Cayphas and asked them what was prosylyte. And

〈…〉

Cayphas and asked them what was prosylyte . And they sayd that proselyty was paynyms chyldren / and so be his dyscyples / & for that they say that he is borne in fornycacyon . Than answered these .xii. men whose names were suche . Lazarus . Astorius . Antonius . Iacob . Serius . Gamaliel . Isaak . Fyues . Azarius . Agrippa . Amenus / and Iudas . We saye that we ne are proselyty / but we be Iewes chyldren / and we say trouth that we were there as Ioseph wedded Mary . Than called Pylate these .xii. men that sayd thus / & he coniured them by the hyght of holy Cezar yf that he were not borne in fornycacyon that ye bere wytnes & surete & swere before all this people . And these .xii. men answered to Pylate and sayd we haue be our lawe that we ne ought to swere for it is synne / but we wyl swere by holy Cezar / yf it be not as we say we wyl be culpable of the deth . we se wel the Iesu is not borne in fornycacyon to be byleued by theyr worde . And we saye all sayd that other that he is borne in fornycacyon / and that he is an euyil werker . And thus he sayth that he is goddes sone and therto a kynge / & yet thou wylt not byleue vs that haue the lawe to kepe . Than commaunded Pylate that all sholde go out of the parlore saue these xii . men that sayd that our lord was not borne in fornycacyon / & also he commaunded that our lorde Iesu sholde be ledde out vnto that one syde of the parlore . Than said Pylate to these .xii. men . For what cause is it the they wyll brynge Iesu to deth . And they answered & sayd that the maysters of the lawe had hym in hate bycause that he heled maladyes and sykenesses vpon the Sabot daye . Than sayd Pylate . A I se well for his good werkes they wyll slee hym . Than wente Pylate out of the parlore full of heuynes and sayd to all the Iewes I haue wytnesse that I can fynde in this man no poynt of deth . The Iewes answered / yf he had neuer been an euyll doer we ne had not delyuered hym to the. Than sayd Pylate to the Iewes . what sayd god that there sholde be no man slayne but of me . Than eatred Pylate in to the parlore agayne / and called our lorde Iesu to hym & sayd . Thou arte kynge of Iewes . Our lorde Iesu answered agayne / thou sayest the of thy selfe or elles other haue sayd that to the of me . Than said Pylate vnto our lorde Iesu cryst . Thou w●●est wel that I am no Iewe but of thyne owne nacyon / the bysshoppes and prynces haue delyuered the to me / but I wote neuer what euyll thou hast done them / yf thou be kynge of Iewes answere to me . Oure lorde answered to him my kyngdome is not in this worlde / for yf my kyngedome were in this worlde my mynysters wold not be ayenst me / nor I sholde not haue be delyuered to the but my kyngedome is not now here . Than answered Pylate / than I se wel thou arte a kyng . Than answered our lord Iesu / thou sayest the I am a kynge / and to that I was borne / and for to declare to the world that who so be of trouth wyll here my worde . Than sayde Pylate what is trouth by thy worde there is but lytell trouth in the worlde . Our lord sayd to Pylate / vnderstande trouth how the it is Iuged in erth of that that dwell therin . And thus sayd Pylate to the Iewes I haue wytnesse bothe in heuen and in erthe / sonne and m●ne that I can fynde no cause of dethe in this man . Than answered the Iewes / is not this a●grete cause that he sayth of our temple / that he myght dystroye it and reyse it agayne in thre dayes . Than sayd Pylate what temple is that the whiche ye speke of . And the Iewes answered that it was the temple of Salamon the whiche was in edyfyenge . xivii . yere / & this Ihesus sayd that he wolde dystroy it / and reyse it agayn in thre dayes . I am sayd Pylate without gylte of spyllynge of this mannes blode / and that shall ye well se what wyll ye do with hym . The iewes that were ful of enuy cryed all with one voyce / the shedynge of his blode vpon vs and vpon our chyldren .

¶ How Pylate toke of the moost auncyent men of the lawe / as bysshoppes & other maysters to counseyle .

Cayphas . Pylate . Annas .

THan Pylate toke of the moost auncyent men as bysshoppes and maysters of the lawe and sayd . Syrs do not ayenst this symple man for I doo you to wete that he is not worthy to be deed / is not he more worthy that hath heled maladyes than he had broke the sabbot daye . Than sayd the Iewes a good Iuge take hede yf ony man hath done a forfayte ayenst Cezar / were he not worthy to be deed . And than Pylate sayd vnto them yes . Than sayd the Iewes moche more is he worthy that forfayteth ayenst god / for he sayd hym selfe that he is goddes sone / for whan we coniured hym that he sholde tell vs yf he were goddes sone or not / he deny . 〈◊〉 it not / & yet he sayd that we sholde se the sone of man●●●tynge vpon the ryght hande of the godhede / comynge out of the skyes of heuen . And whan Pylate herde thus he ledde oure lorde Iesu vpon that other parte of the parlore & sayd to hym . Man I ne wote what I maye do with ye. Than sayd our lorde Iesu to Pylate . Moyses and the prophetes here before preched of my passyon & of my resurteccyon . Whan Pylate herde this he ꝓ nounced all the wordes of our lorde to the Iewes . And anone the Iewes sayd to Pylate . What woldest tho●● here more of his fals felaūder . Than sayd Pylate take hym in to your synagoge / and deme there on hym your lawe . The Iewes answere / our lawe commaundeth that yf ony man syn or trespasse ayenst ony man he shall withdrawe hym .xiii. dayes out of the temple . And he the synneth or trespasseth ayenst god by slaunder / oure Iawe biddeth that he shal be stoned to deth . And for as moche as Iesus sayth that he shall syt in heuen vpon the ryght syde of the deuyne mageste / and that he shall come frome heuen in to the skyes / for this sclannder we wyll that he be crucyfyed . Than sayd Pylate the is not good that ye cast you for to do . And than Pylate loked aboute hym & sawe many men & women that wepte sore / and helde theyr countenaunce vpon hym . Than vnder Cezare the Emperour . Whan the Iewes herde this than they sayd to Nychodemus . ye take thou the trouth of Iesu / and the thou may haue thy dwellynge place with hym . Than lyfte vp Nychodemus his handes to heuen & sayd . God graunt that I may haue parte of the trouth of Iesu / & a dwellyng place myght I haue of hym . God graunte that it may be so as ye haue sayd

