|b[The_Middle_English_Prose_Complaint_of_Our_Lady_and_Gospel_of_Nicodemus.
|b_ed._from_Cambridge,_Magdalene_College,_MS_Pepys_2498
|b_by_William_Marx_and_Jeanne_F._Drennan.
|b_Heidelberg:_Carl_Winter_Universittsverlag,_1987]
|b_{pp._73-136._Complaint:_pp._73-118;_Gospel:_pp._118-136.}



|p73


|rTHE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PROSE_COMPLAINT_OF_OUR_LADY_AND
|rGOSPEL_OF_NICODEMUS

|r[f.449]    Of oure lefdy Marie bigynne now here e pleynt
     at of e passion of hir son sche telde with hert feynt.

     Ovre swete lefdy seint Marie, Goddes moder of heuene, after
     e stiinge vp of hir swete son Ihesu Crist opon e fyftene
 |r5 day of August lyued here fiftene ere. In whiche tyme sche
     delited hir mychel to visite alle e stedes ere hir swete son
     hadde ben, Ihesus Crist, whiles at he ede wi his deciples
     tellande & prechande e kyngdom of heuen, and namelich in
     e cite of Nazareth for ere sche was mychel worschiped &
|r10 honoured. And summe deliteden mychel forto heren hir tellen
     e wordes & e werkes at hyre swete son dude vnto e folk
     ere he ede. Among whiche inges sche was asked to tellen
     e passioun of hire swete son Ihesu Crist & hir sorowes &
     e anguissh[es &] peyne[s] at hym duden |r[col.2] e Iewes &
|r15 e tourmentz at he had of e wiked Iewes. And oure swete



|p74


     lefdy answered & seide at sche ne mith it do ne hert it
     enche ne tunge speke. Ac als nei as sche mith she wolde
     tellen bleelich & seide, 'My swete son Ihesus Crist took his
     deciples in conseil & seide, "Loo we go to e cite of
 |r5 Ierusalem & mannes son schal be ouen to e princes & to
     e prestes of e lawe at schull dampne hym to e de, and hii
     shull deliuer hym to men at schull done hym many vilenies &
     tourmentz & done hym after opon e rode & opon e ridd day he
     schal arisen". And whan ich herde ise wordes swich a sorou
|r10 com to myne hert at I fel nei to e ere aswoue. And my
     swete son conforted me & seide to me pryuelich at it moste
     nedes be done so & at he moste dye for e folk at hii nere
     nouth al forlorne. And after ne durst ich make no sorou.

     'And my swete son lepe opon an asse & whan he com to e cite
|r15 of Ierusalem e children of e cite & al e commune poeple
     comen aeins hym wi swete song and honoureden hym & casten
     vnder his fete tapites, cloes, bowes & floures of palme tre
     forto worschipen hym & at was for e gret lose at sprong of



|p75


     hym for his gode dedes and namelich for e areringe of Lazar,
     e Maudeleins broer & Martha her suster, for he had layne
     foure dayes in e beriels & stank. For swich a chesoun
     e princes & e bisshopes & preestes & e maisters hateden hym
 |r5 to e de & hadden gret envie to hym and also for he chastised
     hem of her erroures in e temple aforne e Iewes. e prelates
     & e princes & e preestes & e maisters at hadden e lawes
     to kepen gadreden hem togedre & helden her conseil hou at hii
     mitten done Ihesu to e de & seiden amonges hem, "if we
|r10 leten hym us gon, for he doe so many wonders, e folk schal
     al leue in hym". And of is hii token her conseil in
     e temple whan e commune poeple ede aein my swete son.
     And an seide e bisschop Cayphas, "It is good to vs at a man
     dye for e folk at hii ne be nouth al forlorne". Ac at ne
|r15 seide he nouth of his owen witt ac he it seide orou
     prophecie of office forwhi at he was bisschop in at ere &
     wi e de of Ihesu schal e folk be bouth. And from at day
     forward outten e wicked Iewes my swete son forto slen.

     'On of his deciples Iudas Skaryoth com to hem & seide, "What



|p76


     wil e iue me & I schal iue ou Ihesu at I ne loue nouth?"
     & hii |r[f.450] weren glad hereof & profreden hym ritty pens of
     syluer, for hii ne durst nouth taken hym amonge e commune
     poeple for e symple folk loueden hym wel for he was euere redy
 |r5 forto helpen hem of al at hii badden hym done. & Iudas took
     e ritti pens & seide to hem, "I shal do ou to witen whan e
     schull taken hym priuelich". And afterward Iudas biouth hym
     hou he mith bitraye my swete son.

     'And whan my swete son had fasted fourty dayes he made a gret
|r10 fest to his deciples at is cleped e soper & ere he made
     e sacrement of his body in fourme of bred & his blode in
     fourme of wyn & vchone onelich resceyued his swete body. And
     whan Iudas wi e oer took e sacrement, e deuel entred wi
     e sacrement for e tresoun at he outh to his lord.' And
|r15 erfore good men & wymmen, whoso wil resceiue at derwore
     sacrement & ha will forto do dedlich synne oier is in dedlich
     synne, he resceyue his owen dampnacioun, at is e fende.
     'And my swete son seide pitouslich, "For on of ou I schal ben
     bitrayed at ete wi me at my boord". And vchone of hem hadde



|p77


     gret drede & seide, "Is it outh ich?" And my swete son
     seide, "He at ete wy me of my dische". & utt hii nysten
     nouth for soe for all hii eten of at mete at he ete of.
     And seint Iohan e Ewangelist lened hym to Ihesus breest and
 |r5 Peter loked opon hym for at he schulde asken hym who at it
     was. And seint Iohan asked hym who it was & Ihesus Crist
     seide hym, "He at I wete e bred in wyne & putte it in his
     moue, he it is". And he wett a morsel of bred & putt it in
     Iudas moue and e deuel entred wi it & took an so gret
|r10 power ouer hym for he resceiued e sacrement.' And at ilch
     resceyuynge made at he fel into wanhope as summe of ise
     clerkes seien. And erfore ich rede at vche man bewar boe
     lerde & lewed at hym resceyue, and sorer owen e lered to
     ben adradde an e lewed for he wot what he doe. And Ihesus
|r15 Crist whan he henge opon e rode, he bisout for hem at ne
     wist nouth what hii duden. And e lerde man wot what he
     doe for he see it toforn hym ywriten & erfore he is e more
     forto blame. Naeles ich rede at vche lewed man it doute &
     e more whan he it wott. 'And an Iudas seide onon, "Maister
|r20 am I i traytour?" And my swete son seide, "ou iself it
     haste yseide. Arise & goo fulfille i wille." And als swie
     he went hym to e wicked Iewes & compased hou he myth |r[col.2]
     take my swete son. And an seide my swete son to his deciples



|p78


     a doelful word, "Alle e schullen in wanhope be is nith of
     me". And Petere answered & seide, "ei alle ben in wanhope
     of e, maister, I ne schal nouth". And my swete son seide,
     "Byfore e cok crowe re tymes ou schalt me forsake". And
 |r5 Peter seide, "ei I schal dye wi e I ne schal nouth
     forsaken e". & so seiden alle his oer deciples. & an
     bigunnen myne sorowes. And my swete son loked to me reulich
     & seide, "My swete moder be nouth sory, for ich haue seide e
     bifore at it mote nedes be so & ou schalt be gretlich
|r10 conforted whan ich am arisen fram ded to lyue". And an he
     seide to his deciples, "Whan ich am vp arisen I schal schewe
     me to ou in Galilee".
     'And whan Iudas was departed fram hem as biforne is seide, he
     ede to e bisschopes & to e preestes & e princes of
|r15 e lawe & seide, "if e wil take Ihesu, do clepe togedre
     oure folk & look at hii ben armed & redy forto go whan
     e nith is derk & at hii han lith in lanterne wi hem. And
     whan hii ben redy forto go I schal lede hem where he schal be



|p79


     founden." e princes and e preestes & e maisters maden gret
     ioye & duden gadre folk priuelich togedre as Iudas hadde
     devised.

