Part 15

_Primus doctor Cayphas._ He werke with wechecrafte in eche place, And drawyth the pepyl to hese intent; Bewhare, ȝe jewgys, let hym not passe, Than be my trowthe ze xal repent. _Secundus doctor Cayphas._ Serys, takyth hede onto this case, And in ȝour jewgement be not slawe; Ther was nevyr man dyd so gret trespace, As Jhesu hath don ageyn oure lawe.

_Annas._ Now, bretheryn, than wyl ȝe here myn entent, These ix. days let us abyde; We may not gyf so hasty jugement, But eche man inqwere on his syde. Send spyes abouth the countré wyde, To se and recorde and testymonye, And than hese werkys he xal not hyde, Nor have no power hem to denye.

_Cayphas._ This cownecelle acordyth to my reson. _Annas._ And we alle to the same.

XXVI. THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM.

_Jhesus._ ffrendys, beholde the tyme of mercy, The whiche is come now withowt dowth; Mannys sowle in blys now xal edyfy, And the prynce of the werd is cast owth.

Go to ȝon castel that standyth ȝow ageyn, Sum of myn dyscyplis go forthe ȝe to; There xul ȝe ffyndyn bestys tweyn, An asse tyed and here fole also. Unlosne that asse, and brynge it to me pleyn; Iff any man aske why that ȝe do so, Sey that I have nede to this best serteyn, And he xal not lett ȝow ȝour weys for to go: That best brynge ȝe to me. _Primus Apostolus._ Holy prophete, we gon oure way, We wyl not ȝoure wourd delay, Also sone as that we may, We xal it brynge to the.

_Here thei ffecche the asse with the ffole, and the burgeys seyth_,

_Burgensis._ Herke ȝe, men, who ȝaff ȝow leve, Thus this best ffor to take away? But only ffor pore men to releve, This asse is ordeyned, as I ȝow say. _Philippus._ Good sere, take this at no greff, Oure mayster us sent hedyr this day, He hath grett nede withowte repreff, Therfore not lett us, I the pray, This best for to lede. _Burgensis._ Sethyn that it is so that he hath ȝow sent, Werkyth his wylle and his intent, Take the beste, as ȝe be bent, And evyr wel mote ȝe spede.

_Jacobus minor._ This best is brought ryght now here lo! Holy prophete at thin owyn wylle, And with this clothe, anon, also, This bestys bak we xal sone hylle. _Philippus._ Now mayst thou ryde whedyr thou wylt go, Thyn holy purpos to ffulfylle, Thy best fful redy is dyth the to, Bothe meke and tame the best is stylle. And we be redy also, Iff it be plesynge to thi ssyght, The to helpe anon forthe ryght, Upon this best that thou were dyght, Thi jurney ffor to do.

_Here Cryst rydyth out of the place and he wyl, and Petyr and John abydyn stylle, and at the last, whan thei have done ther prechyng, thei mete with Jhesu_,

_Petrus._ O, ȝe pepyl dyspeyryng, be glad! A grett cawse ȝe have, and ȝe kan se, The Lord that alle thynge of nought mad, Is comynge ȝour comfort to be. Alle your langoris salvyn xal he, ȝour helthe is more than ȝe kan wete, He xal cawse the blynde that thei xal se, The def to here, the dome for to speke!

Thei that be crokyd, he xal cause hem to goo In the wey that John Baptyst of prophecyed; Sweche a leche kam ȝow nevyr non too, Wherfore what he comawndyth loke ȝe applyed. That som of ȝow be blynd, it may not be denyid; ffor hym that is ȝour makere with ȝour gostly ey ȝe xal not knowe; Of his comaundementes in ȝow gret neclygens is aspyed, Wherefore def fro gostly heryng clepe ȝow I howe.

And som of ȝow may not go, ȝe be so crokyd; ffor of good werkyng in ȝow is lytyl habundawns, Tweyn fete hevery man xuld have and it were lokyd, Wyche xuld here the body gostly most of substawns; ffyrst is to love God above alle other plesawns; The secunde is to love thi neybore as thin owyn persone; And yf these tweyn be kepte in perseverawns; Into the celestyal habytacion ȝe arn habyl to gone.