¶ How certayne Iewes shewed to Pylate the myracles that Chryste had done . ❀

ANd anone there starte forth a Iewe afore Pylate / and thus he sayd . My lord Pylate I say beddred .xxxviii. yere / & euery day for the most parte in peryll of deth / & so it befell that my lord Iesu came by me and had pyte on me / and than he had me take my bedde and go home in to my hous / and anone with his wordes I was made hole . And anone after came an other Iewe afore Pylate and thus he sayd . My lorde Pylate I was poore blynde / as my lorde Iesu passed afore me I sayd to hym Iesu the sone of Dauyd haue mercy on me . And he had mercy on me / and he put his hande to myne eyen & than I sawe . And than another Iewe that stode afore Pylate sayd . Syr I was a me fell & my lord Iesu cryst made me hole with his worde . After that came an aged woman afore Pylate and sayd my lorde Pylate I was dyseased with the reed flyx thre pere and more / and Idyd not but touche the hemme of the vesture of my lorde Iesu / and anone I was made hole of my malady / & therfore / my lorde pylate haue mercy on hym / and do hym not to deth . And whan Pylate herde this he fered . And anone a grete company of Iewes that our lorde Iesu had heled cryed all with one voyce . A grete sauyour of the people is our lorde Iesu . whan Pylate herde this he sayd vnto Cay phas & Annas / and other maysters of the lawe . I meruayle why that your forne faders prynces & bysshoppes of the lawe heled not men of theyr infyrmytes / as this man doth . And they answered no worde therto . And these men that our lorde had heled cryed with one voyce Our blessyd lorde Iesu hath wrought many dyuyne myracles / as he that reysed Lazar fro dethe to lyfe whiche had layen deed foure dayes in the erth / and our lord Iesu by the vertue of his wordes reysed hym out of his moment & brought hym a lyue amonge vs & his systers / & made hym to syt with hym at his table . Whan Pylate herde this he was all abasshed for fere & cryed with an hygh voyce to the Iewes & sayd . Men what is this that ye wyldo . Ise that without gylte ye wyl shedde the blode of hym that hath nothynge wrought amysse . Than rose Pylate vp & toke Nychodemus to hym & these .xii. men whiche that sayd that our lorde was not borne in fornycacyon / & thus he sayd to them Syrs I haue grete affeccyon in you / tel me what I shall do with hym . And they sayd syr we can not saye but we wyll neuer asseut to the wyll of the maysters of the lawe nor to theyr werkes / and therfore let thense wel to theyr soules that they may be saued at the day of Iugement . Than turned Pylate to the maysters of the lawe & to the other Iewes and sayd thus to them Syrs ye knowe well that it is the custome amonge vs to delyuer a prysonere to the people for the loue of our sabot the hye daye of sacryfyce / & syrs ye know well that I haue in my pryson a noble pryloner a man sleer whiche is worthy to be deed / whose name is Barabas / wyll ye that I delyuer you hym or elles Iesu whiche is with out gylte & not worthy to dye . The prynces and the byf shoppes and the olde men they sayd with one voyce we wyll that thou delyuer to vs Barabas . Than sayd Pylate what wyll ye than say that I do with Iesu whiche is called cryft . Than sayd the Iewes with an hye / let hym be crucyfyed / & some sayd yf thou let hym go thus / thou ne arte Cezars frende syth that he laid this foule sclaunder that he is goddes sone / and therto a kynge / for who so euer sayd that he is a kynge / he speketh ayenst Cezare . And whan that Pylate herd this he was wonders heuy / and thus he sayd to the Iewes all dayes from the begynnynge ye haue be contraryous to them that haue done well to you / & to hym ye haue done moche harme & moche turmentynge . Than sayd the Iewes what is he that hath done so moche good to vs Than sayd Pylate our god whiche hath holpen you & delyuered you out of the handes of Egypte which drowned your enemyes in the depnesse of the reed see & ●edde you thrughe the water of the see also drye as vpon the grounde . And also in deserte he reyned vnto you manna and made water come out of the harde stone in desert whiche that ye dranke of & all your beestes . And also he gaue to you the .x. commaundementes of the lawe . And in all these commaundementes that he hath charged you with ye haue ben contraryous to your god . As whan ye made a calfe to be your god / whiche wold haue dysheryted you & dystroyed you ne had Moyses be your mayster / that prayed to your god for you for the peryl that ye were in / & now ye saye to me that I hate my kyng & am not his frende yf I delyuer not this man Iesus that hath cured moche of your people of many if yrmy tyes whiche is your kynge that neuer dyde euyll but euer moche goodnesse and profyte . Whan the Iewes herd this they were full of anger & maltalent / & thus they cryed all togyder & sayd . Our kyng is Cezar emperour of Rome . For we know wel that Iesus is no kyng though that kyngis sought hym in Bedlem & sayd the they sought the kynge of Iewes / & offred to him gyftes / but yet is he thertore no kyng / we knowe well the whan He rode herde say that they sought the kyng of Iewes / he wold haue slayne him therfore . And so he dyd slee thousandes or chyldren therfore in Bedlem & all the countre a bout / as we haue sayd to you here before . whan Pylate herde this he commaunded them to be styl / & than he sayd to them . A is it not he than that Herode sought for to slee . And the Iewes answered & sayd that it was he . And anone Pylate dyd commaunded water to be brought to hym / & afore them all he wasshed his handes sayng thus . I am not gylty of the spyllynge of this ryghtful mannes blode & the may you well se / but the blode of him be vpon you & vpon your chyldren . Than commaunded Pylate the a grete company of knyghtes sholde be brought afore hym to his parlore . And than Pysate cast the sentence vpon our lord Iesu cryst and thus he sayd to hym .

¶ How Pylate commaunded the Iewes the no bylaynes shold put Iesu cryste to his passyon but knyghtes .

THyne owne people hath dyspreued all that euer I haue spoken for the / and therfore I commaunde at the begynnynge the no man lay handes on him but yf he be a knyghte / or elles of gentyll blode / for it is not syttynge that a kynge sholde be slayne of vylaynes / & therfore I commaunde that at the fyrst begynnynge that he be scourged to the pleasynge of the fyrst prynces / and than lyfte hym vp vpon the crosse / and with hym two theues the whiche that hath beneuyll doers / that one by name ●ysmas and that other Gesmas / and lette them be slayne with vyllaynes / and no gentylles to touche them . And than our lorde Iesu was ledde out of the parlore / and the two theues with hym / and than they lebde them in to another parlore / wherin was a pyller of whyte marble / and there they dyspoyled our lord Iesu out of his clothes / and bounde hym naked vnto the pyller / and there they bete hym and scourged hym with yerds & whyppes / soo hugely that there was no skynne hole vpon hym / and that was a pyteful syght for to se that blessyd body standynge all naked before all the people scornynge & sayenge thus to our lord god in his scourgyng / do gladly our kynge for this is our fyrst begynnynge . And than the maysters of the lawe sayd to the knyghtes / do on our kyng a softe garment and let vs crowne hym for our kynge . And than the knyghtes dyde vpon hym a clothe of sylke whiche for haboundaunce of blode was so clonge to hym / that at the pullynge of it was an hondred folde more payne to him than was his scourgynge . And whan they had pulled of this garment they dyde on hym a reed man tell of sylke / and after that they set a garlande of thornes vpon his heed / & they pressed soo sore the garlande of thornes vpon his heed that the thornes perced downe in to his brayne & soo at the laste they ledde hym to the crosse / and there they crucyfyed him bytwene two theues . Dysmas an the ryght syde / and Gelmas on the lefte syde . And so they put to his mouth a sponge full of azell and gall a that they put to his mouth for to drynke of . And thus that blessyd lorde Iesu suffred all that euer they wold doo to hym . And than our lorde Iesu loked vp to the fader and sayd thus . My fader forgyue them this trespace / for they ne wote what they do / & than the knyghtes kest lottes vpon his vesture for to wete who shold haue it / and than the prynces of the lawe with bysthoppes and many other / they cryed vnto oure lorde Iesu and thus they sayd . Thou hast heled many other / and thou ne mayst hele thy selfe / yf thou be goddes sone come downe of the crosse and we shal byleue on the. And than sayd the knyghtes in scorne yf thou be kyng of Iewes delyuer now thy selfe . And than was commaunded that a knyghte sholde be broughte forthe whose name was Longeus / and hym they made to put a spere to Iesus syde . This knyght Longeus was blynde / and so the prynces of the lawe made hym for to perce our lordes syde & so there came out of his syde bothe blode & water / & so the blode came rennyng downe by the spere shafte vnto Longeus hande / and he by auenture wyped his eyen with his hande / and anone he dyde se . ❀