     'And after at my son had made his sopere & hadd wasschen his
 |r5 deciples fete forto iuen hem ensample of lowenesse, he took
     his deciples & ledde hem ouer a water vntil he com into a fair
     place in clos at men clepen a gardyn, where he & his deciples
     weren wone forto baen hem. And an he seide to his deciples,
     "Be e here & wake wi me". And he took wi hym Peter &
|r10 Zebedees two sones, Ion & Iames, & ladde hem vnto anoer stede
     And fori at he wist biforne euerych poynt of his passioun
     his flesche bigan to tremble for e gret anguisch at he feled
     and he seide, "My lyf is sorouful to e de; e soule is redy
     ac e body hym doute. Abide e here", he seide, "erwhiles
|r15 ich make my prayer." And he ede away fram hem a litel and
     sette hym doune on knees boweande doun to e ere. And whan
     he hadde so a litel while bisouth, he helde vp his hede &
     seide, "Fader, if it may be, suffre at is anguisch passe



|p80


     fro me; nouth att my will bot i wille be done". And for
     e drede at he hadd of e vilanye & of e pynes at hym
     schulde done e Iewes, e dropes of blode as swete ronnen
     adoune of his flesche so |r[f.451] at e ere ere he kneled
 |r5 was al rede of blode. And for e gret anguisch at he feled
     at his hert he fel [to e ere] nei aswoue til at an aungel
     com adoun from heuene & conforted hym. And after whan
     e aungel was departed fram hym he com to his deciples & fonde
     hem slepande for e gret drede at hii hadden & he seide,
|r10 "Peter, slepestow? Ne may ou not on houre wake wi me?" &
     afterward he seide to alle, "Wake & bidde at e ne falle in
     no temptacioun". And after he ede anoer tyme aein and
     bisouth his fader, "Swete fader, in ine hondes ben alle
     inges and al is in i weldynge. if is pyne ne may passe
|r15 fro me bot if ich it suffre, i wille be done." And anoer
     tyme he com to his deciples & fonde hem alle slepeande & seide
     "e tyme neie at mannes son schal be deliuered into synful
     hondes". & his deciples weren so adradd at hii ne couen



|p81


     noing ansuere. And e ridd tyme he ede forto bisechen &
     seide o ilche wordes at he hadde seide bifore & an com
     aein to his deciples and fonde hem alle slepeande & seide,
     "e han ysleped & rested ou ful wel. Arise & go wi me.
 |r5 He at hab bitrayed me is nei honde." And as he spak so com
     Iudas wi gret route armed wel wi all armes and wi lanternes
     & torches lith, & Iudas seide to hem, "He at y kisse is
     Ihesus. Take hym & lede hym queyntlich." And my swete son
     com to hem & seide, "Who is at e seche?" And hii answereden
|r10 & seiden, "Ihesu of Nazareth". And he answered, "Loo me here"
     & at at word hii fellen alle to e ere sodey[n]lich. And my
     swete son widroue hym a litel, and anoer compaignye com of
     e Iewes yarmed & dude e oer arisen. & my swete son asked
     hem eft, "Who is at e seche?" And hii answerden, "Ihesu
|r15 of Nazareth". & he seide, "Loo me here. if e seke me lete
     ise oer go in pes " And at ilch worde hii fellen adoune as
     hii duden aforne. And my swete son ede amonge his deciples.
     And an Iudas sei at his power was waxen more & at he hadde



|p82


     men ynowe. He dide hem arise & biforen alle oer he ede vnto
     my swete son & seide, "Maister, God loke e", & kissed hym.
     And my swete son seide, "Frende, whi artow comen? Mannes son
     ou haste bitraied wi i kissynge." And also swie e wicked
 |r5 Iewes setten hondes opon hym. And Peter drou a swerd |r[col.2]
     & smot of Malchus e bisschopes seruant his rith ere. And an
     seide my swete son to Peter, "Do in i swerd aein, for whoso
     wi swerd smytt, wi swerd schal dye". & an he seide to his
     deciples, "Doe me come hym at his ere was smyten of". And
|r10 he com & Ihesus took his ere & sette it on aein & it was als
     sone.
     'And an token e wicked Iewes & bounden my suete son and
     vilelich & wiouten pyte ledden my swete son vnto Annas at
     was bisschop in e ere bifore. & Peter folowed hym aferre, &
|r15 Iohan at was knowen of e bisschop ede in wi hym, &
     Petere stode wiouten e ate. And Ion spak so to hym at
     keped e dore at Petre entred at his wille. And whan Peter



|p83


     was entred, an seide a maiden vnto Peter, "Nartow nouth
     one mannes deciple onder?" And Peter seide, "No, I nam
     none of his". And Peter ede for & stode by e fyre wi
     e bisschopes seruauntz & warmed hym amonges hem. And
 |r5 e bisschop Annas asked my swete son of his deciples & of his
     techynge. And he ansuered & seide, "Al openlich ich haue
     yspoken to e werlde in oure temples & in oure synagoges
     ere e folk were assembled. In conseil ne haue I nouth
     seide. Wharto askestow me? Aske hem at han herde me. I
|r10 haue seide hem so. Hii witen what ich haue yseide." And as
     he seide ise wordes on of e bisschopes seruauntz stode ere
     & smot hym a gret strok vnder e ere & seide, "Hou spekestow
     to e bisschop?" & my swete son answered & seide, "Yif ich
     haue spoken yuel bere witnesse of yuel. if ich haue
|r15 seide wel bere witnesse of good. Whi smyte ou me?"

     'And after Annas sent my swete son to e bisschop Cayphas, and
     e seruauntz ledden hym to her motehalle & ere was a gret
     fyre lith. & Peter & Ion foloweden to at ilch halle & Peter



|p84


     ede bitwixe e seruauntz & warmed hym. & ere com anoer
     damoysel & seide, "Forsoe ou art on of his deciples & of
     Galile, for i worde bere witnesse". And Peter bigan forto
     swere at he ne knewe hym nouth. And after seide on of
 |r5 e seruauntz stondeande by e fyre, his cosyn of whiche Peter
     smot of his ere, "Ne sei I e nouth in e gardyn wi hym?"
     And Peter seide, "Nay", & bigan forto swere & forto excuse
     hym. And also swie e cok crew, and my swete son loked
     |r[f.452] vnto Peter, orou which lokyng he biouth hym of
|r10 e wordes at God Almitty hadde seide atte soper, "re sies
     ou schalt forsake me er e cokk crowe". And als swie Peter
     went out & wepe tenderlich.

     'And hii at helden my swete son bounden, wi a clo wrien
     his swete visage & smyten hym hard & often & seiden, "Arede
|r15 who smot e". And e wicked Iewes craccheden my swete son in
     e face at it was abhominable forto seen hym & many oer
     vilenyes hii duden hym & accuseden hym wrongfullich &
     tourmenteden hym al e nith. And whan it was lith of day



|p85


     hii gadreden togedre e princes & e preestes & e wise men of
     her lawe & after broutten my swete son toforne hem &
     acoupeden hym of fals acoupynges at were seide on hym &
     curseden hym & warieden hym. And o comen two fals witnesses
 |r5 & seiden, "He is seide at we herde, at he mith felle adoune
     e temple & e ridde day areren it". And is he seide of his
     owen body, at bitokne e [de] & e vprisyng of hym. And my
     swete son helde hym stille. e princes & e maisters arisen &
     seiden to hym, "ou ne ansueres nouth vnto e ing at hii
|r10 beren e on honde". And Caiphas seide, "I coniure e by
     e lyueande God at ou saye vs if ou art Crist, Goddes son
     alweldeande". & my swete son ansuered & seide, "ou it haste
     yseide forwhi at ich it am, & I saie ou forsoe e schull
     seen mannes son sittande on e rith half of God & comeande in
|r15 e cloudes of heuene". e [prince was] wroe & [rente] his
     cloes & [seide], "It nys no myster forto bere more witnesse



|p86


     aeins hym, hereande ee alle he it ha yseide". And he seide
     to e Iewes, "Hou enchen ou?" And hii ansuerden all att o
     word, "He is coupable and wori to suffre e de".
     'Whan my swete son hadd so ben tourmented al e nith, and
 |r5 ich after his departyng fro me in sorowe & anguisch rose me
     vp in e morewenyng & ede vnto e stede ere I was ywoned
     forto fynden hym & I ne fonde hym nout, o me took swich
     a sorowe att myne hert at I ne can no man it saie, & I
     outh an at he was taken wi e wicked Iewes. And as
|r10 a wrecche & sorouful ich ede vnto e stede ere at hii auen
     e domes. And as I com att a foureway lete I mette my swete
     son bounden wi e wicked Iewes at ledden hym vnto Pilate her
     domesman. And whan I sei at, I ne mit no lenger stonde bot
     fel to e ere mate & soroful. And my swete son loked to me
|r15 & seide, "Swete moder, arise & ne sorowe nouth. Ich haue
     seide e bifore what me bihoue suffre."



|p87


     |r[col.2] 'And hii ledden my swete son for, and ich as cheityf
     & sorouful folowed after. And whan hii comen tofore Pilat
     e wicked Iewes baren my swete son on honde & seiden, "We haue
     founden is man turneande e folk, & he defende e trewage
 |r5 at men schulden iuen to Cesar oure Emperoure, and on oer
     half he make men clepen hym kyng of Iewes & Goddes son & many
     oer inges he doe". & us hii baren fals witnesse aeins
     hym. And my swete son noing answered aeins hem. And onon
     Pilate seide, "ou art kyng of Iewes?" & my son [an]swerd &
|r10 seide, "ou it haste yseide" "What?" seide Pilat, "ou ne
     ansueres me nouth to at I saie e?" And my swete son helde
     hym stille so at Pilat hadd wonder & seide vnto e princes in
     conseil, "I ne fynde non encheson in is man of de". And
     e wicked men seiden, "He ha done e folk knowe wi his
|r15 techinges & [turned] hem fram out of e londe of Galile vnto
     is stede". And Pilate seide, "Is he of Galile in e power of
     Heroudes?" And hii seiden, "e". And an Pilat douted hym
     forto ben chale[n]ged of e emperoure wi Heroudes if he



|p88


     wiouten gylt dude hym to e de for Heroudes & he weren wroe
     And he badde e Iewes lede hym to Heroudes at was an in
     Ierusalem & he bad hem at hii schulden saie to hym for he was
     of his londe & of his power he wolde nouth iugge hym wiouten
 |r5 his assent.
     'And e wicked Iewes tooken my suete son & ledden hym wiouten
     pite orou e cite puttande & reuileande so foulelich at it
     was pite to seen. And Ion my cosyn & ich foloweden after
     wepeande & soroweande. And whan hii comen bifore Heroudes
|r10 on of ise wicked Iewes seide, "Sir Heroudes, Pilate oure iuge
     ou sende here Ihesu of Nazareth at biforne hym is coupable
     & wori to suffre e de. And for at he is vnder i power,
     he nyl nouth wiouten e iugge hym." And whan Heroudes sei
     my swete son he was glad forwhi he hadde longe bifore desired
|r15 e sith of hym for at he hadde herd mychel speke of hym &
     vnderstode at he schulde see sum wonder be done of hym. And
     Heroudes asked hym many resouns, and my swete son ansuered
     hym nouth. e princes & e maisters of e lawe hard



