PILATE: Peace burghers, I bid you, that bide here about me. Look you stir with no strife, but stand there stone still; Or, by the Lord who lent me life, I'll learn you to laud me. All shall bide in my bale, who will work not my will. Now stop with your speaking so stout; Or with this sword, without a doubt, To the death I shall drive you today. Sir Pilate of Pontius, as prince I am proven; As ruler most royal, in richest array. No bairn in this burgh above me is moving, But all seek me as sovereign, in certain I say, To know. Therefore, take heed to your lord's estate, That none jangle or jostle my gate, Till I've spoken and said my speech so. For I'm the loveliest wrapped and laid, With features full fair in my face. My forehead is both shining and broad; And my eyes glitter like gleams in the glass. And this hat here, that holds to my head, Is even alike to gold wire. My cheeks are both ruddy and red; My colour, like crystal so clear. There's no prince who is royal in robes; I'm most mighty of all to behold. Nor no king, but who comes at my call, No groom who dares grieve me for gold. Sir Caiaphas, for counsel you clergy are known; Your counsels are known as cunning and clear. And Sir Annas, your answers all ought to be shown; You are one, and able and ought to be near, In parliament plain. And now as prince peerless, on this point I'll inquire: What do you Jews say of Jesus, that swain? What title do you have unto him, If you loyally look to your laws? Say why so soon you have sent for to spill him? ANNAS: Sir, you are prince, and the lord of this lay. Untrue is that traitor of whom you now tell us; Now certain and soon, the truth I shall say: It's that liar Jesus whom Judas did sell us. He mars our men in all that he may; Miracles many he's mustered among us, That faker so false. He does many dark deeds on our Sabbath day. This un-cunning kook casts about him to quell us. From man unto man he'll compel us, And undo both you and ourselves. Yourself, he'll undo, If he holds forth in this space; And all of Jewry too, If you grant him that grace. PILATE: Of this answer, Sir Annas, I'll accept nothing; I hold it mere malice, from the top to the tail. Sir Bishop, therefore at my bidding, Do tell me now truly, the text of this tale. Determine it truly and tight, And loyally lead it by law. Be it falsehood or felony, I will deny it; So just tell me the truth, for love or for awe. CAIAPHAS: Sir Pilate, the tales that this traitor does show, Make us heavy in heart, even wholly to hear them. Through his wiles, this warlock intends them to know; With light lies he instructs them each time he is near them. Full tight he will take them unto him. Thus he goes forth with these gauds, And his speech is out-spread: yes, it is better to spill him, This faker so fell with false frauds. PILATE: Your answers are hideous and hateful to hear. If I had not heard him and for myself seen, You might have yet made me to trust you entire; But I find no fault - he is clever and clean. As clever and clean, I can clear him. No fault can I find to refuse him; I hope yet in haste that you'll hear him, If he comes back again - then accuse him. 1 SOLDIER: Because of his wonders, our faith has fierce grown. This harlot makes heavy our hearts with hate's ire. He says for himself that he is God's son, And shall sit on the right hand beside his own sire! 2 SOLDIER: These tales are true which we tell; In rainbows this ribald truth reads. He says he shall heave us to heaven or hell To deem us one day all after our deeds. PILATE: To deem us?! In the devil's name, say where? Say where, by the devil! What dastards, you think you are wiser that we? 1 SOLDIER: My lord, by your leave, we intended no ill; He has mustered these marvels to more than just me. My sovereign lord, this would-be saint says, He shall cast down our temple; not a brick shall remain; And dress it up duly within three days, As well as it was, full goodly again. ANNAS: Yes sir, and on our own Sabbath day, He works all these workings as well. PILATE: Well, fie on that cheater for aye, For these are dark deeds of the devil. CAIAPHAS: Sir, of a note more obnoxious we've had recent news, That grieves me more that anything: He claims for him clearly, a Kingdom of Jews, And calls himself, our comeliest king. PILATE: King? In the devil's name, fie on this dastard! Will this mad magician overthrow us so quickly? A beggar of Bethleham, born as a bastard? By Lucifer now, if I latch on that lad I'll not loose him so lightly! ANNAS: Sir, the harlot is at Herod's hall, even here at your hand. PILATE: I sent him that warlock, the devil him harry. CAIAPHAS: It belongs to your lordship, by the law of this land, As sovereign, yourself to sit this inquiry. ANNAS: Sir, more trifles, this traitor has told to us truly, Which would trouble you quickly, if they should be told. PILATE: By the bones of Belial, that boy shall pay the penalty, And bring on his back a great burden of gold. 