ANd than Pylate dyde wryte a bylle vpon the whiche was wryten . Iesus nazarenus rextudeorum . That is for to saye . Iesus of Nazareth kynge of Iesus . And this was wryten in hebre we / greke / and latyn . And this tytle they put aboue his heed vpon the crosse . Than Gesmas the thefe whiche henge on the lefte syde of our lorde sayde thus to our lorde Iesu / yf thou be god delyuer bothe the and vs . Than Dysmas that henge on the tyghte syde of our lorde Iesu blamed hym for his wordes & thus he sayd to hym . It semeth by thy wordes that thou dredest not god nor byleuest not in hym / and therfore thou arte endlesly dampned / for wel thou wotest that we haue deserued that we suffre deth / but he hath ryght nought forfayted nor mysdone / and without deler uynge he is brought here to . And whan Dysmas had sayd these wordes he loked vpon Iesu cryst and thus he sayd to hym . Lorde Iesu haue mercy vpon me whan thou comest in to thy kyngdome . And than answered Iesus vnto hym and sayd . This daye shalte thou be with me in Paradyce / & that tyme was aboute myddaye / and fro this tyme vnto none of the daye the sonne was hydde and lost his bryghtnes / and the vayle of the temple was smyten downe to the grounde in two partyes and some men saye that an aungell dyde it with a trace of fyre . And this aungel sayd many one heryng I am wytnesse of the passyon of Iesu Cryst . After that our lorde Iesu cryste cryed with an hyghe voyce and sayde . Fader in to thy handes I be take my spyryte / & than he yelded vp his soule vnto his fader . And whan Centurio that was prynce ouer the Iewes / and Constable in lyke wyse saw these tokens that were be fall he gloryfyed god & sayd / forsoth this man was ryght full / and that is wel seen by the tokens that are be fallen And soo all the people that were there as good folkes whan the sawe these werkes of the vertue of our lozde they smote the yrbrestes with theyr handes . ❀

¶ Howe Centurio tolde Pylate of the wonders that was at Chrystes passyon / and the same Pylate tolde the Iewes therof / and of the precyous cloth that our lorde was buryed in . ❀

Cayphas . Pylate . Centurio .

ANd Centurio tolde to Pylate all that was be fall . And whan Pylate herde this he was wonders heuy and lory / and so for forynesse and heuynesse he ne ete nor dranke that daye Than called Pylate the Iewes / and thus he sayde to them . Meruayle ye not of the tokens that here be fallen at the passyon of Iesu / and that the sonne loste his lyght and also the day . And the Iewes sayd to Pylate . Syrit was the clypse of the sonne as we haue vnderstanden of wyse men afore vs . Than sayd Pylate how may it be that the vayle of the temple is smyten a sonder and many graues vndone / & deed men ryse vp frome deth to lyfe / hath the clypse of the sone done all this . All these tokens men tell me are befallen in the cyte of Ierusalem / & yf ye byleue not me aske Centurio / & they that were with hym whiche kepte Iesu . Than were these men brought forthe afore the Iewes whiche that bare wytnesse / & thus they sayd . Forsothe we saye the in the dyenge of Iesu the erth groned & shoke as a water doth whan it is meued / & we same that many bodyes arose frodeth to lyfe / & by these tokens we byleue that this Iesus is goddes sone . Than the apostles and holy women that had folowed our forde Iesu fro Galylee / sawe that was befallen & that men had done to hym drewe them by them selfe . Than Ioseph of Barmathy kest him for to by a precyous clothe for to wynde our lorde Iesu in whan he myght gete graunte of Pylate for to haue the body . And on thꝭ wyse came Ioseph by this precyous cloth as ye shall here . ¶ There was a knyght of Capharnane whose name was Leuy / this knyght wedded a yonge lady / and by processe of tyme they had togyder a doughter / whom they called Syn donia and her they put to lernynge / & so by processe of tyme she wexed a curyous werker / as of clothes of golde and clothes of sylke / and of all other womens werkes . And so at the last whan god wold this Leuy dyed and than his wyfe for the grete loue that she loued hym she fell in to a grete malady as in a palsey / so ferforth that she myght neyther stere hande nor fote / and so for this grete sekenes she fell in gret pouerte so ferforth that she ne had to lyue vpon / but by the werke of her doughters handes . And so it befel that vpon the same daye that our lorde Iesu was deed this lady sayde to her doughter . My dou ghter Syndonia thou knowest well that our grete sabbot day is nere / than must we ete our paske lambe / & on this daye is the grete market at Barmathye / therfore good doughter go and araye the / & take some of thy werke that thou hast wrought and bye vs there suche thynges as is nedeful to the & me at this holy tyme . Her doughter Sindonia answered to her moder and sayd / moder your wyll shal be do ne / and moder I doo you to vnderstande that I haue wrought the curyousest cloth that euer was made / for it fell so grac yously to werke that it is more curyous than I can skyl of / and than the lady sayd to her doughter lette me se that clothe / and Syndonia she wed this cloth to her moder . And whan this lady saw this cloth she sayd thus . Blessyd be that lorde that hath made the to werke suche a cloth / and doughter vpon my blessynge sell it to no man but yf he tell the what he shall do withall . And than this mayde Syndonia wasshed & bawmed her / and arayed her to the market / and in the market stode Ioseph of Barmathye with moche people spekynge of our lordes deth / and by auenture this mayde Syndonia came before hym / & Ioseph of Bar mathye espyed the clothe that hanged on her arme / and asked her yf she wold sel that cloth . And she answered and sayde ye syr. And than Ioseph asked her the pryce & she sayde .xxx. besauntes . And anone Ioseph payed to her .xxx. besauntes . And Syndonia fell downe to his fete prayeng hym that he wolde tell her what he sholde do withall . And than he answered her & sayd . Doughter this daye is deed an holy prophete that men called Iesus of Nazareth / and that holy ꝓphete Ipurpose for to bury & wynde in this cloth / doughter now haue I tolde the what Iwyll do withall / and therfore tel me who made this cloth that I haue bought of the. And this mayde sayd that her selfe made it . And Ioseph asked her what was her name / and she sayd Syndonia Than sayd Ioseph now after you I shall name this cloth for this cloth shall be named Syndonia / & than this mayde wente home to her moder & tolde her how she had spedde / and her moder asked her what shold be done with the cloth . And Syndonia tolde her that the holy prophete that was that tyme deed sholde be buryed therin . And who shall bury hym therin sayd this lady And Syndonia sayd that Ioseph of Barmathye sholde burye hym therin . And whan this lady herde this she sayd thus . Wolde my lorde god & that prophete that I had gyuen that cloth to his buryeng . And anone with that word she was more holer than euer she was afore And anone the lady and her doughter fell downe to the grounde vpon theyr knees thankynge our lorde god of this glorious myracle . And so afterwarde our lord gaue them suche grace that the moder was wedded to a worthy duke / & her doughter was Empresse of Rome And so they lyued euer after in our lordes seruyce / & whan Ioseph of barmathye had bought / this precyous cloth whiche was lorde & Constable ouer all Pylates me / he was a full good man & a ryghtful / he was not assented to the accusacyons and wordes of the Iewes he abode the kyngdome of god / & so he came to Pylate & asked hym the body of Iesu . And Pylate graunted him it . Than this Ioseph & Nychodemus toke downe the body of Iesu of the crosse / and hym he wounde in this Sindonia that he had bought / & he buryed him in his monument / where as neuer man was buryed in & so the Iewes wolde haue slayne Ioseph & the .xii. men the had spoken for our lorde Iesu afore Pylate . And also they wolde haue slayne Nychodemus / & also those that our lorde had made hole of many grete infyrmytes and alson they had dyscouered afore Pylate all his good werkes that he had done in euery place . ❀

¶ How the Iewes conspyred euyll agaynst Nychode mus and Ioseph / and of many other meruayles .

