be crucified, whiche of the Syreans is called Golgatha, that is, the place of Caluarie, be∣cause it was horrible with bones and sculles of them that were put to death.

Here that no parte of hys body shoulde bee free from tormentyng, or that no mocking or skornyng should be let passe, they offered him a cup of drinke tem∣pered with vineger and gall, that it myghte be fulfylled whiche is written in the prophecye: They gaue me gall to eate, and in my thyrste they gaue me vi∣neger to drynke. And whan Iesus had tasted, he woulde not drynke.

[ The texte.] Whan they had crucyfyed hym, they parted his garmentes, and caste lottes, that it myghte be fulfilled whiche was spoken by the prophete. They deuyded my garmentes emong them, and vpon my ••esture dyd chep caste lottes. And they sate and watched hym there, and set vp ouer his deade the cause of hys deathe written. This is Iesus the kyng of the Iewes. Than were there crucified with him two thenes, o•••• on the righte hande and another on the lefte.

But after that they had crucified him, they deuided emong them the gar∣mentes of Iesus. As for hys coate whiche was so wouen that it coulde not bee rypped, they cast lottes: that the saying of the Prophet might be fulfilled They deuyded my garmentes emong them, and vpon my coate they caste lot∣tes. And fyttyng by the crosse they kepte hym, that no man shoulde take hym awaye. Also a title in mockage was sette vpon the crosse: Thys is Iesus the king of Iewes. The whiche notwithstanding was more honourable than the Iewes coulde suffer. For they were in hande with Pilate that this title might be corrected, and it shoulde not be put, kyng of Iewes, but he made hym selfe kyng of Iewes. And in thys thyng onely they suffered Pylate to haue the higher hande. Also this was procured of the Iewes, that two theues shoulde bee crucifyed with hym, so that Iesus beyng in the myddest, shoulde haue one on the righte hande, and an other on the lefte hande: that he might be taken of all men, both vayne himselfe, and a deceiuer, and lyke vnto them with whome he was matched.

[ The texte.] They that passed by, reuyled hym, waggyng theyr heades, and saying. Thou that de∣stroyed•••••• the temple of God, and buylded it in three dayes, saue thy selfe. If thou arte the sonne of god, come downe from the crosse. Lykewise also the hyghe priestes and the Scrybes, and elders mocked hym, sayinge He saued other. hymselfe he cannot saue. If he bee the king of Israell, let him come downe nowe from the crosse, and we will beleue hym. He trusted in god, let hym delyuer hym nowe, yf he will haue hym. For he sayde▪ I am the sonne of God. The theues also whiche were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

The crueltie of the Iewes was not yet sacyate and filled with these so greate mischieues. They scorne and reuile him beyng crucifyed, and passing by, they railed on him, and shaking theyr heades, they mocked him, saying: fie on thee, art thou he that hurlest downe the temple of God, and in three dayes makest it vp agayne? Thou didest promise healthe to others, now saue thy selfe. Thou didest boast thee to be the sonne of God, now than come down from the crosse. Likewise also the heades of the priestes, with the Scrybes and the semoures of the people mocked him and reuyled him: he gaue health vnto others, nowe he cannot preserue himselfe. If he be the king of Israel, as he woulde appere, let him declare now what he can doe, let him come downe from the crosse, and we will beleue hym. He trusted in god, whome he craked to be hys father, if he loue him, let him nowe deliuer hym. And that of euery side the most innocente Iesus mighte be arayed with reuylynges, the theues also felowes with hym in punishmente, in lyke manner rebuked hym. The whiche all Iesus suffered with stiffe and strong pacience, to bring to passe and offer for all mē that health∣full sacrifice. He kepte still the diuine power, and sette furthe the whole nature humane to al maner of paynes and tormentes. And he did not requited or re∣uenge so cruell reuylyng bestowed vpon hym, as he was dying, beeyng more

bitter then the crosse it selfe, insomuche that he prayed vnto hys father, for the souldyers and the Iewes that skorned hym: and one of the theues repentyng himselfe, he receyued into his paradise.

[ The texte.] From the sixt hou••e was there darkenes ouer all the lande, vntill the .ix. houre. And aboute the .ix. houre Iesus cryed with a loude voyce, saying: Hely, Hely, Lamazabathanye, that is to saye: my god, my god, why haste thou forsaken me? Some of them that stoode there when they hearde that, sayde: This man calleth for Helias▪ And furthwith one of them ranne, and toke a sponge, and whan he had filled it full of vyne••ce, he put it on a reede, and gaue it hym to drinke. But other sayde: let be, let us see whether Helias will come, and delyuer hym. Ie∣sus, when he had cryed agayne with a loude voyce, yelded vp the ghost.

The very Sonne felte the punyshment of the innocente, and coulde not a∣byde to beholde so wycked a dede. He couered hys face with a blacke cloude, and all that countreye was couered with darkenesse, from syxe of the clocke, vntyll nyne. And yet in the meane season, the darkenesse of the Iewes har∣tes coulde not bee shaken of. Further aboute nyne of the clocke, Iesus cryed with a greate voyce, saying thys sentence oute of the psalme. Hely, Hely, La∣mazabathany, my God, my God, why haste thou forsaken me? And certayne that stode by, and hearyng afarre of, Hely, and supposyng that he had called to Hely for helpe, sayde: Thys felowe calleth for Hely. Let vs see whether he wyll helpe hym. Than Iesus to shewe that it was a true deathe whiche he suffered for all menne, cryed: I am athirste. For thys is wonte to folowe vpon woundes and sheding of bloude, whiche oftentymes is a punyshemente more sore and paynfull than death. And one runnyng to hym, put vnto his mouth as he hanged, a sponge full of vineger, putte vpon the toppe of a reede. Iesus thirsted sore for the health of menne, but the Iewes offered hym nothyng but vinegar and gall. Therefore he dyd forbeare from it when he had tasted, say∣ing: It is consummate and fynyshed, sygnyfying that nothyng was omytted whiche did pertayne to the manner of the sacrifyce. And anone to declare that he lefte his life of hys owne accorde, after that he had commended hys spyryte vnto the father, he cryed with a loude voyce, and bowing down his head, died.