Many of ȝow be dome; why? for ȝe wole not redresse, Be mowthe ȝour dedys mortal but therin don perdure; Of the wyche but ȝe have contrycyon and ȝow confesse, ȝe may not inheryte hevyn, this I ȝow ensure. And of alle these maladyes ȝe may have gostly cure, ffor the hevenly leche is comyng ȝow for to vicyte; And as for payment he wole shewe ȝow no redrure, ffor with the love of ȝoure hertys he wole be aqwhyte.

_Johannes Apostolus._ Onto my brotherys forseyd rehersalle, That ȝe xuld ȝeve the more veray confydens, I come with hym as testymonyalle, ffor to conferme I fortefye his sentens. This lord xal come without resystens, Onto the cety-ward he is now comyng, Wherefore dresse ȝow with alle dew dylygens, To honowre hym as ȝour makere and kyng.

And to fulfylle the prophetys prophesé, Upon an asse he wole hedyr ryde, Shewing ȝow exawmple of humylyté, Devoydyng the abhomynable synne of pryde. Wheche hath ny conqweryd alle the werd wyde, Grettest cause of all ȝour trybulacyon, Use it ho so wole, for it is the best gyde, That ȝe may have to the place of dampnacyon.

Now, brothyr in God, syth we have intellygens, That oure Lord is ny come to this ceté, To attend upon hys precyous presens, It syttyth to us, as semyth me. Wherfore to mete with hym now go we, I wold fere no thynge we where to late; To the ceté-ward fast drawyth he, Me semyth he is ny at the gate.

_Here spekyth the iiij. ceteseyngs, the fyrst thus seyng_,

_Primus cives de Jherusalem._ Neyborys, gret joye in oure herte we may make, That this hefly kyng wole vycyte this cyté. _Secundus cives._ Yf oure eerly kyng sweche a jorné xuld take, To don hym honor and worchepe, besy xuld we be. _Tertius cives._ Meche more than to the hevynly kyng bownd are we, ffor to do that xuld be to his persone reverens. _Quartus cives._ Late us than welcome hym with flowres and brawnchis of the tre, ffor he wole take that to plesawns becawse of redolens.

_Here the iiij. ceteseynys makyn hem redy for to mete with oure Lord, goyng barfot and barelegged, and in here shyrtes, savyng thei xal have here gownys cast abouth them; and qwan thei seen oure Lord, thei xal sprede ther clothis beforn hym, and he xal lyth and go ther upon, and thei xal falle downe upon ther knes alle at onys, the fyrst thus seyng_,

_Primus cives._ Now blyssyd he be that in oure Lordys name, To us in any wyse wole resorte, And we beleve veryly that thou dost the same, For be thi mercy xal spryng mannys comforte.

_Here Cryst passyth forth, ther metyth with hym a serteyn of chylderyn with flowres, and cast beforn hym, and they synggyn “Gloria Laus,” and beforn on seyth_,

Thow sone of Davyd, thou be oure supporte, At oure last day whan we xal dye, Wherefore we alle at onys to the exorte, Cryeng mercy! mercy! mercye!

_Jhesu._ ffrendys, beholde the tyme of mercy; The wiche is come now, withowtyn dowth; Mannys sowle in blysse now xal edyfy, And the prynce of the werd is cast owth. As I have prechyd in placys abowth, And shewyd experyence to man and wyf, Into this werd Goddys sone hath sowth ffor veray love man to revyfe.

The trewthe of trew this xal now be tryede, And a perfith of corde betwyx God and man, Wiche trewthe xal nevyr be dyvide, Confusyon onto the fynd Sathan!

_Primus pauper homo._ Thou sone of Davyd! on us have mercye, As we must stedfast belevyn in the; Thi goodnesse, Lord, lete us be nye, Wheche lyth blynd here and may not se!

_Secundus pauper homo._ Lord, lete thi mercy to us be sewre, And restore to us oure bodyly syth! We know thou may us wel recure, With the lest poynt of thi gret myth. _Jhesu._ ȝowre beleve hath made thou for to se, And delyveryd ȝow fro alle mortal peyne; Blyssyd be alle tho that beleve on me, And se me not with here bodyly eyn.