THAN Nicho demus . we wed hi selfe to the Iewes / hicause the he was theyr prynce & theyr guyde / & sone after there gadered a grete multytude of Iewes in toy e temple afore Ny chodemus / and thus he said to them . How may this be that ye are entred in to this holy temple whiche haue your hanoes blody of the dethe of Iesu that ryghtfull man whom ye haue vntruly crucyfyed . Than answe red to Nychodemus / Annas & Cayphas / Symeon & Datan / Gamaliei / Iudas / Leuy / Neptalim / & all the other Iewes / how arte thou so hardy to come amonge vs that arte consentynge to Iesu / and therfore suche parte as he hath must thou haue with the in this worlde . Than answered Nychodemus and sayd . A men the peas of Iesu be with me in this worlde / and in that other endlesly . And the Iewes answered & sayd . A men And as Nichodemus had answered thus / came Ioseph of Barmathye amonge them & sayd thus to the Iewes why be ye beuy to me with maletalente for Iasked the body of Iesu of Pylate / and Ido you to were that I haue buryed him in my newe monument / & wounde hym in a precyous clothe the is called Syndonia . And I say to you that ye haue wrought euyll & synfully the ye haue vntruly crucyfyed Iesu without deseruynge / & also malycyously ye ꝑsed his syde with a spere / & whan the Iewes herd this they toke Ioseph & commaunded him to be kept well & thus they sayd to Ioseph . we knowe well the thou arte not worthy to haue a buryenge place amonge vs for we shal gyue thy flesshe & careyne to wylde bestes & wylde foules / and to be deuoured with houndes . Than Ioseph sayd to them these wordes / ye be lyke to proude Golyas as the prophete sayth / to me longeth vengeaunce & I shal yelde it sayth god . And yet whan that Pylate wasshed his handes & sayd I am vngylty of this mannes blode shedyng / he answered & sayd / the blode of hym be on vs & on our chyldren / wete it well that fro the tyme forwarde shall the wrath of god come vpon you & vpon your chyldren as your selfe sayd / & whan the Iewes herde this they were ryght angry / & put Ioseph in a derke pryson & shyt the dore strongly & put therto kepers . Than Annas & Cayphas and other bysshoppes of the lawe / kest for to assemble them after the sabbot daye for to slee Ioseph / & whan they were assembled they sent to the pryson and vndyde the dore / but they founde not Ioseph therin / wherfore they were sore abasshed .

¶ Howe one of the knyghtes that kepte the sepulcre of our lord came and tolde the maysters of the lawe how our lorde was gone in to Galisee .

ANd as they were in this are ruaylyng they and ne entred in to theyr synagoge / & amonge them there came one of the knyghres that kepte the sepulcre & to them he tolde ryght sykerly that our lord Iesu was not in the monument . And anone the maysters of the law asked hym where the they had done hym . And the knyght thus answered them and sayd . As we kepte the graue the erth shoke / and than we sawe veryly that an aungell descended downe frome heuen and lyfted vp the stone from the monumente / and set hym there vpon / and his face was very bryghte / and his vesture was whyte as snowe / and for the grete drede that we had we laye as we were deed . Than we herde the aūgelt say vnto the women that were comen to the sepulcre dysmaye you not nor drede you not / for I knowe well that ye seke Iesu that was crucyfyed / but Ido you to were that he is rysen and is not here / for ye shall se hym in Galylee / as he sayd to you before . And whan the prynces of the lawe herde this they sayd to the knyght . Is Iesus than on lyue / we may not vyleue this that ye say . Than the knyght answered them . Iesus hath done many myracies that ye haue well herde / & sene and ye byleue it not how shold ye than byleue vs but your owne demaunde is good / whan ye aske yf Iesu be on lyue / whome than sayd the Iewes to the knyght we shall yelde to 〈◊〉 Ioseph yf ye wyll yelde to vs Iesu for we do you to were that Ioseph is in Barmathy Than sayd the knyght / & we do you to were that Iesu is in Galilee rysen from deth to lyfe / & there they sholde se hym . And whan the Iewes herde this they had gret drede / & thus they sayd among themselfe / yf men here these wordes of these knyghtes they shal all byleue in Iesu . Than they assembled them togyder & gaue to the knyghtes treasure / and thus they sayd to them . Goye and say to the people as ye lay & slepte his dyscyples came pryuely by nyght & stole the body of Iesu / & yf Py late knowe here of we shal excuse you . Thus the knyghtes toke this treasure & proclamed as they commaunded them / & so theyr wordes were soone spred all aboute .

THan came there thre men whiche that hyght Fy nees / Abbas / and Leuy / these thre men came fro Galilee in to Ierusalem and thus they sayd to the prynces & to all them that were in the synagoge . Syrs we haue herde & sene Iesu whiche that ye crucified & fyt and speke to his dyscyples vpon the mount of olyuete and there he preched to them & sayd . Go & preche my name & my gospell thrugh out the worlde / baptysynge in the name of the fader / and the sone / and the holy ghost And what so euer he be that wyl be baptysed & byleue in me he shall be saued / & he that byleueth not shall be dampned . And whan the prynces herde this they sayde to these thre men . Men gyue praysynge & worshyp to our lorde Iesu and be a knowe yf this be true that ye haue harde and lene / & these men sayd all togyder with one voyce / by that lorde that is god of Abraham / of ysa ac / and Iacob / we sawe Iesusy ttynge and prechyng to his dyscyples / & yf we couer this that we haue herde and sene we sholde do grete synne . And anone the prynces rose vp and helde the lawe in theyr handes / & thus they said to them . we conture you by the lawes of our lorde that ye kepe this counseyle the ye haue sayd to vs of Iesu / and so they gaue to these thre men grete treasure / and so they sente thre knyghtes with them for to brynge them in to theyr owne countree / and that they sholde nolenger abyde in Ierusalem . ❀

SO came there agrete assemble of comyns to the prynces / and thus they sayd with a grete complaynt / what tokens are these that are befallen in Israhell . Than Annas and Cayphas conforted them & sayd we ought not for to byleue the knyghtes that kepte the sepulcre wherin that Iesu was put / they sayd to vs that they had sene an aungell lyfte vp the stone from the monument / and peraduenture his dyseyples sayd to the knyghtes / and we wote well the they gaue to the knyghtes grete treasure for to say thus / and so stale awaye his body / thus men ought to byleuevs rather than the dyscyples that gaue the knyghtes grete treasure for to bere false wytnesse . Than arose Nychodemus vp and thus he sayde to them / ye haue herde what these thre men haue sayd & sworne vpon the lawe that they sawe Iesu sytte and speke to his dyscyples vpon the mount of olyuete / and there he styed vp to heuen . And ye wote well that the scrypture telleth vs that Elye the holy prophete was rauysshed in to paradyce / and whan men asked his dyscyple Elyze we where that his fader Elye was / he answered rauysshed in to heuen . & than they supposed well the he was rauysshed by the holy gost & lefte hym somwhere on the mountes of Israell / & therfore they sayd let vs seke some men that may go and seke hym . So they wente and sought thre dayes & thre nyghtes / but they coude not fynde Elye / & therfore I counfeyle you for to sende some for to seke the mountes of Is●ahell / for parauenture the holy ghost had rauysshed Iesu / & parauenture he may be founde / let vs than do penaunce for the trespasse the we haue done . This counseyle of Nychodemus was plesynge to all the Iewes & so they sent men for to seke our lorde Iesu / but they myght not fynde hym in no place . And wan these men were repayred agayne they sayd to the te wes / we haue lought Iesu on euery hyll of Israel / & in euery dale & in euery place / but we can fynde him no where but we haue founde Ioseph in the cyte of Barmathy / & whan the prynces herd this they were wonders ioyful & mery / & they gloryfyed god the Ioseph was founde / & so the fewes & may sters of the lawe assembled them togyder / & kest amonge them how they myght speke to Ioseph / & so they made letters which sayd thus . Peas be with the & also with them the be with the / we knowe well the we haue spn̄ed in god & in the / & therfore fader Ioseph come to vs syth the we haue knowyng the we haue greuously synned & trespast flyenst the & hugely we meruayle of thy delyueraunce & takynge away fro vs . we knowe well the we conspyred euyl counseyle ayenst the but goddelyuered the fro vs / but peas be with the fader Ioseph worshyppes of all people .

