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

The. xviii. Chapter.

[ The texte.] When Iesus had spoken these wordes, he went foorth with his disciples ouer the brooke Cedron, where was a gardeyne, into the which he entred and his disciples. Iudas also which betrayed hym, knewe the place: for Iesus oft tymes resorted thither with his disciples. Iu∣das then after he had receyued a bande of men, and ministers of the hye priestes and Phari∣seis, came thither with lanternes, and fyre brandes, and weapons. And Iesus knowyng all thynges that shoulde come vpon hym, went foorth, and sayed vnto them: whom seke ye? They aunswered hym: Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus sayeth vnto them: I am he. Iudas also whiche betrayed hym stoode with them. Assone then as he had sayed vnto them, I am he, they wente backewarde and fell to the grounde.

WIth this kynde of talke, our Lorde Iesus did confirme, stablishe, and bolden the hertes of his, and after he had so doen, and commē∣ded his flocke to his father, he departed thence of his owne volun∣tary wyll, to go mete them, that shoulde apprehende hym: therein declaryng playnly to his disciples, that he woulde willynglye and gladly suffer, whatsoeuer payne shoulde be put vnto hym: for it was midnight, and except it had been a well knowen place, he could not haue been taken. Therfore he departed out of that place whereas he had thus spoken to his dis∣ciples. And when he was goen ouer the brooke whiche the Hebrewes call Ce∣dron, because many Cedre trees growe there, he and his disciples wayting on hym, wente into a gardeyne: not ignoraunt that Iudas woulde come thither with a bande of harueysed men to attache hym, because Iudas that betrayed hym, knewe full well that our Lorde Iesus was wonte often to gette hymselfe Secretely thither, late in the night with his disciples, to praye. They tooke the night tyme for this cause, leste the company that Iesus had with him; shoulde make resistence, and let them to take hym.

For Iudas that was of a disciple become a traytoure, and of a cumpani∣on to hym that was a redemer made a capitaine of theuishe souldiers, came in∣to the gardeyne (where the lorde beyng with his disciples, prayed) with the bād of men whiche he had taken vnto hym by the appoyntmente of the Bishoppes and Phariseis, with whome he had couenaunted to betraye Iesus, and bryng hym into theyr handes: And verily they brought with them, fierbrandes and lanternes, by meanes whereof he might be discerned and knowen in the night. Nor they came not withoute sweardes and staues agaynste the force and vio∣lence of Christes disciples, yf percase any would haue profered to defende their lorde. Howbeit Iesus knowyng all thynges that were wroughte and dooen a∣gaynst

him, to teache playnly that hymselfe wittingly and willingly did suf∣fer al that he suffered, not tarying for theyr cumming, went forward to mete them as they were cumming towardes him, and of his owne mynde vnfor∣ced, asked them whom they sought: leste for lacke of knowledge, they myght haue layed handes vpon some of his disciples. And when they had answered hym, Iesus of Nazareth, he sayed boldely vnto them: I am very he whom ye seke. There was then also Iudas Iscarioth present, and his bande of mē with him: whiche Iudas had a litle before betrayed Iesus with a kysse vn∣der a false pretended frendeship, ere the Lord had spoken these woordes. Yet did Iesus neither in the meane time bewray him, of whom he was betrayed, nor spake any rough & rebukefull woordes against the souldiers that were hyred to attache him: because he would styll euen tyll all were fully ended, shewe his disciples exaumple of gentlenesse and modeste mekenesse. But as soone as Iesus had sayed vnto them: I am he, the bande of men beyng soore afrayed went backwardes and fell to the grounde, not able to sustayne and abyde the violence of the Lordes voice.

[ The texte.] Then asked he them agayne: whom seke ye? They sayed: Iesus of Nazareth. Iesus an∣swered: I haue tolde you that I am he. If ye seke me therfore, let these goe their way, that the saying might be fulfilled which he spake: of them whiche thou gauest me haue I not lost one.