|p89


     acoupeden hym and whan Heroudes sei at he nolde nouth speke
     wi hym ne no wonders do, he dude cloe hym in a white samyte
     in tokne at he was a fole & seide vnto e princes, "Lede
     aein oure prisoun & sei to Pilat at we nylle nomore be
 |r5 wroe". And hii weren made frendes, Heroudes & Pilate, at
     ilche day.
     'And e Iewes ledden aein my swete son to Pilat. And whan
     Pilat sei at he |r[f.453] was brouth aein he gadred togedre
     e Iewes & seide, "e haue presented to me is man as he at
|r10 turne e folk & ich haue aresounde hym here bifore ou alle.
     And I ne can fynde in hym non encheson of e de of whiche at
     e han utt born hym onde, ne kyng Heroudes to wham e ledd
     hym ne fonde in hym non enchesoun forto ben ydampned, ne, for
     al oure bereyng on honde, noing dude vnto hym bot dude cloe
|r15 hym in white in tokne at he hadde yuel borne hym, forwhi men
     schullen chastise hym as falle to his trespas." And seide,



|p90


     "Arise myne knittes & scourge hym so at he ne haue nomore
     will to do e folk falle in erroure orou his techinges".
     And onon token e wicked men my swete son & ledden hym into
     a chaumbre & maden hym al naked and afterward bounden hym vnto
 |r5 a piler & beten hym so strongelich wi scourges knotted at he
     resembled fram e hede vnto e hele as a man at were flayn.
     And whan hii hadden so beten hym at hii ne mitten no lengere
     duren, onon hii vnbounden hym & al naked ledden hym out of at
     chaumbre. And atte outcomynge bitwene me & Iohan my cosyn, we
|r10 mette hym al blody & I bigan forto crie & wi my cryyng myne
     hert failed me & I fel to e ere as ded. And my swete son
     doelfullich loked to me as he at hadde gret pite of myne
     sorowes, orou which lokyng I sei at my sorowes duden hym
     harme. And I seide, "Swete son, dere son, I nylle sorowe
|r15 nomore". an bitwixen Ion my cosyn & me we wrie his lykham
     wi my kerchif.

     'And onon e wicked Iewes ledden hym bifore Pilate. & was
     e manere of e Iewes at at e gret fest of Estre for



|p91


     e solempnite of e gret fest at o prison schulde be
     deliuered. And at ilche tyme a riche man, Barabas, was in
     prisoun for mannesslauth and was brouth bifore e barre
     atte prime bifore Pilat e iuge, & two eues were taken for
 |r5 ift, & Pilate seide, "Loo here Ihesus at bifore me e haue
     acouped; as me enche, he is chastised ynou. Wil e at ich
     lete hym go quite?" And e Iewes crieden all att on voice,
     "Nouth Ihesus bot Barabas". And Pilate seide, "What wil e
     an at ich do wi Ihesu at men seien is Crist?" And hii
|r10 ansuereden alle, "Do hym on e rode". And Pilat seide, "Takeb
     hym an to ou & doe hym on e rode, for I ne fynde in hym
     non enchesoun". And hii ansuereden, "We haue lawe, and after
     oure lawe he schal dye, for he sei he is Goddes son". And
     whan Pilate herde ise wordes he dradd h[y]m e more & seide
|r15 to my swete |r[col.2] son, "Whennes artow?" To which askynge my
     suete son answered nouth. And an seide Pilat, "Ne deigne e



|p92


     nouth to speke wi me & woste wel at ich haue power to done
     e on e rood oier to lete e go quite?" & my swete son
     answered & seide, "Powaire ne hastow non of me bot as was
     graunted e fram on hei; erfore hii at deliuereden me to e
 |r5 han e more synne". And onon Pilat seide to e princes & to
     e commune, "It is good at e grace of is fest be done to
     Ihesu & at we lete hym go quite". & hii ansuereden aein,
     "if ou lete hym so passe ou nart nouth oure emperoures
     frende Cesar forwhi at he dude clepen hym kyng of Iewes, and
|r10 he at doe clepe hym kyng wisei Cesar". an sei Pilate
     e felonye of e wicked Iewes & douted hym of hem & of her
     wickednesse & seide vnto my swete son, "ou woste wel and
     knowest at ich am on of i iuges; i men & e bisschopes han
     presented e to me. What hastow done to hem?" And my swete
|r15 son answered & seide, "Mi regne is nouth of is werlde & if
     it were my seruauntz wolden defende me at I nere. nouth euen
     to e". And Pilat seide, "a[n] seme it wel at ou art
     kyng". And my swete son seide to Pilate, "ou it haste yseide



|p93


     & so it is at ich am kyng". And onon Pilat forsed hym als
     mychel as he mith forto deliuer hym & [procure]
     e deliueraunce of hym. And alle e Iewes crieden att o voice
     "Lete, lete, & iue hym iuggement to honge on rode". And
 |r5 Pilat seide, "Schal I do oure kyng on rode?" And e Iewes
     ansuerden & seiden, "We ne haue no kyng bot Cesar". Pilat
     vnderstode wel at e princes and bisschopes of e lawe &
     e preestes hadden to hym gret envie, & dude come water &
     wessche his honden & seide, "Loo ich make me quite of
|r10 e spillyng of is blood of is rithwise man". And e wicked
     Iewes crieden, "e blood of hym be on vs seen & on oure
     childer". And whan Pilat sei at he ne mith deliueren hym
     in none manere & for doute at he hadde of hem he most siwe
     her will, & douted more her felonye an e vengeaunce of God,
|r15 af e iuggement in is manere & seide, "For at he ha done
     e folk, aein e lawe of Moyses, bileue in hym orou his
     preching he is scourged, and for at he sei he is kyng aein



|p94


     e state of oure emperoure, lete coroune hym wi ornes, and
     for at he make hym Goddes son, for at gret lesynge, lete do
     hym on e rode til at he be ded. And ee, Dismas and Gesmas,
     for it is founden at e ben eues, schullen be done on
 |r5 e roode, & ou Barabas at art ateynt of mannesslauth schal
     haue e grace of e gret feste of Estre so at ou trespas no
     |r[f.454] more; goo now quite."

     'And whan Pilate had ouen is iuggement he made write opon
     a table in Ebru & in Gru & in Latyne, "Ihesus of Nazareth,
|r10 Kyng of Iewes", & bad at at ilche table schulde be festned
     abouen on e croice. And whan e Iewes seien what ere was
     writen, hii seiden, "Ne write nouth at he is kyng of Iewes
     bot at he seide at he was kyng of Iewes". Pilate answered &
     seide, "at ich haue writen schal be writen".

|r15 'And whan at he was dampned, mychel folk folowed hym, for it
     was nere honde e cite ere he scholde be done on roode. &
     onon hii ledden my swete son out of e halle wi gret noise &



|p95


     cry, and e two eues wy hym. And I loked to my suete son &
     sei hou vilelich he was ledde for bitwene tweie eues &
     iuggement of de ouen aeins hym. So mychel drede & sorou
     ich hadde at I ne hadde no power meseluen forto helpen, and
 |r5 Iohan my cosyn was so forlorne at he ne hadde no power of
     hymseluen, ac boe we fellen to e ere as ded. And atte
     vparisyng of my swouenynge I loked to my swete son & sei hou
     at e wicked Iewes hadden sett hym in a chayer & euen a erd
     in his honde in tokne of kynges erd, and afterward hii comen
|r10 wi a scharp coroune of ornes & setten hem on knees biforne
     hym in despytt & in scorne, & setten at ilche scharp coroune
     opon his heued so hard at e ornes perceden into e bon of
     his heued. And hii seiden, "God e saue kyng of Iewes". And
     whan hii hadden so done hii craccheden so foulelich his swete
|r15 face at e blode ran of his heued & at ilche cracching dude
     away al e fair sith of his swete visage. And an ich hadde
     so mychel soro at me outh at vche orne ede orou myne
     hert. And onon token e wicked Iewes redes & beten hym so



|p96


     fast & so oft at it was gret pite & drede forto seen. And
     whan hii hadden so reuiled hym & beten hym hii duden opon hym
     his kirtel & braided out his here at was harded in e blode
     so at e fel & e flesche comen vp wi al, for he hadd longe
 |r5 here for it was neuer schorne bot wexe a longe as wymmens here
     doe now.
     'And an duden hii opon hym a white samyte abouen & setten
     e scharp coroune on his heued and duden hymseluen bere
     e croice longe and gret and heuy, puttande & reuilande hym &
|r10 drawend wi grete cordes vnto e stede ere he schulde be
     done on rode, wi gret noyse & cry. And e wymmen at hadden
     siwed hym out |r[col.2] of Galile foloweden hym & his deciples
     wi gret soroueynge & wepynge & founden Iohan my cosyn & me
     lyeande as hii at hadden forlorne memorie & hii duden vs aris
|r15 & ladden me bitwene her armes wi gret soroweynge after my
     swete son. And whan he herd e grete wepynges & e grete
     sorowes at we maden, he loked aein & seide, "Childer of
     Ierusalem, ne wepe nouth on me bot on ouseluen wepe & on



|p97


     oure childer for gret drede at is to comen atte day of dome
     whan e folk schal saie, 'Blissed be e baraynes & e wombes
     at bere none childer & e tetes at euen nouth to souke', &
     bigynnen to sayen to e hylles, 'Falle opon vs', & to
 |r5 e valeys, 'Opene ou at we mowe crepen in ou forto hiden
     vs'. Fori whan swich ing schal bifalle whan e trees ben
     grene, hou schal it be in e tyme whan hii ben drie, at is to
     saie whan domesday come at al at here is schal be brent,
     for an schal come more drede?"