¶ How the Iewes chose .viii men that were Iosephes trendes to desyre hym to come to them . ❀

THan they chose . viii . men which that were frendes to Ioseph & sayd whan ye come to Ioseph salue hym in peas / & do to him gretynges in our behalfe & delyuer to hym these letters . So these men went forth to the cyte of Barmathye / and whan they came afore Ioseph they salued hym & grete hym & delyuered to hym the letters And whan Ieteph had reed these letters he sayd thus , Blessyd be my lorde god that hath couered me with his wynges / and also blessyd myght he he that hath saued me from all myscheue . Than Ioseph ladde all these men in to his place / and the nexte day aftes he toke his hors and rode with them in to Ierusalem . And whan the Iewes with the maysters of the lawe herde tell of his comynge they wente worshypfully ayenst hym / and whan they mette with hym they sayd thus to hym . Peas be at thy comynge fader Ioseph / & Ioseph answered . The peas of our lorde be to all his true people . And than the maysters of the lawe with all the people they kysted Ioseph . And Nychodemus led Ioseph in to his hous . Than the nexte daye after Annas and Cayphas and Nychodemus ladde Ioseph in to the temple / & thus they sayd to hym . Fader Ioseph gyue vs knowlege and to god this temple of that we shall are of you / fader Ioseph ye knowe well that ye berryed the body of Iesu / and fader ye knowe well that we shette you inpryson & we coude not fynde you therin & therfore tell vs what befell there than Ioseph answered & sayd what ye dyde she its me in the eldse pryson vpon the sabbot daye as I was in my●● or y●●●● & prayers the place was spredde aboue me with huge lyght as me thought feont the foute partyes of the ayre / and so Ilyfte vp my heed and sawe mylorde Iesustande fast by me shynyng with grete clerenesse / & so for drede that I had Ife●dovone flatte to the gooūde . Than my blessyd lorde Issaher●● me by the h●●● h●●●de and ly●● me vp from the groside and wasshed my fate kyssyn●● me and thus he sayd to me . Broder Ioseph the are elens by the water of thy fayth / for thy synnes ben released & forgyuen / and there my frenbe haue ●od●e●e 〈◊〉 set holde me & knowe what I am and so Ioyde behold ● him & sayd any may ster Elye and he answated agayne & layd . I am not Elyt but I am Iosucryst the wh● the thou buryed worshypfully / & than sayd I to hym Lorde shewe me thy monument where Ibaryed the And than my forde Iesu hente me by the hande and ladde me to the monumente / and there he shewed me the precyous Syndonia that I wounde hym in . And than I knewe verrly that he was my lorde Iesu / & so I fell downe and worshypped hym / and sayd my lorde Iesu blessyd myght thou be that arte come hyder for to vysyte me / & thrughe thy grace hast delyuered me & so he helde me by the hande and ladde me to the cyte of Barmath ye . And than he ladde me in to my place and sayd to me . Ioseph broder peas be with the / and loke the thou go not out of thy place these .xi. dayes / for the Iewes shall do many grete dystresses to many of my frendes / & now shall I go to my dyscyples & speke to them of the saluac yon of the worlde . And whan he had sayd that worde he vanysshed awaye from me / and whan the prynces of the lawe & other Iewes herde this that Ioseph layd / they were hugely abasshed / & for the grete drede that they had they fell downe to the erthe / and so they cryed and sayd . what tokens are these that are befallen in Isra hell the knyghtes that kepte the sepulcre bere wytnesse that they lawe an aungell dyscende downe from heuen / & that Iesu was rysen frodeth to lyfe / and that he shal he sene in Galelee . And we knowe welthat Iesu was a man / and his fader and moder we knowe well / both Ioseph and Marye . What may we saye here ayenst . Than sayd a Iewe whose name was Leuius . I knowe well the begyunynge of Iesu / for I haue ben mothe with them / for vpon a tyme as I was in the temple in myn offrynges and orylons / that same tyme saynt Symeon toke hym in his armes / and thus he sayd to hym . My lorde godlette now thy seruaunt come to the in peas / for myn eyen haue sene thy helth that thou ordeyned or ony people was . Than sayd the Iewes . Let vs sende for these thre men that sayd that they sawe Iesu spekynge to his dyscyples vpon the mounte of of yuete . And so they sente for these thre men / and whan they were comen for them they sayd truly that god of heuen was on lyue / and that we sawe berely how that Iesustped in to henen afore all his dyseyples .

THan answered Annas & cayphas / out law sayth that by the wordes of two or thre is suffycyent wytnesse / what may we sayhereto / we know well the Enocke pleased god / and was rauy flhed in to heuen & the fepulchre of Moyses myght neuer be founden . Pylate delyuered to vs this Iesu whiche we bere with frourgꝭ & crowned hym with thornes / & after warde was crut yfyed / & smote hym in the syde with a spere & Ioseph buryed his body in the sepulcre / whiche the now bereth wytnes that he is on lyue . And these men say that they sawe him stye vp in to heuen / & than Ioseph tolde another gret meruayle that there rose vp many deed bodyes out of theyr graues I wote well that some men of them haue ben in Ierufalem / which that mysbyleuers haue not sene / & we know well that saynt Simeon receyued Iesuin his atmes in the temple whiche was a full holy man / this Simeon had two sones whose names were Garius & Leuicius & we were at theyrdeth & at theyr but yenge . Go now and serche theyr graues / but I wote well they be not there / but they be in that cyte of Barmathye in orylons & speke to noman / but kepe them styll as though they were deed / & therfore let vs go to them with worshyp / & brynge them to the temple / & whan we haue coniured them pars uenture they wyll tell vs somwhat of the resurtete you of Iesu / and how that he rose from deth to lyfe .

¶ How the Iewes wente to seke two deed men that were rysen from dethe to lyfe in Barmathye .

Cayphas . Annas . Earius .

ANd so al the iewes & maysters of the law went to the graues of these two bredren / & so they founde them not there . And anone they wente to the cyte of Barmathy which was .xl. myle fro Ierusalem / & so they founde thēlyuynge . Than they kyssed them & led them with them to Ierusalem with grete worshyp / & than they lad them in to theyr synagoge / & whan they had shet the dores surely they toke theyr lawis / & confured them by the lawe of Israell / & by god adonay yf that theylyued / & yf that Iesu was god of Israel that reysed them whan Garius & Leuicius herd this cōiuracyon / they loked vp togyder in to heuen . And than they made sygnes of the holy crosse on them / & than they sayd & spake / gyue vs ꝑ thement & ynke / that we may wryte thyngꝭ that we haue herde and sene / and so they gaue to them bothe ynke and perchement / and whan they were set they wrote bothe togyder and sayd thus .

¶ Our lorde Ielucryst is resurreccyon of the deth & lyfe that byleue vpon him / suffre vs to say the secretes of thy dyuyne mageste that thou dydest in hell by the deth of thy holy crosse / for we be coniured by the for to speke of the / thou hast commaunded to thy seruaunt by Myghell thyn archaungel that we shold tel the secretes of thy dyuyne mageste what thou dydest in hell after thy holy resurreccyon as we were with our forne faders in the grete preuy depnes of derknes there came a grete bryghtnesse as it had ben a beme of lyght fro the sonne / and that kest alyght royall vpon vs / & anone Adam the was our forne fader / and patryarkes & prophetes rose vp lyghtly & sayd . This is the lyght of hym that behyght vs for to sende to vs endeles lyght and anone ysaac with an hyghe voyce began for to saye .

¶ This is the lyght of our fader sone of god as I sayd here afore whan I was on lyue in the londe of zabulon and neptalem ouer the flomiordan . The people that sate iderkenes sawe grete bryghtnes of lyght & the lyght was sente to them that sate in the shadowe of deth that was there as it had ben a sterre shynynge aboue vpon vs . And as we were in this Ioy and gladnesse of this lyghte that shone vpon vs there came to vs our fader Symeon and thus he sayd to vs with grete Ioye .