_Here Cryst blyssyth here eyn and thei may se, the fyrst seyng_,

_Primus pauper homo._ Gramercy, Lord! of thi gret grace, I that was blynd, now may se. _Secundus pauper homo._ Here I forsake al my trespace, And stedfastly wyl belevyn on the.

_Here Cryst procedyth on fote, with his dyscipulys after hym, Cryst wepyng upon the cyté, saying thus_,

_Jhesu._ O Jherusalem! woful is the ordenawnce Of the day of thi gret persecucyon; Thou xalt be dystroy with woful grevans, And thi ryalté browth to trew confusyon. ȝe that in the ceté han habytacyon, Thei xal course the tyme that thei were borne, So gret advercyté and trybulacion, Xal falle on hem bothe evyn and morwyn.

Thei that han most chylderyn sonest xal wayle, And seyn, alas! what may this meen? Both mete and drynk sodeynly xal fayle,— The vengeance of God ther xal be seen. The tyme is comyng hes woo xal ben, The day of trobyl and gret grevauns; Bothe templys and towrys they xal down cleen, O ceté! fful woful is thin ordenawns!

XXVII. THE LAST SUPPER.

_Petrus._ Lord! where wolte thou kepe thi maundé? I pray the now lete us have knowyng: That we may make redy for the, The to serve withowte latyng. _Johannes._ To provyde, Lord, for thi comyng, With alle the obedeyns we kan atende, And make redy for the in al thyng, Into what place thou wyth us send. _Jhesu._ Serys, goth to Syon, and ȝe xal mete A pore man in sympyl aray, Beryng watyr in the strete, Telle hym I xal come that way.

Onto hym mekely loke that ȝe say, That hese hous I wole come tylle; He wele not onys to ȝow sey nay, But sofre to have alle ȝour wylle. _Petrus._ At thi wyl, Lord, it xal be don, To seke that place we xal us hye. _Johannes._ In alle the hast that we may go, Thin comawdement nevyr to denye.

_Here Petyr and John gon forth metyng with Symon leprows beryng a kan with watyr, Petyr thus seyng_,

_Petrus._ Good man, the prophete, oure Lord Jhesus, This nyth wyl reste wythin thin halle; On massage to the he hath sent us, That ffor his sopere ordeyn thou xalle. _Johannes._ ȝa! for hym and his dyscipulys alle, Ordeyn thu for his maundé, A paschalle lomb what so befalle, ffor he wyl kepe his pasche with the. _Symon._ What, wyl my Lord vesyte my plase? Blyssyd be the tyme of his comyng! I xal ordeyn withinne short space ffor my good lordys welcomyng. Serys, walkyth in at the begynnyng, And se what vetaylys that I xal take, I am so glad of this tydyng, I wot nevyr what joye that I may make.

_Here the dyscypulys gon in with Symon to se the ordenawns, and Cryst comyng thedyr-ward, thus seyng_,

_Jhesus._ This pathe is cal Sydon be goostly ordenawns, Weche xal convey us, wher we xal be, I knowe ful redy is the purvyaunce, Of my frendys that lovyn me. Contewnyng in pees now procede we, ffor mannys love this wey I take, With gostly ey I veryly se, That man ffor man an hende must make.

_Here the dysciples come ageyn to Cryst, Petyr thus seyng_,

_Petrus._ Alleredy lord is oure ordenawns, As I hope to ȝow plesyng xal be, Seymon hath don, at ȝoure instawns, He is ful glad ȝour presens to se. _Johannes._ Alle thyng we have, Lorde, at oure plesyng, That longyth to ȝoure mawndé with ful glad chere; Whan he herd telle of ȝour comyng, Gret joye in hym than dyd appere.

_Here comyth Symon owt of his hous to welcome Cryst_,

_Symon._ Gracyous Lord, welcome thu be, Reverens be to the, both God and man! My poer hous that thou wylt se, Weche am thi servaunt, as I kan. _Jhesu._ There joye of alle joyis to the is sewre! Symon, I knowe thi trewe intent, The blysse of hefne thou xalt recure, This rewarde I xal the grawnt present.