|r10 'And an com a man out of e toun meteande hem, & e wicked
     Iewes duden hym wi fors bere e tre. And a woman at hith
     Veronica at mychel loued my swete son for he hadd saued hir
     of a gret sekenesse of blody flux, was goande to a peyntour
     ward forto do peynte e liknesse of my swete sones face opon
|r15 a clo forto haue hym in mynde, mett hym. And my swete son
     at al wist took e clo of e womman & laide it opon his face
     & dude e liknesse of his swete visage ereopon. And



|p98


     e womman sei is wonder, sche fel on knees & onked hym.
     'e man at bare e croice ne mith no lenger beren it so
     was it long & gret & heuy. And, e wicked Iewes leiden at on
     ende of e croice opon my swete sones schulder & he for gret
 |r5 tendresse of his skyn, blody and al tobroken wi scourges,
     ede stoupeande wi e rigge, sweteande & sieande for
     anguisch. And I seide to my swete son, "Suete dere son,
     suffre at i wrecched moder may helpe e to bere is heuy
     tre". And my swete son ansuered & seide stillelich to me,
|r10 "A, my swete moder, ynou ou berest & schalt bere of i
     part". And was his worde is, at I schulde fele att myne
     hert e stronge pynes of his passioun, ac an vnderstode ich
     it nouth ac afterward vnderstode ich it. And I leide myne
     honde opon at tree and whan ich it hadde opon my schulder
|r15 & feled e heuynesse, swich a sorou |r[f.455] com to myne hert
     at I fel to e ere aswowe. And Iohan my cosyn & e wymmen
     at I spake of bifore token me vp & beren me after my swete
     son as ing at ne feled noier good ne qued.

     'And whan hii comen to e hyll at is cleped Caluarie
|r20 e wicke Iewes leiden adoune e croice & afterward maden hym



|p99


     naked & e knittes leiden cutt opon his cloes and his kirte
     at ich hadd made myseluen wiouten seweyng, e which kirtel
     Pilate hadde of on of e knittes at orou loth it had
     wonnen. an comen e knittes at ordeynde e pynes & token
 |r5 e mesure of my swete sones body, e brede and e lenge, wi
     whiche mesure hii maden e bores ere at e nayles schulde
     ben dryuen orou his honden & his fete, and laiden hym wide
     open opon e croice. And e rith honde wi a gret naile
     fastned it vnto e croice. & whan hii comen to e left honde
|r10 e ende of e fynger ne com nouth to e bore. And e wicked
     Iewes token & tieden a corde opon e honde & wi a leuoure
     lifteden after e body, & drowen alway vnto at e honde com
     ouer e bore, and an wi a gret nayl nailed it to e tre.
     And after whan hii comen to his fete hii seien at his heles
|r15 ne comen nout to e bore by a coute & more, at is half
     a erd. And wi a corde, as bifore is seide, hii tieden on
     his brest & anoer opon his fete & drowen euer til at his
     heles comen ouer e bore, & an token anoer gret naile &



|p100


     naileden his fete at on opon at oer to e croice. And
     erfore he hadde e more pyne an oier hadde ben nayled by it
     one, for e nailes were ragged & blunt bifore, for hii were of
     a wommans makeyng. And erfore e nayles baren orou boe
 |r5 e hide & e flesche & e bon at hii weren sette on first;
     hii baren al orou into e tree wi hem, & erfore it sei
     in e sautere, "Hii doluen myne honden & myne feet & noumbred
     myne bones". & hii setten his body als streytt opon e croice
     as a parchemyn at is glewed opon a borde.

|r10 'And after hii lifteden vp e croice on hei , & hii hadden sett
     a gret tre of cedre in e ere & hadden made eron a mortays
     at e foote of e croice schulde stonde & wi engynes at hii
     hadden made hii lifteden heie e croice forto smyte hard doune
     in e mortays. And hii faileden of at mortays & rebounded at
|r15 o tre to at oer at his body hadde swich astonying at he
     semed more ded an quyk. |r[col.2] And anoeer tyme hii lifteden
     vp e croice wi so gret wille & smyten e fote in e morteys
     so hetilich at e croice braundischt & schoke as a swerd bat
     is brandischt. e pyne was so hard and so horrible at it was
|r20 hidous & sorouful forto seen to any man. And his vaynes of
     his body tobrusten & his woundes oppened wider so at e blode
     ran adounne of his swete body as water out of ryuer. And at



|p101


     at gret pyne my swete son seide doelfullich, "Swete fader ne
     charge nouth her synnes, for hii nyte neuer what hii done".

     'And whan ich herd my swete son so swetelich biseche for his
     enemyes, so gret doel & pite ich hadde of hym at me outh
 |r5 myne hert tobrast on an hundre peces & I fel adoun to e ere
     & ne mith nouth stonde. And Iohan my cosyn hadde so gret
     doel & anguisch at he ne mith nouth hymseluen helpen ne me,
     for e pyne at he sei my swete son ole. And an comen
     e wymmen at I spek of bifore & holpen me vp & wi her power
|r10 me conforteden, amonge which was e Maudeleyn at most after
     me hadd sorou & made most doel, for after me sche was
     e womman at hym most loued. And myne two sustres weren ere
     at soroues hadden ynoue & anguisch. And whan ich was
     holpen vp wi e wymmen stondeande, I loked to my swete son
|r15 at ywoned was to beholden so fair & so graciouse forto see to
     & I sei so his colour chaunged & blody at he semed better
     a mesel an any oer man. & an I bigan to crie wi swich



|p102


     voice as I mith, ac so ich was ouercomen at my voice was
     nouth fer yherd & seide, "Swete son suffre i wrecched moder
     to dye wi e, for better were for me wi my lemman to dye
     an after hym lyuen in langoure al my tyme. A, a, swete son,
 |r5 what hastow trespassed at i men & i kyn don e so mychel
     vilenye & tourment, so mychel good & curteisie astow haste
     done to hem and wi gret myldenesse done hem gret worschipp
     at now hii elden [it] e wi gret felonye? A, swete son &
     fader, haue pite on me i wrecched moder & lete me dye wi e."
|r10 And whan ich had so bymened me, an my swete son loked to me so
     pitouslich at att his hert he feled myn anguisch at he hadde
     of myne soroues. And whan ich aperceyued at myne soroues
     greued hym & his peynes for myne anguisch weren e more, I
     widroue me out of his sith among e sorouful wymmen at
|r15 hym loueden and as |r[f.456] priuelich as ich mith hydde myne
     soroues.

     'an token e wicked Iewes & hengen two eues by hym, at on



|p103


     atte rith half & at oer atte left half. an seiden
     e Iewes, "ou at may fellen e temple of God & e ridde day
     areren it, deliuer now iseluen, & if ou be Goddes son go
     doun of e croice & we schull bileuen in e". e princes &
 |r5 e bisshopes & e preestes & e maisters of [e] lawe schoken
     her heuedes opon hym, vpbraidend hym & seiden on hoker, "Oer
     he may hele and hymseluen nouth. if he be Goddes son as he
     ha yseide, lete hym come of e rode & we wil bileuen in hym"
     Also e ef Gesmas at henge on e left side hym vpbrayded &
|r10 seide, "if ou art Crist, Goddes son, saue iseluen & vs".
     And at oer ef Dismas at henge at his rith side reproced
     his felawe & seide, "ou wikked man at art iugged to e de,
     ne doutes ou nouth God for we for oure gylt & oure
     wickednesse haue serued e de & is man is dampned wiouten
|r15 gylt at non yuel ha done". And he seide an to my swete
     son, "Lord God, enche on me whan ou comest into i kyngdom".
     & my swete son seide, "I saie e forsoe, is day ou schalt



|p104


     be wi me in paradis".
     'And whan ich herde my swete son so graciouslich speke to hym
     at had done so mychel wickednesse, Ion my cosyn and I drou
     vs nere hym & wi sore hert loked opon hym, & in myne hert I
 |r5 outh, "A, swete son, of wham schal ich haue confort whan ou
     arte departed fro me? Where schal I fynde remedie of myne
     hard soroues? Who may confort me? Who may do me socours?"
     And my swete son wist al at I outh, and of Ion his deciple
     he seide, "Womman, lo here i son", and to Ion, "Loo ere i
|r10 moder". And at at ilch tyme took Ion me to kepe. And whan
     ich herd ise wordes of at sorouful chaunge at in my swete
     sones stede at was boe God & man at I schulde take Ion
     Zebedees son, I bigan forto tremble & quake for anguisch at
     myne fyue wittes failed me & I fel to e ere aswoue. '

|r15 Seint Austyn sei at ere ne may noman noumbre e folk at
     ben gon to helle for e ef at henge on Goddes rith side
     for at he hadde so lithlich mercy. Hii layen e lengere in
     her synne & euen no kepe to e wreche of God ne to his
     rithwisenesse at hii ne hadden no grace forto asken mercy
|r20 whan tyme was, for e gret likyng at hii |r[col.2] hadden to her
     synne orou gret vsage & longe liggeyng ereinne. And erfore
     whan God bede a man his grace, I rede he reche erto wi boe



|p105


     hondes, for if he wisitte it, he may loke a good while ere-after. 
     Whan bede God e his grace? Whan ere come a bitynge
     in i conscience attow doost amysse and enches an forto
     amende e ereof, at repentynge come of his grace. is I
 |r5 write here for many at heren rede is boke perauenture wolde
     ligge e lengere in her synne & be e balder & ouertrosty on
     Goddes mercy for e ef hadde so lithlich mercy.