¶ Gloryfye our lord god Iesu cryst our sauyour whiche I receyued a chylde in the temple / and toke hym in myne armes sayenge thus / let now thy seruaunt passe for myn eyen haue sene thy helth / whan all the grete company of layntes that were in hell herde this they were wonders Ioyful & mery . And after came another manto vs as it had been an heremyte / & our forne fader asked hym what he was / & he answered agayne and sayd I am a voyce of a prophete of an hye company for I haue gone afore the face of his comynge / & also to make redy the way of his comynge / and to gyue helth & connynge to his people in the remystyon of theyr synnes / & whan Isawe hym come tome I was fulfylled with the holy ghost / and thus I sayd / se the lawbe of god & be holde hym that doth awaye synne of the worlde / and hym I haue baptysed in the Flomiordan & vpon hym I sawe the holy ghost delcende in lykenes of a doue . And than I herde a voyce that came fro heuen sayenge thus / this is my sone in whom grete plesynge is vnto me . And now I am come before hym to you to she we to you the sone of god is come fro he yght for to delyuer vs that syt in derkenesse / and in the shado we of dethabydyng his mercy . Whan that Adam our forne fader was baptysed anone he sayd to Seth his sone . Tell to thy thyldren & to patryatkes & prophetes that the aungell layd to the whan I sente the to the gates of paradyce that thou sholdest praye our lorde god that he wolde sende to me by his aūgeil of the fruyte of lyte / & also of the oyle mercy for to anoynte withall my membrs suche tyme that I was fulfylled ful of malady & sekenesse . Than Seth starte vp & sayd with an hygh voyce . As I was at the gates of paradyce prayenge our lorde god of the oyle of mercy our lorde sente Myghell his archaungell sayage thus vnto me our lorde god hath sent me to the / trauayle not for to haue the oyle of mercy to anoynte with Adam thy fader / Ido do the to were thou mayst not haue it vnto the last day be complete of .v. M. and .v. C. yere . And than shall the sone of god Iesu cryste come in to the worlde for to reyfe the body of Adam thy fader / and the bodyes of the holy sayntes patriarkes and prophetes / & than shall he be baptysed in flomiordan / & whan he cometh out of the water than shall he anoynt with the oyle of mercy all those that shall byleue in hym / & than shall the sone of god go downe to hell and lede Adam thy fader in to paradyce to the tree of lyfe & mercy . whan the patryarkes & prophetes herde this the whiche Seth had sayde / they made than grete Ioye & gladnesse / and as they made this grete Ioye Sathan the prynce of hell and mayster of deth sayd to the maysters of turmentry Make the redy for to receyue Iesu Cryste the which that gloryfyeth hym self to be the sone of almyghty god and yet he is man that dredeth deth / for he dyd say my soule is heuy ayenst deth . And this Iesu hath wrought many heuynesses & euylles ayenst me for them that I made blynde croked & lame & mezel he hath made hole by his worde . And also the deed that I haue brought to the he hath reysed to lyfe . Than the prynce of turmentry answered to Sathan what is he that is somyghty by his worde / and thou sayest that he is man that dredeth deth / al that euer were myghty in erth thou hast brought them to my bondes / & yf he be so myghty in manhode as thou sayest . I saye to the he is so myghty in dyuynyte that we may neuer resyst agaynst hym / & yf the he sayd that he dradde deth I saye to the that he wyll dysceyue the and ouercome the at all tymes / & than answered Sathan to the maysters of the tourmentry and said Why dredest thou for to receyue myne aduersary and thyne I haue made the Iewes for to be ayenst hym / and I haue made redy the rodde that he shal be smyten with / and I haue made redy the tree that he shal be crucyfyed on / & thre nayles for to fasten hym therto / and I haue made a drynke with azel & gall that he shal drynke / and I tell the that he shall be deed anone / & I shall brynge hym redely to the. Than answered the prynce of the tourmentrye / this that thou sayest that he by his myght hath taken fro me them that were deed / what hopest thou he may be that dothe suche maystryes by his worde . I dred me perauenture that this was he that toke away Lazer from me and reysed hym that was thre dayes deed / whome that I helde boside in my pryson / and hym he yelded to lyfe by his worde . Than an swered Sathan and sayd . I do the to were that he is the same Iesu . And whan the prynce of turmentry herde this he sayd to Sathan I conture the by thy vertue & myne that thou brynge hym nothere to me / for whan I herde the commaundement of his worde I trembled and shoke for dred and all my fell sergeauntes with me so that we ne myght kepe Lazer / but he fle we fro vs so swyfte as it had ben an Egle out of the bondes that we had hym in / and the erth that he laye in deed vndyd and yelded hym quycke fro hym / wenest thou Sathan for to holde suche a lord that toke his seruaunt fro vs maugre vs all by the vertue of his worde / were thou wel this without doubte yf thou bryng hym hyder that is so myghty to saue all mankynde / he wyl put vs hens I say Sathan and all tho that be shytte in our pryson and strayned by their synne in our bondes by hym they shal be delyuered and brought vnto euerlastynge lyfe And as they spake thus togyder there came a voyce as it had been thonder of the holy ghost / and thus he sayd . ( At tollite portas pricipes vr̄as ) ye prynces of deth vnclose your gates / for the prynce of glory shal entre therin And whan the prynce of hell herde this voyce he sayd to sathan / go hens fro vs & thou be myght yo fyght / go fyght with hym that is kyng of glorye . And so helkest sathan fro him / & than he sayd to his fell sergeauntes shyt myghtely your gates with yren barres & fyght myghtyly / & withstande hym myghtly that the kyng of blysse come not herein / that our strength be not taken frome vs / and we be put vnto endelesse soro we . And whan the sayntes herde this they sayd with an hyghe voyce to the deuylles and to the prynces of turmentynge wretches vndo your gates and let the kyng of glorye come in . Than sayd Dauyd the prophete / prophecyed I not whan I was lyuynge in erth & sayd thus ( Quia hec est dies quam fecit dns exultemus et letemur in ea That is to say / this is the day that god made / therin we may be blythe and glad . And after hym sayd ysaye to all the sayntes . Sayd I not whan I was lyuyng that the deed sholde be lyfte vp & the bodyes that lye in graues sholde be reysed vp frode the to lyfe / & that they the be in erth shold be full of Ioye / & yet I saye now more ye cayt yues of deth and hel where is now your pryde where is now youre vyctorye . whan the sayntes herde ysaye say these wordes / they sayd all at ones to the prynce of hel . Vndo your gatis wretches for ye be but taken & bounde & may not helpe your selfe . Than came the voyce the seconde tyme sayenge thus ( Attollite portas vr̄as ) And whan that hel herd this voyce come two tymes he answered vnauysedly thus ( Quis ēiste rex glorie that is to say / what is the kynge of blysse . And than answered Dauid sayenge thus . I knowe well that voyce by his wordes of the holy ghost . For I ꝓphecyed it afore , and now I say to the hell ( Duns deus fortis etpotens dns potens in prelio / ipse est rex glorie ) this is for to say . Our lorde god stronge and myghty / & myghty in batayle / he is kyng of glorye ( Et ipse de celo in terram aspexit vt audiret gemetus cōpeditorun vt solueret filios interemptorum ) That is to saye / that blessyd lorde behelde fro heuen to erthe to here the waymentynge of them that are in bondes / and that he sholde vnbynde the chyldren that were brought to the deth to be slayne / & therfore thou vylsayne stynkynge hole vndo thy gates the the kynge of blysse may come in .