After that they were come to themselfes againe, and made ready to set vp∣on Iesus the secound time, the Lord asked them once againe, whom they did seke. And when they had nowe answered as before, saying they sought Ie∣sus of Nazareth, he made them a lyke bolde answer, as he had doen before, and sayed: I toulde you euen very nowe, that I am thesame manne ye looke for. And if ye seke me, I do lycence you to medle only with me: suffer ye ther∣fore these to go theyr waye, against whom I geue you no interest at this pre∣sent. The cause why Iesus did thus, was to declare by a manifest tokē, that he could not haue been apprehended, except he had permitted himselfe to be taken, in that he had once with one woorde put backe and cast downe to the grounde, both a desperate and an armed multitude of souldiers, and Iudas selfe too, that shameles traitour. Moreouer lyke as he gaue thē leaue to take himselfe, so on the other syde he restrayned them from hauyng power ouer his disciples: because he had tolde beforehande, that the fiercenesse of that storme, should for that presente time light vpon his owne head alone, and as for the rest, although they were somewhat ouerthrowen & deiect, yet should they be safe without hurte vntill he should see them agayne: herein declaring hymselfe to play the parte of a good shepeherde, which redemeth the health of his flocke with the losse of his owne life.

[ The texte.] Then Symon Peter hauing a swerde, drewe it, and smote the hye priestes seruaunt, and cut of his right eare. The seruauntes name was Malchus. Therfore Iesus sayeth vnto Peter: Put vp thy swerde into thy sheathe: shall not I drinke of the cup which my father hath geuen me? Then the cumpany and the captayne and ministers of the Iewes, tooke Iesus & bounde hym, and led hym away to Aunas firste, for he was father in lawe to Cayphas, whiche was the hye priest thesame yere. Cayphas was he whiche gaue councell to the Iewes, that it was expedient that one man should dye for the people.

Nowe then Symon Peter whiche bore a notable ardente loue towardes his Lord, because he had made a great braggue of himselfe, no lesse then that he would be content to dye to saue his Lordes lyfe, seing the armed band of

men to lay hand vpon Iesus, forgat what the Lorde had sayed vnto hym. And so beyng in a sodayne rage, drewe out a swerde, not tarying to bee com∣maunded of his Lorde to doe it, & stroke the Byshops seruaunt whose name was Malchus, but the stroke light not as he would haue had it: he onely stroke of the felowes right eare, euen accordyng as the Lorde did staye his hande, to the entent he should geue but a small wounde. Howbeit Iesus did forthwith of his owne gentlenesse heale the man againe. And in dede y^e Lorde suffered him that should be a ruler of his churche, to fall (of a godly zeale truely) into this errour, for that he might afterward more surely and more effectuously put awaye all desire to doe vengeaunce, and shake of altogether priuate reuenging and vse of weapons, since he had once rebuked him whiche as yet hauing no contrary commaundement, did of very deuocion, and of a godly affeccion, goe aboute to defende his moste vertuouse godly Lorde a∣gainst the wicked. So then Iesus verily put awaye by his diuine power, the force of the men of warre from Peter, but yet withall he chideth Peter as a disciple, when he seeth hym hotely set to fyght out the matter, and sayth: Pe∣ter, what doest thou? Hast thou forgotten what thou hast heard of late whi∣les thou diddest exhorte me not to dye? that is to witte, howe thou wast cal∣led Satan, and commaunded to folowe behynde. To what purpose is thy swerde drawen, because thou wouldest hynder my death, whiche I goe to suffer willingly, and apoynted so to doe by my father?

It becummeth the to folowe, and not to repell my crosse. Therfore put thy swerde into thy sheath. Matters of the ghospel are not so to be defended. It thou wilt succede me as my vicar, thou must fight with no other swerd than of Gods woorde, whiche cutteth away sinnes, and saueth the men. Shal not I drinke of this cuppe of death, whiche my father hath geuen me to drinke? How shall it come to passe all we to be one, according as I prayed to my fa∣ther, excepte that like as I doe obey the fathers will euen to the very death, so you lykewyse obey my commaundementes?