     'And my swete son seide, "Ich haue rust". & onon on of
     e knittes ede and tempred bitter drynk of aysel, mirre & of
|r10 galle so at wi e smel of e stinkeande galle, e bitter
     mirre & e soure aysel encreced his pynes to heie hym to
     e de. And he big [an to crie] aloude, "Hely, hely, lamazaba_y",--
     at is to saie, "My God, my God, whi hastow forsaken
     me?" And on of e knittes seide, "He clepe Hely". &
|r15 e oer seiden, "Now schal be seen if Hely schal comen & taken
     hym doune". For ere was a man among e Iewes at hith Hely,
     and hii wenden at he hadde cleped hym. And anoer tyme my
     swete son seide, "Swete fader I iue my soule into ine hondes"
     an comen e knittes wi e drynk in a coupe, e fote bounden
|r20 to a rede & putte it vnto his moue and he toke it in his



|p106


     moue. Bot for e bitternesse ereof he ne drank it nout, bot
     wi loude voice seide, "Al is fulfild", and crieande af vp
     e gost so at, summe of ise holy men seien, men mith here
     hym re mile al abouten hym, & bowed adoune his heued.

 |r5 'an was ere gret stiring of ere; e hard stones tobrusten;
     e vaile in e temple tocleue in two parties; e sunne and
     e mone lesen her lith fro e middel of e day vnto none re
     houres ouer al e werlde. And many holy bodies at weren dede
     arisen out of her beriels at after my swete sones arising
|r10 schewed hem to mychel folk. And a knith at [men] cleped
     Centurio was ere & sei e toknes & hou he dyed crieande at
     was aein kynde of man, and he seide an ise wordes ,
     "Forsoe is man was Goddes son".

     'Who may now |r[f.457] tellen e soroues & e anguisshes at I
|r15 feled at myne hert? And Ion my cosyn, myne two sustres &
     e Maudeleyn & oer wymmen at hadden siwed my swete son out
     of Galile, whan hii seien e toknes & hym so strongelich dyen,



|p107


     beten her brestes & fellen to e ere aswoue for drede and
     sorou at hii hadden, and vche on by hymselue hadde so gret
     anguisch in hert at non ne mith helpe oer ne confort. And
     whan my susters comen to me I loked to my swete son & sei his
 |r5 heued boweande, his cheke opon his schulder, & an I fel
     adoun in swoue and atte comynge aein of my witt I bigan to
     crie & seide, "My suete son, whi hastow forsaken me? Whi ne
     suffrestow nouth i wrecched moder to die wi e? Swete son,
     at aeins alle men hast ben so swete and so mylde, whi aeins
|r10 me at bare e to alle ise sorouful pynes forto suffre artow
     bicomen so hard? A, swete son at knowest e pryuetes of alle
     hertes, enche on e soroues of i wrecched moder at to
     noing ha more desire an forto dye wi e. A, e wicked & e
     feloun Iewes, whi spare e e moder at is enchesoun of his
|r15 manhede , e son of wham e ne haue no pyte? More were delit
     vnto me wi my swete son to dye an in anguisch to lyuen & in
     langoure after hym "And at o wordes I swouned.



|p108


     'an comen e knittes wi grete hamers and braken hipes of
     e eues at hengen on eier side of hym. & whan hii comen to
     hym hii founden hym ded. Hii ne breken nouth his hypes ac hii
     duden a knith at hith Longys smyte hym into e side vnto
 |r5 e hert. And wi e outdraweynge of e spere comen out water &
     blode and e dropes of blode runnen adoun to Longys honde wi
     whiche he wiped his eien & als sone he sei. & whan he sei
     at wonder he fel doun on knees & repented hym in his hert &
     cried mercy.

|r10 'an wenten e prynces & all hom & leften knittes forto kepe
     e body. & I loked to my swete son & seie his heued at
     helde vp al e werlde hengeande adoun, his two eien schett
     at louelich weren woned to loken on me, his moue hopen at
     swetelich was woned to kisse me, his tender flesche blody & al
|r15 tobroken at I was woned to iue often souke, his hondes & his
     fete irled o |r[col.2] rou wi scharp nailes and his heued
     prikked wi scharp ornes and his membres out of lie at



|p109


     weren ywoned to be me so dere and so swete, doelful forto see.
     What schal I do? e floure of lyf ich haue forlorne.

     'erwhiles we helde us oure soroues , a noble knith at
     hith Ioseph of Aramathie, gode man & trewe & nouth
 |r5 consentande vnto e wille ne e dedes of e wicked Iewes for
     at he was hopeande & desireande to seen e kyngdom of God,
     ede vnto Pilate & bisouth hym for al e seruise at he hadde
     done to hym of his knithschipes at he wolde graunte hym
     e body of swete Ihesu my son. And whan Pilat hadde herd hou
|r10 at he dyed of Centurio at hym hadd tolde and e toknes at
     bifellen in his dyeing, Pilat awondred gretlich ereof &
     graunted e body of my swete son to Iosep. And Pilate dud
     come togedre e princes & e maisters of e lawe and asked
     hem if it was so as Centurio hadde seide. And hii ansuerden
|r15 & seiden at e derkenesse was of e eclips of e sunne. And
     hii leieden & at hii wisten wel, for ere ne mith neuer
     falle in none manere at e sunne schulde in e eclips in at



|p110


     tyme of e day and at hii wisten wel hemseluen.

     'On of e princes , Nichodemus , at was my swete sones deciple
     priuelich for drede of e wicked Iewes , com wi riche
     oynementz wi Ioseph of Aramathie e rithwis & doutty knith
 |r5 & wi her men wi gret deuocioun token my [ swete] son [es body]
     doune of e croice. And ich as e soroufullest womman at
     euere was & Ion my keper at was sorouful ynou & e sorouful
     Maudeleyn & myne susters & oer wymmen at I bifore seide of ,
     holpen att oure power. And whan his honden & his fete weren
|r10 vnnailed Ioseph took his swete body in his armes and I com to
     hym & seide , "Gentil knith , iue me my son , my confort , my
     lyf". And e good man ansuered as he at hadde gret pite &
     sorou of e stronge woundes & tourmentz at were seen in my
     swete sones body and of e anguisch at he sei me suffre &
|r15 seide , "Mi swete dere lefdy , haue pite of iseluen & ne sorowe
     nouth so mychel". And att o wordes I took my swete son in
     myne armes & kissed hym, boe his moue & his visage. & for



|p111


     e drede of his hard woundes & of his tendre body al blody &
     al tobroken I fel to grounde aswoue & my suete |r[f._458] son
     bitwene myne armes. And atte aeincomyng of my wytt I loked
     opon my swete son at was fairer & britter an e sunne whan
 |r5 it schyne brittest & his body smellande so swete as alle
     e spices of e werlde hadden ben gadred togedre in on stede.
     an com into myne hert swich a outh of e swetnesse & of
     e fairhede at he hadde in his childehode & of at ilch oth
     swich a ioye com sodeynlich into myn hert at I ne feled
|r10 noier good ne yuel. And at ilch tyme at ich helde me so
     stille Ioseph & Nichodemus token his swete body & wi
     preciouse oignementz enoynted hym as e manere of e Iewes was
     & after wounden hym in a lynnen clo fair & clene.

     '& Ioseph e noble knith hadd made a newe ston to hymseluen
|r15 forto liggen inne in which non ne hadde ben laide bifore & was
     ere in a fair gardyn nei honde ere my swete son was done
     opon e rode. & hii leiden his swete body ereinne and after



|p112


     couered it wi anoer gret ston. And whan I com to my wytt
     aein I sei my suete son bischett in e ston of marbre , & an
     bigunnen my sorowes to wexen newe & I seide , "A, swete
     lordynges , where haue e done my swete son? Why ne haue e
 |r5 nouth beried his moder wi hym?" & at o wordes I rose and
     com vnto e ston & fel ereopon & seide, "Where artow bicomen
     my spouse, my son, my fader? What schal i lemman do, i
     doutter, i moder? Widewe hastou left me wiouten confort,
     wiouten help. Me were leuer to be ded wi e & biried. A,
|r10 e gode lordes, vndoe is gret ston & lete is cheityf lye &
     dye wi hir son." & an me failed wynde & I ne mith nomore
     sorowe bot fel adoun & mith no worde speke. And whan
     e good men seien e sorowes & e pynes at ich hadde hii
     nomen me vp bitwixen hem & wi swich confort as hii couen
|r15 ledden me softlich into e toun bisides Iones moder my keper &
     ere leften me e good men & token her leue. And whan hii
     weren departed fro me, Ion my keper wi help of his moder



|p113


     laide me in a bed and ere I suffred my sorow al nith.