ANd as Dauyd had sayd this to hell / came vpon them the gloryous desyred kynge of glorye in fourme of man / & enlumyned all the derkenesse of hell with the gloryous bryghtnesse of his gloryous face / & all the gates & shyttyngꝭ with yren barres & boltes all to braste in his holy comynge / & all the tell fendes made hym space and waye . And whan the sayntes sawe Iesu our sauyour come with aungelles / they were abasshed of the grete Ioye so that theyne durste speke / but which grete and softe herte they sayd thus . Our lord god & our sauyour thou arte come to vs kyng of glorye to delyuer vs out of the bondes fro these false felons / & blessyd be thy name / for now shall we be made hole . Than came our lorde Iesu & brast all the bondes that we were bounde with / & commaunded that we sholde be delyuered of all anguysshes from that tyme forwarde . And whan the prynce of hell with all his fell sergeauntes sawe the grete bryghtnesse / they had than huge sorowe and drede . Than .x. prynces of hell rose vp of theyr setes with huge full roryng and cryenge / & sayd thus with grete waymentyng . O Iesu how we be ouercome by the / what man arte thou that reysest thy request ayenst god vnknowyng vs what arte thou that brekest all our power what arte thou that arte so grete & appered solytel in erth . what arte thou that was so meke & lowly in erth & now thou arte a pryncely fyghter in fourme of man & now kynge of glorye the was deed & now thou lyuest and now al creatures tremble and quake by the crosse and by the deth / & were buryed in a sepulcre & art dyscended downe to vs / all quyck creatures tremble & quake be thy deth / & all the foure elementes shewed theyr tokens / & now hast thou delyuered al them that were deed & dystroubled / & put to myschefe al our ful fel my hysters . what arte thou that hast delyuered them that were dystreyned here amonge vs for theyr synne / & haste called them agayne to theyr fyrst fraunchyse . what arte thou that gyuest lyght to them that are blynde by the bryghtnesse of thy godhede . And than all that were in hel cryed with one voyce and sayd . A what arte thou the arte so myghty a man & so clere in mageste shynynge with out blame & clene of erthly synne / what arte thou that entrest in to our regyon & countree without drede / and doubtest no poynt of turmentynge but hast fro vs all tho that were streyned in our bondes / parauenture thou arte that Iesu that our nrynce Sathan sayd to our prynces that thou sholdest take to the al the power of the worlde by thy deth of the croste . Than our lorde Iesu Cryste toke Sathan and bounde hym and del yuered hym in to hell to the prynce of turmentry . Than be helde Sathan saynge thus to hym . A ●chucnk●prynce of perdycyon Belsabub with thy thre hedes / lyer vpon the aungelles of god why hast thou do this false dede . A what a dyffpoylynge thou behyghtest vs whan thou let hym falle to suche a dede / what harme thou dyd to vs whan thou let the kynge of glorye be crucyfyed . A thou fals Sathan thoune wotest what thou hast done / for this Iesu hath enlumyned all the derkenesse of deth with the clerenesse of his dyuynyte / and hathe now broken all the gates of our depe pryfons / and vnbounde all that were therin / & they that were in our turmentryes they scorne vs & by theyr prayers we shal euer after be ouer come that neuer afore durst saye one worde ayenst vs / & now shal neuer none of mankynde come amonge vs but euer shal lede vs where they wyl / the neuer afore durst do ayenst vs / & now are they fulfylled ful of merualous Ioye by the praysynge of theyr lorde god . A thou prynce of all shrewdnes / and fader of all telonyes why hast thou done thus / how durst thou do suche a lorde be crucyfyed / for now be all tho that were in dyspayre fro the begynnyng vnto this tyme now in helth & in endlesse ly te . And we shall neuer here theyr grudgynge gronyng nor wepynge . A thou fell Sathan all the ryches that thou haddest conquered by thyn apple in paradice / thou hast now lost by the tree of the crosse / and all thy Ioye is perysshed whyle that thou hast crucyfyed hym the was ayenst the / & wete thou well that thou shalte suffre tormentry end lesly in myne horryble pryson . A thou fals cursed Sathan auctor of deth & fader of pryde thou sholdest fyrst haue enquyred his cause : & yf he had be worthy dethe and yf thou haddest founde noo cause of dethe in hym thou sholdest haue lefte hym on lyue / but thou founde no faute nor cause to crucyfye hym / and bycause thou were so hardy to crucyfye hym / thou arte the cause that he is entred in to our regyon / and wotest thou what thou hast done . I saye to the thou hast all forlorne & we wretches shall dwell in turmentrye that euer shal last as hel And as Sathan spake thus came the kynge of blysse and thus he sayd to hel . Thou prynce of hell Sathan thy power shall be endlesly too dwell here in stede of Adam and his chyldren & all my ryghtfull people . and than our blessyd lorde spredde forth his ryght hande & sayd come to me my holy & al that haue myn ymage & my lykenesse whiche were dampned to the deth by the fruyte of the apple & by the deuyll / & now may ye well se that the deuyll is dampned by the tre & by the crosse / & anone all the sayntes assembled them togyder vnder our lordes hande . Than our lorde toke Adam by the ryght hande & sayd thus to hym . My peas be with the and all my ryghtfull chyldren / & all my holy sayntes / & than our fornfad fell downe on his knees afore our blessyd lorde wepynge for Ioye / & thus he sayd ( Exaltabote dne qm suscepisti me non delectasti in imicos meos super me . Dne deus meus clamaut ad te et sanasti me deduristi ab iteris aiam mean sanasti me a descendentibus in lacum ) This is to saye . My lorde I shall enhaunce the for that thou hast taken me / for thou ne hast suffred myne enymyes to be aboue me . My lorde god I haue crted to the & thou hast made me hole / thou hast brought my soule out of hel & hast saued me from them the are fallen in the depnesse of the lake . And than al the sayntes fell downe to our lordes fete sayenge all with one voyce to our lorde god / thou arte come to vs byer of the worlde / blessyd be thy name as thou she west to vs by the holy lawes & by the holy prophetes / thou bought vs agayne by thy holy crosse and thou arte come downe to vs by thy holy vertue for to drawe vs fro deth / & fro the horryble paynes of hel / and than our blessyd lorde lyfte vp his hande & made the sygne of the holy crosse on Adam and on his holy sayntes . And so he toke Adam by the ryght hande & styed out of hel vp in to the ayre & all the sayntes folowed hym . Than kynge Dauyd sayd with an hygh voyce ( Cantate dn̄ocāticū noū quia mirabilia fecet ) That is to say . Synge to our lord god a newe song / for he hath wrought meruayles ( Ethec est gloria oibus sanctis eius ) this is to say / blessyd be god for thy grete Ioy to all his sayntes Than after Dauyd said Micheas ( Quis deus sicut tu domine auferens iniquitatem & transgrediens peccataet nunc continens in testimonio tram tuam . &c ) That is for to say . Whois suche a lord as our lorde Iesu cryst is puttynge away al euylles of synne / and after hym sayd Abacuk the prophete . Thou comest out with helth vnto thyn humble people for to delyuer all thy frendes from all sorowes dyseases and trybulacyons . And than after hym sayd all the holy sayntes with one voyce . Blessyd myght thou be that cometh in the name of our lorde Iesu cryst / for thou arte Ioye and also blysse vnto all thy true people ( Alleluya ) And than all the prophetes pronounced all theyr prophecyes that they had shewed in erth with grete pleasynge to our lorde god . And than all the sayntes sayd / this is oure lorde god that shall gouerne vs without ende . Alleluya .

¶ Howe our lorde ledde all his holy sayntes in to the Ioyes of paradyse / & of the thre men that they mette .