_Here Cryst enteryth into the hous with his disciplis and ete the Paschal lomb; and in the mene tyme the cownsel-hous beforn-seyd xal sodeynly onclose, schewyng the buschopys, prestys, and jewgys syttyng in here astat, lyche as it were a convocacyon; Annas seyng thus_,

_Annas._ Beheld it is nowth al that we do, In alle houre materys we prophete nowth; Wole ȝe se weche peusawns of pepyl drawyth hym to, ffor the mervaylys that he hath wrowth.

Some othyr sotylté must be sowth, ffor in no wyse we may not thus hym leve; Than to a schrewde conclusyoun we xal be browth, ffor the Romaynes than wyl us myscheve, And take oure astat and put us to repreve, And convey alle the pepyl at here owyn request, And thus alle the pepyl in hym xal beleve, Therfore I pray ȝow, cosyn, say what is the best? _Cayphas._ Attende now, serys, to that I xal seye, Onto us alle it is most expedyent; That o man ffor the pepyl xuld deye, Than alle the pepyl xuld perysch and be shent.

Therfor late us werk wysely that we us not repent, We must nedys put on hym som fals dede; I sey for me I had levyr he were brent, Than he xuld us alle thus ovyr-lede; Therfore every man on his party help at this nede, And cowntyrfete alle the sotyltés that ȝe kan, Now late se he kan ȝeve best rede, To ordeyn sum dystruccion ffor this man.

_Gamalyel._ Late us no lenger make delacion, But do Jhesu be takyn in hondys fast; And alle here ffolweres to here confusyon, And into a preson do hem be cast. Ley on hem yron that wol last, ffor he hath wrouth aȝens the ryth; And sythyn aftyr we xal in hast Jewge hym to deth with gret dyspyth.

_Rewfyn._ ffor he hath trespacyd aȝens oure lawe, Me semyth this were best jewgement; With wyld hors lete hym be drawe, And afftyr in fyre he xal be brent. _Leyon._ Serys, o thyng myself herd hym sey, That he was kyng of Jewys alle. That is anow to do hym dey, ffor treson to Seȝar we must it calle.

He seyd also to personys that I know, That he xuld and myth serteyn The gret tempyl mythyly ovyrthrow, And the thrydde day reysynt ageyn.

Seche materys the pepyl doth conseyve, To ȝeve credens to his werkys alle, In hefne, he seyth, xal be his reyn, Bothe God and man he doth hym calle. _Rewfyn._ And alle this day we xuld contryve, What shameful deth Jhesu xuld have; We may not do hym to meche myscheve, The worchep of oure lawe to save.

_Leyon._ Upon a jebet lete hym hongyn be, This jugement me semyth it is reson; That alle the countré may hym se, And be ware be his gret treson. _Rewfyn._ ȝet o thyng, serys, ȝe must aspye, And make a ryth sotyl ordenawns; Be what menys ȝe may come hym bye, ffor he hath many folwerys at his instawns. _Annas._ Serys, therof we must have avysement, And ben acordyd or than we go; How we xal han hym at oure entent, Som wey we xal fynd therto.

_Here Judas Caryoth comyth into the place._

_Maria Magdalene._ As a cursyd creature closyd alle in care, And as a wyckyd wrecche alle wrappyd in wo, Of blysse was nevyr no berde so bare, As I mysylf that here now go. Alas! alas! I xal forfare, ffor tho grete synnys that I have do; Lesse that my lord God sumdel spare, And his grett mercy receyve me to. Mary Maudelyn is my name. Now wyl I go to Cryst Jhesu, ffor he is Lord of alle vertu, And for sum grace I thynke to sew, ffor of myself I have grett shame.

A! mercy! Lord! and salve my synne, Maydenys ffloure thou wasche me fre, Ther was nevyr woman of mannys kynne, So ful of synne in no countré. I have beffowlyd be fryth and ffenne, And sowght synne in many a ceté; But thou me borwe, Lord, I xal brenne, With blake ffendys ay bowne to be. Wherefore, kynge of grace, With this oynement that is so sote, Lete me anoynte thin holy fote And for my balys thus wyn sum bote, And mercy, Lord, for my trespace.