The disciples beyng with this saying restrayned and stayed from fightyng, the menne of warre and their capitayne, with the ministers also whome the Byshops and Phariseis sent to augment the numbre, layed their wicked hā∣des vpon Iesus, and led hym fast bounde as a malefactour, first to Byshop Annas, Caiphas father in law. Caiphas verily was the hye Byshop of that yere, therfore thei led Iesus from Annas house to Caiphas, of whom it was spoken before, that whiles other were perplexed and in doubt what was to be doen with Iesus, he beyng (for the office sake that he bare) inspired wyth the spirite of prophecie, coūsailed that in any case Iesus should finally suffre death, because it was so expedient for all folke that the helth & saluacion of the people should be recouered and redemed with the death of one man. Ie∣sus therfore was led vnto Caiphas father in-lawe, first to fede his iyes with a sight that was wished & longed for: also that he might be examined in this mans house, if they could finde any lykelyhode of any faulte in him. For al∣though they had suche bloudsuckyng hertes, as could haue been contente to haue murthered their owne parētes, yet for feare of the people, & of the lieu∣tenant Pilate, they studied to pretend some colour of iustice, but Gods pru∣dence turned the wicked subtil crafte of man, into the glory of his sonne. For whylest he is thus taken, thus led from Annas to Caiphas, from Caiphas

to Pilate, from Pilate to Herode, and backe againe from Herode to Pilate, whiles he is examined of many, and of many matters accused, he made them all witnesses and confessours of his innocencie, yea they that were his ene∣mies. And verily there is no more certaine testimonie of innocencie, then that which trueth forceth out of an enemy. How litle equitie did they shewe mete for a Byshop? They bought the betraying of an innocent with money, they arested and toke a naked man without armour, with a bande of armed men hyred for that purpose: they bounde hym that made no resistence, but that he had onely shewed great lykelyhood howe great his power was, in case he would haue vsed it, and willingly gaue himselfe vnto them: they led him not to a iudge, but to an enemy, as men auaunting themselfes of theyr praye, and there finally sought they for a faulte to be layed againste hym, when as the equitie euen of prophane lawes, will no man to be arested except first a man be moste hated for his naughtines, and so burdened with a faulte.

[ The texte.] And Simon Peter folowed Iesus, and so did an other disciple that was knowen vnto the hye prieste, and went in with Iesus into the palace of the hye prieste. But Peter stoode at the doore without. Then wente out that other disciple whiche was knowen vnto the hye prieste, and spake to the damsell that kept the doore, and brought in Peter. Thou sayed the damsell that kept the doore vnto Peter: art not thou also one of this mans disciples▪ he sayed: I am not. The seruauntes and the ministers stode there, whiche had made a fyre of coles, for it was colde, and they warmed themselues. Peter also stode among them and warmed hym.

Nowe then when Iesus was brought thither, that is, to Cayphas, Sy∣mon Peter, notwithstandyng that he was forbid fightyng, neuerthelesse ha∣uing yet some confidence in his owne strength, folowed Iesus, and a certaine other disciple with him: euen thesame that a lytle before leaned on Iesus breast at supper tyme. This disciple because he was knowen to the Byshop, was bolde in trust of that knowledge, to go into the palace with Iesus. Peter because he was not knowen,* 1.1 durst not folowe them into the palace, but taryed at the doore without, in the meane tyme muche swaruyng from that bolde saying: I will venter my lyfe for the. And yet some manlinesse re∣mayned in him for all that. For it came of loue that he durst styll folowe vn∣to the doore, seeyng the reste of his felowes scatter themselues abrode eche one a sere waye: but in that he durst not go in, was a feare, and dyd pronosti∣cate that he should soone after deny his Lorde. Howbeit that other disci∣ple perceyuyng that Peter folowed not, spake to the damsell that kepte the doore, to take in him which stode at the doore without. And when the mayde had let him in she behelde Peter, and thought she should knowe hym: bothe because she had seen him in Iesus cumpany, and specially because he was commaunded to be brought in of him, whom she knewe to bee Iesus disci∣ple. And therfore she sayed vnto Peter: Art not thou also this mannes disci∣ple, whiche is nowe taken and brought in hyther? At this voice of a woman of small reputacion, whiche yet pretended no kynde of crueltie or thyng to be feared, seeyng she compared Peter with him whom she did not appeache nor violently handle, and knewe hym to be Iesus disciple, and so named Ie∣sus vnto him, calling him in suche sorte a manne, as though she had rather pi∣tied him then disdayned him: Peter, I say, for all this sodainly forgetting al thinges whiche Iesus had so ofte repeted vnto him, and forgetting also his