     'And on e morewen e princes & e bisschopes & e prestes &
     e maisters of e lawe comen to Pilat & seiden, "is man at
     we duden to de seide to his deciples at he schulde arise
 |r5 e ridde day; forwhi, it bihoue at e beriels be kept at
     his deciples ne comen nouth & stelen hym away & done e folk
     to vnderstonde at he is arisen, and elles schal e last
     erroure be wers an e first". And |r[col.2] Pilat ansuered &
     seide, "Haue e e kepynge". e princes & e preestes speken
|r10 so wi Pilat at he comaunded his knittes taken her armure &
     kepen wel e ston ere he lay vnto e ridde day were passed.
     & an e knittes armed hem & comen to e ston & kepten it.

     'e princes & e preestes of e lawe hadden herd of e gret
     curteisie at Ioseph of Aramathie hadd done to my swete son
|r15 and hii eden to fecchen hym to done hym to e de. And hii
     founden hym in her synagoge wi on of her princes, Nichodemus



|p114


     at ne assented nouth vnto hem. And Nichodemus sei
     e felonye of hem & seide, "In what manere come e into
     e temple at is heie fest of Paskes at is is day?" And
     e wicked men ansuerden hym & seiden, "In what manere artow
 |r5 comen in e synagoge at trowest in Ihesu? i part mote ou
     haue wi hym in e werlde at is to comen "And Nichodemus
     seid, "God it graunte. Amen"
     'an Ioseph of Aramathie schewed hym to hem & seide, "Whi ar
     e wro wi me for at ich asked of Pilate Ihesus body? Ich
|r10 haue leide hym in my newe ston & ful honurablelich haue
     wounden hym in a fair clo & whit, & closed hym wi a gret ston
     at is tyme. And e as wicked men & feloun haue done hym to
     e de, for which enchesoun gret vengeaunce schal be taken on
     ou & on oure childer as ouseluen han asked bifore Pilat at
|r15 e blode schulde fallen on ou & on oure childer. Wite e
     wel at oure prayer schal come to ou. "And whan e wicked
     Iewes hadden herd what Ioseph of Aramathie hadde seide of
     vpbraydynge of her wicked dedes , hii speken priuelich togedre



|p115


     hou hii mitten vengen hem, and duden all her woord in
     e bisschopes moue Cayphas. And he seide to Ioseph of
     Aramathie, "ou haste ben prince of all oure knittes and hast
     ben hardy & asper & doutty, & many grete dedes of armes ou
 |r5 hast ouercomen. Ac whan ou com to oure iuge Pilate & bisouth
     for alle i goode dedes e body of oure enemy Ihesu, ere
     trespassed ou aein i lawe, and fori ou art wori to dye.
     And for ou art iseluen biknowe at ou hast leide hym in i
     newe ston at ou scholdest haue lyen in iseluen, i body ne
|r10 schal not be beried bot it schal be eten wi houndes & wi
     foules. And fori as we nylle do no man to ded on is gret
     heie day of Estre, ou schalt be done in prisoun til
     tomorewen."

     'an |r[f.459] token e wicked Iewes & duden hym in a strong
|r15 prisoun of ston ere nas noier wyndow on open ne schett, and
     after schetten e dore opon hym & duden ereopon her seals and
     euen e keyes , at on to Annas, at oer to Cayphas, for Annas



|p116


     was bisschop in e ere toforne, and boe keyes weren enseled.
     And so duelled e gode man in prisoun for e good dedes at he
     hadde done to my swete son. Ac he bat knowes e priuetes &
     e outtes of alle hertes and .lete no good dede wiouten
 |r5 eldyng and ne forete nouth hem at louen hym, com to
     visite e prison as God & man alweldande, and I chille telle
     ou on what manere.
     'After e holy day, in e morewenyng, my suete son as God &
     man aros from ded to lyue. & first he schewed hym to me &
|r10 spak to me swetelich & conforted me louelich as he at was ful
     of godenesse & of mercy, at hadd mychel sorou of myne
     anguisch and wist e gret desire at ich hadde forto seen hym.
     [And whan ich seie hym] an hundre tymes doubled my ioyes
     alle myne sorowes. an he took me in his armes & kissed me
|r15 and seide, "My good lef, swete moder & doutter, now haue ich
     fulfild at myne holy prophetes spaken of me and of e. My
     swete moder & lemman, now ich haue deliuered myne frendes at
     weren disceyued orou e fende. Now ich haue done hem in her
     eritage in paradys & haue bounden her enemys & in a depe derk



|p117


     stede done hem. Now may ou, my swete lemman, make ioye and
     alle ine sorowes done away." "A, suete fader, dere son, my
     lyf, my confort, blissed be e tyme attow was borne of me,
     and at ou suffred de opon e rood, for i folk at was
 |r5 forlorne hastow bouth & saued orou i gret mercy & i
     godenesse." an he af me his blissynge and departed fro me
     and ede to Ioseph of Aramathie ere he was in prisoun and
     lyft vp al e hous heie into e eyre. And Ioseph was sore
     abayscht & fast swatt for drede of e grete lith at he sei
|r10 my swete son more brith an e sunne. And my swete son wiped
     his visage & swetelich kissed hym. And Ioseph as a man at
     was adradde seide, "What artow my swete sir? Artow Helie
     e prophete?" And my suete son ansuerde & seide, "Mi swete
     dere lemman Ioseph, I nam nouth Elye, ac ich am Ihesus at
|r15 ou beried & am comen forto deliuer e , for no lengere in is
     prisoun schaltow duelle". & an he took hym out & lete doun
     e hous as it was bifore & dude hym in his owen hous in
     Ara*mathie |r[col.2] at grace & worschip alde hym al his lyue.



|p118


     an he schewed hym to e Maudeleyn & after vnto e Maries & to
     his deciples as e gospel witnesse.

     'Now ich haue a party telde of e pynes at my swete son oled
     forto deliuer his folk and a party of my sorowes. Ac e ioye
 |r5 at ich hadde whan I seie my swete son arisen passed alle
     e ioyes at euere ich hadde fro e tyme at I was borne. e
     at haue herd is tale, e blissinge of my swete son Ihesu
     Crist mote e haue & myne, and all also at it writen oier
     reden oier heren haue at ilch blissing and her part in my son
|r10 regne vi e fader & e son & e holy gost at lyue and
     regne wiouten ende. Amen. '

     e passioun as oure lefdy sei of Ihesu ende here
     Into e blisse of heuen vs bringe it all in fere.

     e gode man & e noble prince Nichodemus at priuelich was
|r15 Ihesus [Cristes] deciple for drede of e wicked Iewes, I schal
     telle ou a litel book at he made of e passioun & of his



|p119


     vparisyng, at fel on at ilche day at he aros. e bisschopes
     & e princes & e prestes & e maisters of e lawe comen into
     her synagoge and bispeken e de hard of Ioseph of Aramathie
     at hii duden in prisoun opon e day bifore, & hadden enseled
 |r5 e dore & e keyes vnder her seales at were ouen to Cayphas
     & to Annas, bisschopes of e lawe, & seiden, 'Doe vs come
     Ioseph toforne vs at men mowen iuggen hym after at he ha
     deserued'. e bisschopes token men wi hem and comen to
     e dore & opened it; and whan hii comen in hii ne founden
|r10 noth Ioseph, & ereof hii hadden gret wonder, for hii founden
     e dore enseled as hii leten it whan hii duden hym ereinne;
     & comen aein to e synagoge and telden e wonder to hem at
     weren ere, of which ing hii weren gretlich awondred.

     And als hii stoden spekeande of is wonder, so com in on of
|r15 e knittes at kepten e sepulchre of Ihesu & seide,
     'Lordynges, e at ben here assembled, e haue gret wonder of
     e delyuering of Ioseph. Ac here me & I schal telle ou



|p120


     wonder. It bifel in e mornynge of is ilche day a gret
     eredyne, and an aungel of heuen com adounne vnto e sepulchre
     of Ihesu at bitwene me & my felawes we hadden to kepe, & was
     e liknesse of hym as brennand laytt & his cloinge |r[f.460]
 |r5 white as snow. And for gret drede at we hadde we fel doun to
     e ere as dede men. And we herde at aungel speke vnto re
     wymmen at weren comen to e monument wi riche oynementz
     forto enoynte e body of Ihesu "Leue lemmans," he seide,
     "ne drede ou noing. I wot wel at e sechen Ihesu of
|r10 Nazareth at e Iewes deden on e rode. I do ou to wite,
     forsoe he nys nouth here, ac he is arisen fram de to lyue.
     Come & see e stede ere his body was leide & go swie vnto
     his deciples & telle hem at he is arisen fram de to lyue &
     at he schal schewe hym to hem in Galile, as ich haue seide &
|r15 tolde."'