_Jhesus._ Woman, ffor thi wepynge wylle, Sum socowre God xal the sende; The to save I have grett skylle, ffor sorwefful hert may synne amende. Alle thi prayour I xal fulfylle, To thi good hert I wul attende, And save the fro thi synne so hylle, And fro vij. develys I xal the ffende,— ffendys, flethe ȝour weye! Wyckyd spyritys I ȝow conjowre, fflethe out of hire bodyly bowre, In my grace she xal evyr fflowre, Tyl dethe doth here to deye.

_Maria Magdalene._ I thanke the, Lorde, of this grett grace; Now these vij. ffendys be fro me fflytt. I xal nevyr fforffett nor do trespace, In wurd nor dede, ne wyl, nor wytt.

Now I am brought ffrom the fendys brace, In thi grett mercy closyd and shytt; I xal nevyr returne to synful trace, That xulde me dampne to helle pytt. I wurchep the on knes bare, Blyssyd be the tyme that I hedyr sowth, And this oynement that I hedyr brought, ffor now myn hert is clensyd from thought, That ffyrst was combryd with care.

_Judas._ Lord! me thynkyth thou dost ryght ille, To lete this oynement so spylle, To selle it yt were more skylle, And bye mete to poer men. The box was worthe of good moné, iij.c. pens, fayr and fre, This myght a bowht mete plenté. To ffede oure power kene.

_Jhesus._ Pore men xul abyde; Ageyn the woman thou spekyst wronge. And I passe forthe in a tyde, Off mercy is here mornyng songe.

_Here Cryst restyth and etyth a lytyl, and seyth, syttyng to his disciplis, and Mary Mawdelyn_,

_Jhesus._ Myn herte is ryght sory and no wondyr is, Thoo dethe I xal go and nevyr dyd trespas; But ȝitt most grevyth myn hert evyr of this, On of my bretheryn xal werke this manas. On of ȝow here syttynge my treson xal tras, On of ȝow is besy my dethe here to dyth, And ȝitt was I nevyr in no synful plas, Wherefore my dethe xuld so shamfully be pyght.

_Petrus._ My dere Lord, I pray the the trewthe for to telle, Whiche of us ys he that treson xal do? Whatt traytor is he that his lord that wold selle? Expresse his name, Lord, that xal werke this woo. _Johannes._ If that ther be on that wolde selle so, Good mayster, telle us now opynly his name. What traytour is hym that from the that wolde go? And with ffals treson ffulfylle his grett shame?

_Andreas._ It is ryght dredfull suche tresson to thynke, And wel more dredfful to werk that bad dede; ffor that ffals treson to helle he xal synke, In endles peynes grett myscheff to lede. _Jacobus major._ It is not I, Lord, ffor dowte I have drede, This synne to fulfylle cam nevyr in my mende. Iff that I solde the thy blood ffor to blede, In doyng that treson my sowle xulde I shende.

_Matheus._ Alas! my dere Lord, what man is so wood, ffor gold or for sylvyr hymself so to spylle? He that the doth selle ffor gold and for other good, With his grett covetyse hymself he doth kylle. _Bartholomeus._ What man so evyr he be of so wyckyd wylle, Dere Lord, among us telle us his name alle owt; He that to hym tendyth this dede to fulffille, ffor his grett treson his sowle stondyth in dowt.

_Philippus._ Golde, sylver, and tresoour sone dothe passe away, But withowtyn ende evyr dothe laste thi grace. A! Lord! who is that wylle chaffare the for monay? ffor he that sellyth his lord to grett is the trespace. _Jacobus minor._ That traytour that doth this orryble manace, Bothe body and sowle I holde he be lorn; Dampnyd to helle-pytt, fer from thi face, Amonge alle ffowle fyndys to be rent and torn.

_Symon._ To bad a marchawnt that traytour he is, And ffor that monye he may mornyng make; Alas! what cawsyth hym to selle the kyng of blys? ffor his fals wynnynge the devyl hym xal take. _Thomas._ ffor his ffals treson the fendys so blake Xal here his sowle depe down into helle pytt; Resste xal he non have, but evyr more wake, Brennyng in hoot fyre, in preson evyr shytt.