[ The texte.] And beholde the vayle of the temple did rente in two partes, from the top to the bottom, and the earthe quaked, the stones dyd rente, and graues dyd open, and manye bodyes of saynctes whiche slepte, arose and went oute of the graues after hys resurreccyon, and came into the holy citie, and appered to many. Whan the Ce••••••urion, and they that were with him watching Iesus, saw the earthquake, and those thinges whiche happened, they feared great∣ly, saying: Truely thys was the sonne of god.

And furthwith all thinges dyd testifye the effectuall death of the lorde Ie∣sus. For the vayle of the temple whiche deuyded the holye place from the o∣ther parte of the temple, of his owne accorde, was cut in two partes, declaring that the shadowes of Moyses lawe, hereafter shoulde vanyshe awaye at the bryght light of the ghospell. Furthermore the earth did quake, and the stones brake a sunder, reprouing the Iewes for theyr inuyncyble hardnes of hearte. The graues did open, and many bodyes of holy menne whiche were dead, did reuyue and liue agayne, and goyng out of the graues after the resurreccyon of Christe, came into the holye citie of Ierusalem, and appered vnto many, beeyng the preachers and folowers of the resurreccyon of Iesus. Further∣more the Captayne and hys seruauntes whiche were there to keepe Iesus, perceyuing the earthquake, the darkenesse, the breakyng of the stones and o∣ther wonders, were greatly afeard, saying: Truely this was the sonne of god.

[ The texte.]

¶And many women were there, beholdyng a farre of, whiche folowed Iesus from Galile, mynystryng vnto hym, among whiche was Marie Magdalene, and Marie the mo∣ther of Iames and Ioses, and the mother of the chyldren of Zebedee. When the euen was come, there came a riche man of Aramathia named Ioseph, whiche also was Iesus disciple. He wente vnto Pylate, and begged the holy bodye of Iesus. Than Pylate commaunded the body to be deliuered. And whan Ioseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a cleane clothe and put it in his new toumbe whiche he had hewen out of the rocke, and rolled a great stone to the doore of the sepulchre, and departed. And there was Marie Magdalene, and the o∣ther Marie sitting ouer againste the Sepulchre.

There were also many women lookyng a farre of, vpon the thynges that were doen, whiche had folowed Iesus from Galile, minystryng vnto hym ne∣cessaries, among whome there was Marie Magdalene, and Marie the mo∣ther of Iacob and Ioseph, and also the mother of the sonnes of zebedee, and diuers other with them. And when the nyghte drewe nere, a certayne ryche Captayne of Aramathia called Ioseph, who also was the dyscyple of Iesus, wente vnto the presidente, askyng of hym the body of Iesus. Pylate maruey∣ling if that he were dead, a man of lustie age, and not hauyng hys legges bro∣ken, as soone as he knew certaynely of the captayne that he was dead, he com∣maunded the body to be geuen vnto him.

He receyued it, and wrapped it in a cleane shete; and layde it in a newe graue, the whiche he had grauen in an whole stone. And rollyng a greate stone to the doore of the graue, he departed away: And thys was done by the prouidence of God, that they shoulde vse no crueltie vpon the dead karcas, or that no man shoulde dygge vp the graue and steale hym awaye. And when the other were departed, Marie Magdalene, and an other woman contynued there syttyng ouer against the sepulchre, and markyng the place where they layde the body, that at conuenient time they myght doe the dutie of annoynting to it, and the lorde had styrred vp theyr great dilygence to this intente that the beliefe of his resurreccion might be more certayne.

[ The texte.] ¶The nexte daye that foloweth the Parasceue▪ the hyghe priestes and Pharis••is came to∣gether vnto Pilate, saying: Sir we remember that this deceyuer sayde while he was yet a∣liue▪ after three dayes I will rise agayne: commaunde therefore that the sepulchre bee made sure vntyl the thyrd daye, leste his disciples come and steale him away, and say vnto the peo∣ple he is risen from the dead. And the last errour shall bee wurse then the firste. Pilate sayde vnto them: Ye haue a watche, goe your waye, make it as sure as ye can. And they wente and made the sepulchre sure with watche men, and sealed the stone.

But the daye after the Parasceue, whiche is the daye of preparacion, agayne the heades of the priestes and the pharis••is come vnto Pilate, confirming the trueth of the resurreccion, whiles they goe about to lette it, and they saye vnto the president: Sir we remember that this deceiuer being yet alyue, sayde that he woulde rise agayne after three dayes. Therfore commaunde the sepulchre to be kepte vnto the thyrde day, leste his disciples come, and steale away hys bo∣dy, and perswade the people that he is risen agayne. Which if it come to passe, we shall preuayle nothyng, but the latter erroure shalbe wurse then the fyrste. Pylate sayeth vnto them: ye haue a watche, goe and kepe as ye knowe. But they, whiles they goe about to stoppe hym that woulde ryse agayne, they en∣crease the miracle, and the faythe of the resurreccyon. They sette kepers and made sure the sepulchre, they sealed the stone also, whiche dyd shut the mouth of the Sepulchre, leste there mighte be any deceyte in the kepers also.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ies•• stode before y^e de∣bitie. &c.