owne stoute promisse, denyed that he was Iesus disciple. And euen this is the firste profession of them that be desirouse to mortise themselfes in prin∣ces houses, verily to deny Christe, that is to saye, the trueth. And whan Pe∣ter was thus gotten in, he wente and stode among the Byshoppes officers and seruauntes which were standyng by the fyre syde to warme themselfes, because it was colde that late tyme of the nyght. And Peter warmed hym with them, trustyng that he so myght kepe hymselfe secrete, and in the meane tyme see what should become of Iesus in conclusiō, and what issue this mat∣ter should drawe to, for as yet Peter had not putte awaye all hope that hys Lorde should escape death although he was so striken with feare, that he did not once thinke of that the Lorde had euen newly before told him would be, that is to were, that Peters selfe for al he was a bolde promiser, would for∣sweare his Lorde and maister.

[ The texte.] The hye priest then asked Iesus of disciples and of his doctrine. Iesus aunswered hym: I spake openly in the worlde. I euer taught in the Synagogue and in the Temple where all the Iewes resorte, and in secrete haue I sayed nothyng. Why askest thou me? Aske them which heard me what I haue sayed vnto them. Behold they can tell what I sayed. When he had thus spoken, one of the ministers whiche floode by, smote Iesus on the face, saying. Aun∣swerest thou the hye priest so? Iesus answered him: If I haue euill spoken, beare witnes of the euill: but if I haue well spoken, why smytest thou me?

Nowe the Bishop Cayphas to shewe some semblaunce of rightfull iudge∣ment, but yet his entent was to gather somewhat of Iesus sūdry answeres, that he myght charge hym withall as a manne faultye, and therfore he que∣stioned with Iesus of his disciples, what maner of men they were, whence he had them, and to what purpose he had gathered suche a cumpanye toge∣ther, yea and also what he secretly taught them: Howbeit Iesus knowyng that he dyd not demaunde these questions of a ryght iudgelyke mynde to knowe the trueth, but deceytfully to hunte out some thyng in hym woorthy blame, and to gette occasion withall howe to harme his disciples, whom he would yet should be in safegarde, Iesus, I say, knowyng this made no an∣swere to the Byshoppes wylie and traiterouse interrogacions, but banys∣sheth the testimony of hymselfe and his, and sendeth them to the common re∣porte, and also to the recorde of his enemies, a profe of moste certaintie for the innocent, and sayth vnto the Byshop: Why askest thou me what I haue taught my disciples secretly or in hugger mugger? My doctryne hathe not been sediciouse nor secrete. I haue spoken openly to the brode worlde. That whiche I haue taught, I haue alwaye taught it in your Synagogues. I haue taught in the temple vpon the holy dayes, in place and tyme moste no∣table and famouse, whither Iewes on euery syde out of all partes of Syria resorte. And I haue spoken nothyng in priuitie or corners, whiche same thing I durst not teache openly.* 1.2 Full oftē hath the people and Phariseis too, heard me. Why then doest thou nowe aske me of suche maner of doctrine as should be taught by stelth and very priuely? But rather aske them, that haue heard me teache openly. Theyr recorde shall be of more certaintye which hath with me no familiar acquaintaunce, yea of whom some do hate me. Let euen them that be mine enemies reporte what I haue taught: for many knowe it, and it shalbe easie to fynde witnesses of my doctrine. Whan Iesus had spokē these thynges, teachyng thereby that the trueth is to be answered for, boldely in

dede, but without tauntes or rebukes, one of the bishoppes ministers that by chaunce stoode nexte him, a man not vnlyke his lord and maister, willing to de∣fende his bishops dignitie agaynst the franke and liberal speache of Iesus, af∣ter suche lyke sorte as Peter would haue defended his maisters lyfe against the force of the souldiers, not tarrying for any commaundement of his lorde, gaue Iesus a blow vpon the cheke and suche a checkeful rebuke as was fit for suche a byshop, and suche a felow his seruaunt, saying: Aunswerest thou the byshop so? Our Lorde Iesus might bothe haue destroyed this wicked byshop, and al∣so haue letted this blowgeuer, but that he would shewe by exaumple to his, howe ferre out of course and how peruerse the iudgementes of the world be. For our Lorde Iesus whiche behaued himselfe moost mekely agaynst all iniu∣ries, beyng no where so sharpe as against them that vnder the pretence of reli∣gion barke and worke againste true religion, tooke not the blowe without re∣plying in woordes, whiche yet endured the crosse and made no wordes therat. The bishoppes sate in auctoritie, Iesus beyng bounde was examined: here loe was a face of iudgement. And of trueth before a temporall iudge beyng but an Heathen, he that is accused shall be heard to saye for hymselfe. Here now before a bishop, a blow was geuen for makyng one aunswere, and the blowe too was geuen hym that afterwarde should be iudge of the quicke and the dead.