     And whan e maisters hadden herd is at e knith hadd seide,
     hii duden sende after his felawes & askeden hem if it were
     so, and hii [confermed for so] al at her felawe had seide.
     And an seiden e maisters, 'Whiche ben o wymmen at e aungel



|p121


     spake vnto, & whi ne hadden e atholden hem?' And be knittes
     ansuereden & seiden, 'Of e wymmen hadde we no knoweynge, &
     also hadde we no power of oureseluen for we layen alle as dede
     men to e ere for drede at we hadde of at ilche aungel.
 |r5 Hou mith we an e wymmen take?' And an seiden e maisters,
     'By God lyuyande, e [ne] be nouth forto leue'. And ban
     seide on of e knittes, 'So mani wonders haue e seen & herd
     of Ihesu and e ne leue hem nouth; hou mith e an leue vs?
     And so it is. He at e dude on rode is God & lyue. Ac
|r10 e wickednesse at e haue done ne may nouth suffre [ou to]
     haue knoweynge of rithwisenesse.' And an seiden e maisters,
     'e hadden e kepyng of Ihesus body orou comaundem[e]nt of
     Pilat, & e schull answere of his body'. & on of e knites
     ansuered & seide, 'A! A! ful, ful be e of wickednesse! Ynou
|r15 it is knowen of all men at for e curteisie at Ioseph dude to
     Ihesu e dude hym in prisoun, and whan he was closed vnder
     oure lockes [set] ereopon oure seles &, e keyes enseled,
     af hem to Cayphas and to Annas. & e fonde e dore enseled
     and Ioseph ne fonde e nouth. We wote wel at orou Ihesu



|p122


     he is deliuered. Forwhi deliuer vs Ioseph & we schull deliuer
     ou Ihesu at we kept in e sepulchre.' And e maisters
     ansuerden & seiden, 'Ioseph may we wel deliuer ou. iue vs
     Ihesu. For we wot wel at Ioseph is in his cite [of]
 |r5 Aramathie. 'And e knittes ansuerden & seiden, 'And we wot
     wel at Ihesus is in Galilee among his deciples |r[col.2] as we
     herd Goddes aungel speke to e wymmen at comen forto seken
     hym'.

     And whan e maisters seien at e knites meyntened so hard
|r10 at hii hadden seen, hii douted hem & seiden amonges hem, 'if
     is ing be puplisht amonge e commune poeple at ne knowen
     hem nouth in holy wrytt, alle schull trowe in Ihesu & so
     schal oure lawe be fordone'. & an hii token a gret summe of
     siluer & af vnto e knittes & seiden, 'Sei vnto e commune
|r15 poeple at his deciples comen by nith til at e slepen &
     stalen hym away in e despyt of oure lawe. And whan
     e wordes ben brouth vnto Pilat, oure iuge, we schull be
     bifore ou faire & wel at e ne schulle haue no blame. 'And
     e knittes token e tresore & tolden vnto e commune poeple
|r20 als e fals maisters hadden tautt hem. Ac e ing was so



|p123


     commune in e synagoge among e poeple ere e Iewes weren
     assembled, at for alle e grete iftes at e maisters hadd
     ouen, e knittes were holden for fals of many men at wisten
     e soe, hou e knittes & e maisters hadden desputed togedres
 |r5 of e vprisyng of Ihesu Crist in her synagoge.

     After e vpstiing of Ihesu Crist com Egias, a maister of
     e lawe, and tweye of her preestes, Fynees & Addas, & comen
     opon an halyday vnto e temple tofore e maisters ere hii
     weren assembled; and tolden at hii hadden ben in Galile and
|r10 seen Ihesus among his deciples opon e mount of Olyuete, &
     herden hou he seide to hem, 'Go abouten in e werlde and
     preche & teche vnto al manere folk at he at bileue [& is
     cristened] schal be saued'.
     e! Many seien, 'I bileue wel bot I ne do nouth ereafter'.
|r15 And forto byleue wiouten doyng of goode werkes is ded for it
     ne come nouth to profyt. And erfore sei holy wrytt, he
     at lyue in dedlich synne willes & weldes & nyl nout amenden
     hym als sone as he may haue grace & be fast abouten to aske
     grace, at he ne may come out of his synne, is man oier
|r20 womman [is] out of e bileue of holy chirch, & is I write here
     for many wene & vnderstonde at hii ben in e bileue, ei al
     be it so at hii ben in dedlich synne & hii vnderstonden fals.
     For if a man were |r[f.46l] in rith bileu[e] , for no good of



|p124


     is werlde ne wolde he do dedlich synne at he nolde raer lese
     his lyf. And erfore he sei, 'He at bileue & is cristned,
     he schal be saued'. & erfore whan he doe dedlich synne he
     forsake cristendom at is Crist his fader & turne to
 |r5 e deuel & make hym his fader, for he is fader of al
     schrewednesse. And for ise wordes whan men heren hem at men
     schullen vnderstonden hem arith as hii owen to ben
     vnderstonden. For ise wordes, bileue and cristendom, beren al
     e charge of holy writt, and erfore it were gret nede at men
|r10 vnderstoden hem arit.

     '"And alle at bileuen oure teching, cristene hem in
     e n[a]me of e fader and e son & e holi gost. "& whan he
     hadde us yseide vnto his deciples, we sei hym wende vp into
     heuene. And als his deciples seien hym so wenden vp hii
|r15 stoden & lokeden vpward as men at hadden gret wonder. And hii
     seien tweie in liknesse of men ycloed in white cloinge comen
     doun & seiden, "Goode men, whereof haue e wonder? In at ilch
     manere & on at ilch wise at [e] haue seen hym wende vp into
     heuen, rith so he schal come atte day of iuggement & iugge
|r20 e good & e yuel [after her deseruyng]"'

     And whan e maisters hadden herd what e re men hadden seide,
     hii chargeden hem wi oe opon her lay if at hii hadden
     seide was soe. And hii maden e oe & seiden at al was soe



|p125


     at hii hadden seide & tolde of e vpstieyng of Ihesu Crist &
     of at he seide to his deciples. an token e maisters a gret
     summe of siluere and euen to hem & maden hem to sweren by her
     lawe at hii ne schulden to no man tellen at hii hadden seen
 |r5 ne herd. And whan hii hadden taken is siluer hii wenten for
     and e fals maisters senten after hem re aspies forto loken
     if hii wolden out tellen ereof.

     an comen all e Iewes of e cite of Ierusalem togedres and
     maden gret waymentynge & gret cry opon e maisters and seiden,
|r10 'What ben ise toknes at ben done in Ierusalem in oure tyme?
     We haue trespassed aein [oure] lawe in violence of e blode
     nouth yknowe [gylty]. 'Annas & Cayphas, e bisschopes of
     e lawe, conforteden hem & seiden, 'Goode men of e Iewerie,
     Goddes folk ychosen, ne mysconfort ou nouth ac loke wel
|r15 oure lawe. e be wel aknowe of e knittes |r[col.2] at
     kepten e sepulchre of Ihesu, token oure iftes and tolden as
     we hadde tautt hem. And e iftes at we af hem neren for
     no bileue at we hadden vnto her sawes ac for e folk at ne
     knew hem nouth in holy writt. It may wel be at Ihesus



|p126


     deciples euen vnto hem gretter iftes forto tellen & seyen at
     he was arisen forto meyntene her erroures, & if hii hadden ben
     good men hii hadden entierlich holden hem & stedfastlich oier
     to hem oier to vs. 'an aros e good prince Nichodemus &
 |r5 seide, 'A, good childer of Israel, ne speke nouth to is folk
     bot so. e haue herd hou ise re good men were ycharged wi
     o forto saie e soe of at hii hadden herd & seen of Ihesu.
     And oure lawe wil at e witnesse of two oier of re is ynou
     proued for so. And if at e iue no bileue to her wordes,
|r10 sende we after Ioseph of Aramathie at he come to vs and telle
     vs hou he was delyuered [oute of e hous] , e dore schett and
     enseled. 'And an seide Annas, 'Where schal Ioseph be
     founden? 'And Nichodemus seide, 'In his owen hous in
     Aramathie'.

|r15 And an hii consenteden alle to e conseil of Nichodemus and
     chosen seuen of e kynd of Ioseph forto done her message to hym
     in ise wordes: 'Unto e honourablest man of all men &
     doutti & hardy & ful of wytt, Ioseph oure broer. We princes
     & bisschopes & preestes and techers of e lawe senden e
|r20 gretyng wi worschips & honours as oure frend & fader, for we



|p127


     haue borne vs yuel aeins e wi felonye & now we be [alle]
     repentaunt & bisechen e for i gret gentrie foriuenesse of
     at wickednesse at we duden vnwiteande vnto e. [if it be]
     i will forto come to vs, pes & loue schaltow haue of vs al i
 |r5 lyue so at ou wil telle vs hou ou were deliuered ere ou
     was bischett in prisoune. For many wonders we haue herd sien
     at ou went out of at prisoun of Ihesu, Iosephs son & Maries,
     at so mychel hated e Iewerie wiouten rith and resoun.
     Forwhi it enche vs at it wil be profytt of inges at ben
|r10 seide at ou wilt conseil vs treulich wi i power at it may
     profyte to e folk. Ioseph, God e saue. 'ise weren
     e lettres at e maisters auen to e messagers at weren
     chosen forto gon to Ioseph. And an seide Annas, 'Grete hym
     wel in fourme of pes & iue hym ise lettres, and sai at we
|r15 bisechen hym speciallich at he do as ise lettres seien'.