ANd than our lorde toke Adam our forne fader by the hande and ledde hym in to paradyse and al his holy sayntes with hym / and them he delyuered to Myghell his archaū gell / and he ledde them in to paradyse where as is end lesse Ioye . And whan they were entred in to paradyle there came ayenst them two men of grete age and the sayntes asked them what they were / and how it myght be that they were there so bodyly and had not ben with them in hell . Than one of them answered and sayd I am Enocke that by the worde of god am translated hyder / & he that is with me here is Elias tesbytes whiche was brought hyder in a brennynge chayre / & yet suffred we no deth / but we are kepte to the comyng of Antecryst to fyght with hym with wordes & tokens of our lorde god / and of hym we shall be slayne in the cyte of Ierusalem / & thre dayes and a halfe after we shall ryse fro deth to lyfe / & be taken vp in the skyes . And as Enocke tolde this to the sayntes / there came to them a man berynge vpon hym the sygne of the holy crosse . And whan all the sayntes sawe hym they sayd to hym what man may thou be that hast here the lykenes of a thefe / and why berest thou the sygne of the holy crosse . And than this man answered vnto them and sayd / forsoth ye say truly that I was a thefe / & many cursed dedes dyd I in erth . And therfore the Iewes crucyfyed me with our lorde Iesu / and whan I sawe the sterynges of the elementes in his passyon I byleued that he was sauyour of the worlde / and maker of all creatures / & kyng almyghty / than sayd I to hym / lord haue mercy on me / and haue me in mynde whan thou comest in to thy kyngdome . And anone that blessyd lorde toke my prayer / and sayd to me . This day shalte thou be with me in paradyce . And than he toke me the sygne of the holy crosse / and sayd to me / bere this sygne with the & go to paradyce . And yf the aungell that is keper of paradyce wyll not suffre the toentre in / she we hym the sygne of the crosse / and saye to hym the Iesucryst whiche that was now crucyfyed sente me to the / & whan I had sayd this to the aungell / anone he vndyde the gates and ledde me in to paradyse / and set me on the ryght syde sayenge thus to me / suffre and holde the here a lytell whyle / for Adam whiche is fader of all mankynd with all this chyldren and all the frendes of god shal come hyder by the vertue of crystes passyon . And whan the holy sayntes as patryarkes & prophetes had herde these wordes of this thefe than they sayd al with one voyce . Blessyd be our lorde god almyghty endlesse fader of mercy that suche grace hath gyuen to synners & brought vs to the Ioye of paradyse & in to the pasture of delyght and to endlesse Ioye . Amen .

THese are the holy secretes of the dsuynyte that we haue sene I Garius & my broder Leuicius but our lorde god wyll suffre vs no lenger to tell and she we vnto you the secretes of his dyuyn yte / for saynt Myghell the archaungell sayd to vs / ryse & go in to the cyte of Ierusalem / and be there in prayers & gloryfye the holy resurreccyon of our lorde Iesu cryst with your bretherne that rose with you / and that ye speke to no persone / but be you as domme vnto the tyme that our lorde shall suffre you for to shew the secretes of his dyuynyte / and so the holy aungell saynt Mychaell commaunded vs to goo to flomiordan to a place there that many are rysen with vs in wytnesse of the resurreccyon of our lorde Iesu cryst . Our lorde god hath graunted vs thre dayes to be in Iherusalem & holde there the holy palke of our lorde god with our frendes / & also that we shal be baptysed in the flomiordan eche of vs / at that tyme makynge whyte stooles . And thus saynt Myghell commasided vs that we sholde be in orysons in the cyte of Barmathye / and the we sholde she we to you these holy secretes / and therfore gyue praysynge to our lorde god / & be a know of your defaute / and do penaunce that he maye haue mercy vpon you . Now peas be with you of our lorde Iesu cryst that is lauyour of vs all Amen . ❀

¶ How Nychodemus and Ioseph tolde to Pylate all that these two men hadde sayd / & how Pylate treated with the prynces of the lawe .

ANd whan this serypture was wryten this Garins and Leuicius rose vp / & so Gartus delyuered the byll that he had wryten in to the handes of Annas & Cayphas & to Gamaliel . And Leuicius gaue that he had wryten in to the handes of Nychodemus and Ioseph of Barmathye / and anone they w̄ere transfygured and was no more sene / for bothe the bylles were all one hande / as though one man had wryten them both / and there was not one letter more in that one than in that other . And whan the Iewes & maysters of the laws had reed these bylles & vnderstode them they were hugely abasshed & ashamed And than they sayd amonge them that forsothe Iesu was very goddes lone / blessyd myghte he be endlesly for all thyng bereth wytnesse therof . And anone after they went out of the lynagoge . And than Nychodemus & Ioseph of Barmathy tolde all this vnto Pylate and than Pylate dyd wryte all that whiche was befallen of Iesu / and of that the Iewes had sayd of hym . And all these meruayles he dyd put in his bokes . After that Pylate entred in to the Iewes / and afore hym assembled all the maysters of the lawe / as prynces & byssoppes . And than Pylate dyde commaunde the gates and dores to be shette / and than he said to them . Syrs it is done me to were that ye haue amonge you a newe storye of grete scrypture the whiche scrypture I coueyte for to se / and therfore I charge you that it be brought in to my presence . And whan it was brought to his presence / than sayd he to them all . I coniure you all by the vertu of our lorde whiche that is fader and maker of all thynge that ye ne hyde no counseyle but for to say the trouth . Syrs ye knowe by the scryptures that is wryten here that Iesu whiche that yecrucyfyed is very goddes sone / & so it be houeth hym to come in to this worlde for the helth of mankynde . And therfore I charge you that ye tell me what tyme that cryst sholde come by your lcrypture . Whan the Annas and Cayphas were thus coniured / they charged & commaunded that all sholde go out of the temple saue Pylate and them two . And than they sayd to Pylate good Iuge thou hast so coniured vs that we must nedes shewe to the the trouth of this that thou hast enquyred of vs . Syr vnto the tyme that we hadde crucyfyed Iesu / we knowe not that he was goddes sone / but we wende that the vertues that he wrought had ben done by some charme . Than made we vs assemble in this temple / & here we dyd reherle all the vertues that he had wrought . And so there were many of our lynage that sayd that they had sene Iesu after his passyon : and that they had herde hym speke to his dyscyples / & they sayd that they lawe hym stye in to heuen / and we lawe also two men that Iesu reysed fro deth to lyfe which tolde vs many meruayles that Iesu dyde in his dyenge & after / & that may ye were by thre scryptures the we holde in our handes / but our custome is suche that we do worshyp to storyes the haue been here afore in our synagoges / and so we fynde by wytnesse of god in the fyrst boke as it sayth the Myghell the archaungell sayd to Seth that was the thyrde sone of Adam whan .v. M. and .v. C. yere were complete than sholde the sone of god Iesu cryste come fro heuen / & yet we abede his comyng & parauenture this god of Isra hell that sayd to Moyses that he sholde make a hutche of wydnes in the lenght of two cubytes and an halfe / & in the lenght of a cubyte and an halfe / & these .v. cubytes we vnderstande by the olde testament that whan . v M. and .v. C yere is comen / than shall Iesucryst the sone of god come in to the hutche / that is the wombe of the mayden Marye Thus our scrypture bereth wytnes of hym that shall be the sone of god / & a kynge of the people of Israell / but after the passyon of Iesu we & oure prynces meruayled of the tokens & wordes that were done by hym / & so we loked our storyes & counted all the lynage downe to Iosephs lynage / & the lynage of Mary that was moder of Iesu / & so we haue accounted that fro that tyme that god made the worlde and Adam the fyrst man vnto Noes flode is two . M. & . v C. yere And fro the flode to Abraham is thre . M. & . v. C. yere / and fro Moyses to Dauyd is .v. C. yere / & fro the trāsmygracyon of Babylone to the incarnacyon of Iesu cryst is foure . C. yere / and thus is the accounte in all .v. M yere . All these thynges & maruayles dyd pylate wryte for to be redde of all them the sholde come after . and than Pylate wrote a letter to the cyte of Rome / and to Claudio the Emperour . &c.

¶ Thus endeth Nychodemus gospell .