And so in dede Iesus aunswered, in dede frankely, but yet mildly and coldely, saying: I speake before a iudge, and I aunswere hym beyng required. In this case before Gentiles also is the matter hādled with good reasons, and not with strokes. If I haue sayed any thyng amisse tell me howe: but if I haue spoken nothing euill, why doest thou beyng a iudges officer, here in tyme of iudgemēt, the iudge holdyng his peace, beate me without consultyng the thyng that I saye?

[ The texte.] And Annas sent hym bound vnto Caiphas the hie priest. Symon Peter stoode and war∣med hymselfe, then sayed they vnto hym: Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denyed it and sayed: I am not. One of the seruauntes of the hye priestes, his cosin whose ••are Peter smote of, sayed vnto hym: Did not I see them the garden with hym? Peter therfore denied it againe, and immediately the cocke crewe. Then they led Iesus from Caiphas into the hall of iudgemente. It was in the mornyng, and they themselues wente not into the iudgement hal, leste they shoulde be defiled, but that they mighte eate the Passeouer.

Uerily Annas, although vpon malice he reioysed that Iesus was vnder warde, and had in hold, neuertheles because he could trye out nothyng of him, whereby he might by any colour be proued giltye: he sendeth hym euen bound as he was to bishop Caiphas his sonne in lawe. But in the meane time whilest these thynges were in handlyng, Peter vewyng all thynges a farre of, whiche as I begun to tell, stoode in the throng of the ministers, warmyng hym at the fyre syde and among these some there were which by certayn tokens somewhat knew Peter, and sayed vnto hym: Arte not thou one of this mannes disciples whome the byshop thus handleth? Peter seeyng so cruell a syght, whiche made hym also sore afrayed, once agayne denyed that he was Iesus disciple. For he nowe perceyued by the byshops interogatyues, howe that they were in deuyse to attache Iesus disciples: also Peter thought by this deniall to bee safe from daunger, lyke as he had shifted hymselfe from her that kepte the doore, but to make him know the better, how he could nothing do of his owne propre strēgth beyng disseuered from the felowshyp of his Lorde, there stoode among other in

that throng of the ministers, a certayn kinsman of him that had a litle before in the garden first auentured to laye handes vpon Iesus, and had his eare striken of by Peter. This felow was by the iudgement of god brought in as an instru∣ment, vnder pretence to auenge his cosen Malchus harme, but in very dede it was to correcte the rashe confidence that Peter had in hymselfe. For the sayed felow beyng not content with Peters only one denial (for his fighting though it were doen in the darke, made him to be wel knowē) sayeth vnto Peter: What (sayeth he) doest thou denye thy selfe to be one of his disciples? Did not I euen right nowe see the with mine iyes in the garden with Iesus? Peter beyng with this saying vtterly blancke and sore astonished, wished himselfe accursed yf e∣uer he knewe Iesus. And anon the cocke crewe. Neyther did Peter by this to∣ken, whiche oure Lorde had tolde hym of before, come to hymselfe agayne, ney∣ther woulde haue been well aduised, except our Lorde had recouered hym, and brought him to himselfe agayne by his effectuall lokyng vpon Peter: and had also by inwarde inspiracion prouoked teares of penaunce in hym.