_Thadeus._ I woundyr ryght sore who that he xuld be, Amonges us alle bretheryn, that xuld do this synne? Alas, he is lorn! ther may no grace be, In depe helle donjeon his sowle he doth pynne. _Jhesus._ In my dysche he etyht this treson xal begynne, Wo xal betydyn hym for his werke of dred; He may be ryght sory swyche ryches to wynne, Ad whysshe hymself unborn ffor that synful ded.

_Judas._ The trewth wolde I knowe as leff as ȝe, And therfore, good ssere, the trewthe thou me telle; Whiche of us alle here that traytour may be, Am I that person that the now xal selle. _Jhesus._ So seyst thiselff, take hed att thi spelle, Thou askyst me now here if thou xalt do that treson; Remembyr thiself, avyse the ryght welle, Thou art of grett age, and wotysst what is reson.

_Here Judas rysyth prevely and goth in the place and seyt_,

_Judas._ Now cowntyrfeted I have a prevy treson, My masterys power for to felle, I, Judas, xal asay be some encheson, Onto the Jewys hym for to selle. Som mony for hym ȝet wold I telle, Be prevy menys I xal asay, Myn intent I xal fulfylle, No lenger I wole make delay.

The princys of prestys now be present, Unto hem now my way I take, I wyl go tellyn hem myn entent, I trow ful mery I xal hem make. Mony I wyl non forsake, And thei profyr to my plesyng, For covetyse I wyl with hem wake, And onto my maystyr I xal hem bryng.

Heyl prynsesse and prestys that ben present, New tydynges to ȝow I come to telle, ȝyf ȝe wole folwe myn intent, My mayster, Jhesu, I wole ȝow selle, Hese intent and purpose for to felle; ffor I wole no lenger folwyn his lawe;— Late sen what mony that I xal telle, And late Jhesu my maystyr ben hangyn and drawe.

_Gamalyel._ Now welcome, Judas, oure owyn frende! Take hym in, serys, be the honde: We xal the bothe geve and lende, And in every qwarel by the stonde. _Rewfyn._ Judas, what xal we for thi mayster pay? Thi sylver is redy, and we acorde, The payment xal have no delay, But be leyde down here at a worde.

_Judas._ Late the mony here down be layde, And I xal telle ȝow, as I kan; In old termys I have herd seyde, That mony makyth schapman. _Rewfyn._ Here is thretty platys of sylver bryth, Fast knyth withinne this glove; And we may have thi mayster this nyth, This xalt thou have, and alle oure love.

_Judas._ ȝe are resonable chapman to bye and selle, This bargany with ȝow now xal I make; Smyth up, ȝe xal have al ȝour wylle, ffor mony wyl I non forsake. _Leyon._ Now this bargany is mad ful and fast, Noyther part may it forsake; But Judas thou must telle us in hast, Be what menys we xal hym take.

_Rewfyn._ ȝa ther be many that hym nevyr sowe, Weche we wyl sende to hym in fere; Therfor be a tokyn we must hym knowe, That must be prevy betwyx us here. _Leyon._ ȝa beware of that for ony thynge, For o dyscypil is lyche thi mayster in al parayl; And ȝe go lyche in alle clothyng, So myth we of oure purpose fayl.

_Judas._ As for that, serys, have ȝe no dowth. I xal ordeyn, so ȝe xal not mysse; Whan that ȝe cum hym alle abowth, Take the man that I xal kysse.

I must go to my maystyr ageyn, Dowth not, serys, this matere is sure i-now. _Gamalyel._ Farewel, Judas, oure frend serteyn, Thi labour we xal ryth wel alow _Judas._ Now wyl I sotely go seke my mayster ageyn, And make good face, as I nowth knew; I have hym solde to wo and peyn, I trowe ful sore he xal it rew.

_Here Judas goth in sotylly wher as he cam fro._

_Annas._ Lo, serys, a part we have of oure entent, For to take Jhesu now we must provyde; A sotyl meny to be present, That dare fyth and wele abyde. _Gamalyel._ Ordeyn eche man on his party, Cressetys, lanternys, and torchys lyth; And this nyth to be ther redy, With exys, gleyvis, and swerdys bryth. _Cayphas._ No lenger than make we teryeng, But eche man to his place hym dyth, And ordeyn prively for this thyng, That it be don this same nyth.