     And whan e messagers comen into Aramathie hii founden Ioseph
     in his owen |r[f.462] hous at faire & swetelich resceyued hem,
     and e messageres telden hym of e tiinges at e knittes



|p128


     hadden seide at kepten e sepulchre of Ihesu & of e re men
     at weren atte vpstieyng of God almitty. And Ioseph was glad
     & seide, 'Forsoe, it was so, for ich was ere & herd what he
     seide to his deciples. And I sei hou at he steie vp & hou
 |r5 at a cloude couered hym & passed orou alle e elementz vnto
     at he com to heuene. '

     And an whan Ioseph had seen e lettres he made hym redy to
     wende als swie as he mith and wi e messageres com vnto
     Ierusalem. & whan e princes wisten of his comynge hii wenten
|r10 aeins hym wi gret nobleie and ioye, and namelich Nichodemus
     at for enchesoun of hym made a gret gestenynge of [e goodmen
     of Iewerie at duden hym] gret honour & worschip, and seide,
     'Welcome be ou, oure fader Ioseph; pes & worschipp be wi e',
     & kissed hym. And Ioseph ansuered & seide, '[e] pes of God be
|r15 with ou, good men'.
     And whan Ioseph had duelled wi Nichodemus als longe as hym
     lyst and hadd spoken of auentures at bifellen after e de of
     Ihesu Crist, Nichodemus dude come togedres e princes &



|p129


     e bisschopes, e preestes & e maisters of e lawe vnto her
     temple e next haliday, e which [day] Ioseph com toforn
     e princes, bisshopes, preestes, & e wise men of her lawe
     at louelich bisoutten hym forto tellen hem hou he com out of
 |r5 e prisoun ere he was bischett. And Ioseph ros vp and seide
     stondande, 'Good [men] , iue fai & troweyng to ing at I
     schal telle ou of e grete godenesse & of e curteisie at
     Ihesus Crist, Goddes son, dude to me opon e day of e gret
     fest of Estre. Whan e hadden bischett me in e stronge hous
|r10 of ston [I] duelled ere al at day & al at nith til in
     e daweynge in praiers, and out on e pyne & on e anguisch
     at Ihesus Crist, Goddes son & man, suffred wi his swete wille
     & forto delyuer e soules of oure olde faders, & hou at
     e prophetes hadden seide of hym bifore is tyme. And as I lay
|r15 so in outh, so com Ihesus and lifted vp e hous into e ayre
     & I sei Ihesu as sunne schineande, and for drede at ich hadde
     of hym I fel doun to e ere almest aswoue. And he took me vp
     by e honde and badde me arise, and wi his cloing he wiped



|p130


     my visage and kissed me and seide, "Ioseph, my lemman, ne drede
     e nouth. Look opon me at ou knowe me." And I loked to hym
     & seide, "Sir, artow Ely e prophete?" And he seide, "[Nay],
     ich am Ihesus which body at ou beried". And I seide, "if
 |r5 ou be Ihesus, schewe me e beriels ere I laide |r[col.2] e".
     And he took me by e honde & ledde me for, and lete adoun
     e hous as it was toforn & lede me to e monument, and schewed
     me e lynnen clo at he was wounden inne and e sudari at I
     dude aboute his heued. And an hadd I e knoweynge of hym,
|r10 and I fel on knees & honoured hym. And he took me by e honde
     & ledde me into myne owen hous in Aramathie and seide,
     "My pes be wi e. And goo nouth out of is hous til fourti
     daies be gon, & an look at ou be wi myne deciples atte
     mount of Oliuete. "And whan he hadd so seide he af me his
|r15 blissynge & departed fro me.'

     And whan e princes, e bisschopes, e preestes, and
     e maisters of e lawe hadden herd is tale, hii weren
     gretlich abayscht & fellen to e ere as dede men, and crieden,
     'What ben ise toknes at ben done in Ierusalem?' And an
|r20 seide Ioseph, 'Sende after e re good men at tolden ou what



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     hii hadden seen of Ihesu & of his deciples opon e mount of
     Olyuete'. And an wi assent of hem alle hii weren sent
     after, and whan hii weren comen hii weren charged wi o forto
     seien e soe. And hii seiden alle att o voice, 'Forsoe, we
 |r5 weren ere and Ioseph whan [Ihesu] wi his deciples was opon
     e mount of Olyuete & seien hym stie vp to heuen'.

     And an speken e bisschope[s] Annas and Cayphas and seiden,
     'Oure lawe wil at e witnesse of two oier of re is ynou
     proued for so. And Ioseph oure fader wi ou bere witnesse,
|r10 and e re witnessen at his deciples and e seien hym stie
     vp vnto heuene. We haue wel herd [of] Ennok & of Ely at weren
     rauissched vp and of Moyses at no berieng was founden of, and
     so may be of Ihesu. What is it vnto vs ei he be arisen?'
     And an ansuered Ioseph & seide, 'Forsoe, it is gret wonder of
|r15 ou at e han herd, & so is at Ihesus is arisen fram ded to
     lyue & is went to heuen. And certes, more wonder is at he ne
     ros nouth alone, ac many oer arisen wi hym of good bodyes, &



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     at of many men ben seen in Ierusalem. And good men, e most
     partie of ou alle seien Symeon, e grete prophete, at
     resceyued Ihesu in his childehode in his armes in e temple and
     knewe hym as for Goddes son, and spak e prophecie of
 |r5 e passioun of Ihesu Crist and of his swete moder Marie at
     ynou is knowen. And at ilch Symeon hadde tweie sones,
     Caricius & Leucinus, and we alle weren att her de & ere hii
     weren beried. Goo we now & see at her beriels ben open and
     |r[f.463] hii ben arisen and ben in e cite of Aramathie in
|r10 prayers, ac hii ne speken to no man. Sende we after hem and
     worschipfullich do we hem comen to vs.'

     And e bisschopes & e preestes & e commune poeple eden vnto
     her biriels & founden hem open, whereof hii hadden gret wonder,
     and comaundeden Ioseph and Nichodemus and Gamaliel at hii
|r15 schulden goo into Aramathie after hem. And hii wenten &
     founden ere Caricius & Leucinus in prayers. And hii gretten
     hem and kysseden hem and wi grete honoures ledden hem vnto
     Ierusalem. e princes, bisschopes, preestes, & e maisters of



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     e lawe comen into her synagoge and seien ere Caricius and
     Leucinus at hii wel knewen & hadden ben hemseluen att her
     beriynge. ai hadden gret wonder of hem and coniureden hem
     by e gret God Adonay & by e God of Israel, at wi
 |r5 e prophetes speken, her holde faders, at hii schulden done
     hem to witen hou at hii weren arisen fram ded to lyue. And
     whan hii herden is coniuracioun hii bigunnen forto tremblen
     and soroufullich lokeden vp toward heuen wi gret deuocioun,
     and wi her ombes maden e tokne of e croice opon her tunges
|r10 and seiden, 'Amonges ou princes & bisschopes & preestes at
     haue coniured vs forto saie ou orou whom we ben arisen:
     bi at ilch God at e han coniured [vs] by & at sent his
     son Ihesus Crist into e ere at bodilich e haue done hym
     to dee, and he is arisen & went vnto heuen. And doe vs haue
|r15 parchemyn and ynke & we schull writen e priuetes of God at
     we haue herd & seen.'

     And hii duden hem haue parchemyn and enk. And Caricius ede



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     at at on half of her synagoge and Leucinus at at oer and
     writen hou at Goddes son, Ihesus Crist, at bodylich died
     opon e rood, e soule wi e godhede went vnto helle; and
     e ioye at e gode soules maden whan hii wisten at he was
 |r5 comen forto deliuer hem and e wordes at hii seiden; and
     e pleyntes & e sorowes at Sathanas & his deciples maden
     whan hii herden his comaundement, 'Do open e ates of helle';
     hou at he brake helle ates & bonde Sathanas; and hou at he
     brouth out his chosen of e fre prisoun of helle and in
|r10 paradys, e ioyes & e wordes at weren seide and done; and
     hou at Dismas e ef was resceyued of Michael e archaungel
     into paradys wi a tokne of e croice at Ihesus Crist hadd
     ouen hym after his |r[col.2] de; hou hii weren awondred whan
     hii founden Ely & Ennok in body & in soule in paradis, and hou
|r15 hii weren aresound in what manere at hii comen ider & by
     whatt enchesoun; and hou at e soule of Ihesu Crist com into
     his body in e beriels , and hou at out of e sepulchre at



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     was schett he aros fram ded to lyue; & hou at e aungel com
     in e daweynge & dude away e ouerston of e sepulchre.

     And wha[n] hii hadden al writen, hii auen e lettres to
     Nichodemus & to Ioseph at redden hem to e folk, and hii ne
 |r5 founden nouth o worde more in at o lettre an in at o[e]r.
     And whan is ing was done, Caricius & Leucinus vanisscheden
     away out of her eiesith, whitter an any snow, and nomore nar
     seen. And e lewed folk at weren in e temple, 'Forsoe,'
     hii seiden, 'of God be done ise wonderes', and wenten all
|r10 out of e temple. e princes & e bisshopes & e preestes at
     keptten e lawe hadden e hortes so hardened in synne at hii
     nolden in none manere it leuen at he was God & man, Ihesus
     at hii duden on e roode, ac michel folk of e commune at
     hadde grace it leued wel.
|r15 Now biseche we alle to Ihesu Crist & to his moder Marie & to
     alle his halewen at hii bisechen for vs to almitti God at he
     sende vs grace to haue stedfast bileue in hym, orou which at




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     we may comen to e ioye at euer schal laste. Amen. And vche
     man & vche womman, if it be oure wille, for hym at
     is tretiz drou out into Englisch and for alle cristen folk &
     for alle e soules at Goddes mercy abiden, sei a Pater Noster
 |r5 and an Aue Maria.

     Of e vprist of Crist, as Nichodemus gan telle,
     Here now make ich ende; God schilde vus all from helle.