So many wayes was he that should be a speciall minister vnder Christ of the holy churche, to be taught how in al thinges to mistrust his owne strength, and to depende of his lordes onely ayde and succour. Now therefore after that Iesus had been all the nighte long till the mornyng early, in examinacion be∣fore Caiphas, nor no faulte coulde be founde in hym, wherefore he oughte to be called for, and to bee arrained vpon lyfe and death, they haue him out of bishop Caiphas house, and leade hym to Pilate the lorde presidente, to thentente they might charge hym, and discharge themselues of the hatred that they should be in for sheading of innocent bloude. And euen being bounde as he stoode, Iesus was led by the hyred souldiers into the presidentes iudgemente hall. Howbeit the Iewes themselues went not into the house of iudgement, leste they shoulde be polluted, in asmuche as the paschall lambe muste be eaten of them: to the ea∣tyng wherof they woulde go pure and cleane, but of a naughtie peruerse reli∣gion be ye sure, consideryng that they thoughte themselues to be contaminate and suspended with the harmelesse house of the president, because he was a Gē∣tile and no Iewe, when as themselues by many craftes went about and deui∣sed a mans death, that had doen nothing amisse, yea that had many waies doen well and deserued muche good at theyr handes.

[ The texte.] Pylate then went out vnto them and sayed: what accusacion bryng ye against this mā? They aunswered and sayed vnto hym. If he were not an euill doer, we woulde not haue de∣liuered hym vnto thee. Then sayed Pilate vnto them: Take ye hym, and iudge hym after your owne lawe. The Iewes therfore sayed vnto hym: It is not lawfull for vs to purie any man to death, that the wordes of Iesus might be fulfilled whiche he spake, signifying what death be should dye.

Therfore Pilate after he sawe the vncouth and that newe maner of iudge∣ment, as a man to be in captiuitie and boundē ere he were examined and hearde of the iudge, and to see a band of harnessed men, he commeth forth abrode hym∣self to be polluted with suche mens communicacion, as thought thēselues pure and vnpolluted. And verily he came out to appease & assuage, yf it were possi∣ble, the furye of the Iewes, and so to quite the innocente. Ye sende (sayeth he) this manne vnto me to be putte to death. But it is not the maner of Rome to put any man to execucion, except hym that is proued giltie of a faulte worthy death. What crime therfore do ye laye to this mannes charge? The Iewes

aunswered: the autoritie of Byshops, and Phariseis is inough for your dis∣charge. If this man were not a malefactour we coulde not of our profession haue committed hym to your handes. Pilate suspectyng, as the trueth was, them to haue some priuate grudge towardes hym about the supersticion and the superf••uous religion, and vayne deuocion of the lawe, sayeth vnto them: If it be any matter that apperteyneth not to my counte and office, as for ex∣aumple, if case the Sabboth day be broken, if any swynes fleshe be eaten, or percase some rashe & liberall woordes hath been spoken against Moses, the Prohetes, the Temple, or your God: loe, nowe if any suche scape haue been, whiche your owne lawe commaunded to be punished, though yet there be no suche thing prohibite by the lawe of Rome, your selfes take the mā vnto you and iudge hym after your lawe. I am sette here in the Emperours name to rule & play the Iudge. If he hath committed any faulte against the Empe∣rours lawes, worthy death, bryng him to me, and after he be conuicte by the lawe, & lawfully cast, I shall cause him to be put to execucion. But I will not intermedle & perplexe my selfe in doubtfull matters of your lawe. Uerily, though the Iewes would (they forced not howe) haue had him made away, yet for all that they pretende reliousnesse of very feare, leste the iudge should forthwith haue punished thē, because they would haue kylled an harmelesse and an vncondemned person. But at thesame tyme they sought effectually a newe kynde of punishement for him, such one as was then among the Iewes moste spytefull and opprobrious. It is not, say they, lawefull for vs to put any man to death. The shamelesse people spake these woordes whiche had slayne so many Prophetes: flatteryng themselfes as cleane frō murder, not∣withstandyng they did so many wayes persecute an innocente to death: or els they thus did, as if the hangman which with his handes fasteneth the man to the crosse, were a sole murderer. They were in herte murderers, they were murderers in theyr tongues, with theyr money they hyred one trayterously to betray hym, they hyred a sorte of warryers, they hyred false witnesses, they forged false haynouse crymes against him. They prouoke & prycke for∣warde the iudge, and with threatning make hym a fearde, & yet impute them∣selues pure & fre from murder, and also worthy to eate the Pascall Lambe, for no cause els, but that they dyd stay and refrayne themselues from goyng into the iudgement hall. Well these thinges truely were doen to make it ap∣peare euidente that there is nothyng wurse or more haynouse then false and peruerse religion, and that the same thyng also should be brought to effecte, which Iesus sayed should come to passe, signifying by a parable what death he shoulde dye, whan he spake these woordes: At suche tyme as I shall be lyfte vp on hye from the grounde, I shall drawe all thynges vnto me: by the force of which woordes, he would that we should take it for a certaintie that not only the selfe death was determinately limited vnto him, but also a choice and seuerall kynde of death.

[ The texte.] Then Pilate entred into the iudgement hall againe, and called Iesus, and sayed vnto him: Art thou the king of Iewes? Iesus answered: sayest thou that of thy selfe, or did other tell it thee of me? Pilate answered. Am I a Iew? Thine owne nacion & hye priestes hath deliuered thee vnto me. What hast thou doen? Iesus answered. My kingdome is not of this worlde: If my kyngdome were of this worlde, then would my ministers surely fight, that I should not be deliuered vnto the Iewes: but nowe is my kyngdome not from hence.

Wherfore then after that Pilate vnderstanding by the woordes which the

Iewes had spoken of a matter (I knowe not what) amonges other thinges to be obiecte against Iesus, concerning a kingdome that he should goe about desirously (and yet there appeared no likelyhood at all in Iesus that shoulde cause any manne to thynke hym fauty therein) Pilate, I saye, after this, went once againe into the iudgement halle, and lefte the people standyng without. And so called for Iesus secretly asyde, that quietly and without all ruffle, he might boult out and gather of hym (which in countenaunce appeared no lesse then both vertuouse and wise) what the matter was, and saied vnto him: Art thou that king of the Iewes whom they are reported to looke for? This one thyng did Pilate diligently searche out, because the other matters touched not the weale publique: but this faul••e, to call himselfe a kyng, semed to con∣cerue both the Emperours Maiestie, and a common peace and tranquillitie. And truly Pilate made this searche and enquirie not that he did take it to be true, but to get some matter of him that was accused, wherwith he might re∣proue y^e Iewes of falsehood. Howbeit though Iesus knew wel inough the Iewes to haue falsely appeached hym that he should be desirous of a kyng∣dome to the Emperours losse, or in despite of his highnesse, yet to the entent he myght open and disclose the malice of the Iewes, and commende the rea∣sonablenesse & equitie muche better in Pilate then in the Byshops and Pha∣riseis, though he were but a Gentyle, and set naught by the Iewes religion: for this skill, I saye, Iesus made hym aunswere, saying: Whether thinkest thou of thine owne cōiecture, that I am desyrouse of a kingdome, or haue the Iewes accused me herof to thee? Pilate both to declare his owne innocēcie & the malice of the Iewes too, sayeth: I doe not cōiecture this of mine owne head, neyther doe I see in thee any thyng agreable thereunto. It is a Iewes tale of a king to come. Thinkest thou me to be a Iewe? Thy quarelling coū∣trey folkes and the Byshops, committed thee into my handes, seking all the meanes they can to haue thee put to death, but because it is not the fashion of Rome to putte any vncondemned person to death, if therfore thou haste not trāsgressed in y^e trayterous desire of a kingdom, then what faute beside haste thou made? Because Pilate asked him of these thynges simply, and meaning good fayth, entending to deliuer the innocente, Iesus did vouchesafe to aun∣swere hym by a rydle & prouerbially: teaching that it was an other maner of kingdom wherof the Prophetes had spoken, a farre more excellent kingdom then is the kingdom of this worlde, whiche consisteth in mans lawes, in the ayde of mē, which haue no power, but vpō bodies. Howbeit he signified this kingdom to be an heauēly kingdom, which could not couet y^e kingdom of the worlde, but contemne it: and should not harme it, but auaunce it into a better kinde. My kingdom, sayth Christ, is no suche kingdom as y^e Emperours is, his kingdom is terrestriall,* 1.3 but mine is celestial. And for y^e cause am I affec∣cionate to nothing that can harme the Emperours maiestie. If my kingdom were of this world, the world should not handle me as it doth, vnreuenged. For euen I, be ye sure, should haue (as other kynges hath) a garde of harnes∣sed men. I should haue squiers for the body, & suche as should onely attende vpon myne owne persone: I should haue plentie of well appoynted men, and lacke no ayde or succoure that would fight for me, that it should not be in the Iewes power to doe the thyng they goe about against me vnrequired.

At this presente I haue fewe disciples, and those that I haue bee vnapte to

warre, weake and poore, I my selfe beyng vnarmed and no wartyer, euen one that seketh to the helpe of other, because my kyngdome is not of this worlde.

[ The texte.] ¶Pilate therfore sayed vnto hym: Arte thou a kyng then? Iesus aunswered: thou sayest that I am a king. For this cause was I borne, and for this cause came I into the world that I should beare witnes vnto the trueth. And all that are of the trueth, heare my voyce. Pilate sayde vnto hym: What thyng is trueth? And when he had sayed this, he wente oute agayne vnto the Iewes, and sayeth vnto them: I fynde in hym no cause at all: ye haue a custome that I should delyuer you one looce at ••aster; wyll ye that I looce vnto you the king of the Iewes: Then cryed they all agayne, saying: Not hym but Barrabas, the same Barra∣bas was a murtherer.

Forasmuche as Pylate beyng a laye man and a Gentile did not fully vn∣derstande this mistye and darke saying, albeit he heard that Iesus dyd not vt∣terly ren••unce and denye the name of a kyng, but dyd put a difference of king∣domes, Pilate therfore sayed vnto hym: Is it then true that thou arte some∣where a kyng whatsoeuer kynde of kyngdome it be, and thou not perteynyng to vs? Here now Iesus beyng earnestly asked of the iudge whether he were a∣ny waye a kyng, or naye, confesseth the trueth with great temperaunce and mo∣destye, with muche sobrietie and good aduisemente, aunsweryng thus: Thou sayest I am a kyng, for whosoeuer asketh a question, with lyke numbre of wor∣des, the pronunciacion onely chaunged, affirmeth the thyng. And Iesus sayed further: It is not my parte to denye any trueth, namely consyderyng that for this cause I was borne, and came into the worlde, that I should deceyue no mā with any lye, but that I shoulde beare witnes vnto the trueth.

He that hath a simple meke mynde not blynded with the lustes and desires of this worlde, acknowlegeth, lyketh well, and heareth my voyce. But Pilate hauyng no further intelligence of that whiche was spoken,* 1.4 then that he suppo∣sed the thyng to be no matter for hym to know, and as yet Christe had made Pi∣late no apte aunswere, therewith either to sette the Iewes at a quiet or to di∣spatche them thence, after he had asked of Iesus what was that trueth wherof he spake, and was come into the worlde to beare witnes therof: Pilate, I saye, wente oute agayne vnto the Iewes, not tarrying for an aunswere of the thing, that he questioned of. What nedeth many woordes, sayeth Pilate: I haue ex∣amined the man, and can fynde no faulte in hym worthy death. Nor I am not here president and chiefe iustice vnder the Emperour, because I shoulde with my sentence condemne the innocente, but in case he be noysome to you, and that ye thynke him fautye (which I fynde not) yet it standeth with equitie and good indifferencie, that if ye wyl not spare and forbeare hym as an innocent, at least∣waye in the honor of this holy feast and for religion sake, pardon hym his life as an offender. And in dede it is here a custome amonges you that in this feast of Phase (whiche is of you moste highly solemnised and kept moste holye of all feastes,) I should at your request pardon and set at libertie some one offender. Therfore ye shall haue free eleccion to chose the one of twayne, eyther Barra∣bas that arrant these and notable robber, a disturber of the publique peace, or this Iesus, a man in my iudgement fautlesse, whome some folke sayeth is the kyng of Iewes. It were beste surely that this man, yea though he haue doen a∣mysse, should fele and enioye the graciouse fauour and priuiledge of youre so∣lemne feast.

Wyll ye therfore that I forgeue this persone for your sakes? for of trueth the president did not looke for so great outragiousnes in the Iewes, that they woulde preferre a felowe openly knowē full of mischiefe, and a valiaunt ranke thefe, before Iesus a man moste meke and innocent. But the Iewes with a whole consen•• and with a great lowde voyce, cryed all of them: We will not haue Iesus geuen vs, but Barrabas.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Peter stode at the doore without.
• * 1.2

  I euer taught in the Syna∣gogue.
• * 1.3

  My kyng∣dome is not of this worlde. &c.
• * 1.4

  For this cause was I borne, &c