1 SON: My lord that is leader of laws in this land, You sent him yourself to Herod the king, And said: "The doom of this dog is wholly in your hands: To doom or release him, as is your liking." And thus you commanded your knights for to say, For Sir Herod will search him full sore. So that he will wend by no wiles away - Therefore my good lord, you need move you no more. CAIAPHAS: Now certainly, this was well said. But sir, will you cease now, and shall we see a sign? PILATE: Sir Caiaphas and Annas, right so now I think; Sit, in Mahound's blessing - let's call for the wine. You knights of my court - I command all to drink. JUDAS: Alas, for woe that I was wrought! Or ever I came from kind or kin! I curse the bones that forth me brought, Accursed the womb that I bred in! So I may bid, For I so falsely did to him, Who always to me great kindness did. This purse, with his pennies, about I bore; There was no one trusted as much as me. I know he trusted no man more; And I betrayed him treacherously, With a false trick. Innocent, I sold his blessed body, To the Jews to be slain. To slay my sovereign, assented I; I told them the time of his taking. Shamelessly, myself thus forewent I, So soon to assent that he be slain. Now I think I know how he might pass this pain; I will look to obtain the best remedy. Unto the Jews, I will go again, To save him - perhaps he'll pass free; This is my will. Lord, may wealth and worship with you be. PILATE: What tidings, Judas, to us do you tell? JUDAS: My tidings are troubling, I tell you. Sir Pilate, therefore I now pray: My master, whom I came to sell you, Good lord, let him go on his way. CAIAPHAS: Nay! Necessarily Judas, that we deny! What mind or matter has moved you thus? JUDAS: Sir, I have sinned grievously, Betraying that righteous blood of Jesus, The master mine. CAIAPHAS: But good sir, what is that to us? The peril and plight are all thine. Yours is the wrong; you wrought it, You contracted us truly to take him; And the bargain is ours; we bought it. Lo, we are all set to slay him. JUDAS: Alas, I shall rue this full ill, If you assent this man to slay. PILATE: Why? What would you have us do with him still? JUDAS: Let him go, my good lord, I pray; And here from me is your payment plain. CAIAPHAS: Nay, we'll not do so; We bought him so he should be slain. To slay him, yourself you assented. You're aware of this wonderfully well; What right do you have to repent it? You're shaping some trouble for yourself. ANNAS: Give way Judas, it's all for naught. These words, I warn you, are in waste. To sell him, when you then us sought, You were against him then the most, Of anyone. CAIAPHAS: We'll be avenged on him in haste, Regardless of whether you will, or none. PILATE: These words that you utter are needless. You harlot unhanged, now hear what I say: Spare us your speaking; it's heedless; Or walk out that door in the devil's way. JUDAS: Why will you not let him pass? And have again from me your pay? PILATE: I tell you traitor, I will it not! JUDAS: Alas, then I am lorn! Both bone and blood! Alas, the time while I may say, That I gave consent to spill his blood! To save his blood sirs, I say you: Take you there your payment whole. Spare now to spill him, I pray you, Or else great bale you're brewing for my soul. PILATE: Nay! Now Judas, you shall hear again: We will it not! What devil are thou? When you came first, you were full fain For this money. What ails you now, To repent? JUDAS: Again sirs, here I give it to you. Now save him that he be not shent PILATE: To destroy him, you, yourself have shamed; Forever you'll loathe this life that you lead, As a false fool, yourself, you have famed; May the devil drown you for your devilish deed. JUDAS: I know my trespass and my guilt. I shudder in horror in my own eyes. I have great woe that he be spilt. If I could save him in any wise, I were well then. Save him sirs - to your service, I will bind me to be your man. Your bondsman lord, to ever be; Forever now I will bind me. Sir Pilate, you may trust in me, Full faithful you shall find me. PILATE: Find you faithful? May foul you befall! Before you come into our company, By Mohammed's blood, you'd sell us all! Your "faithful" service, we'll not need. You are unknown. False tyrant, for your treachery, You're worthy to be hanged and drawn! Hanged and drawn should you be, knave! You have the right, by all good reason; Your master's blood, you bid us save, And you were the first to do him treason! JUDAS: I cry for mercy lord, on me rue: This cursed one that wrong has wrought. Have mercy on my master true, Whom I have in your power brought. I cry you sore. PILATE: Judas, go jesting and name this not, Nor move this matter any more. ANNAS: No more on this matter may move you, You meaningless mumbling shell. Our point here expressly reproves you, Of felony and falsehood so fell. CAIAPHAS: He grouches not to grant his guilt; Why shun you not to show your shame? We bought him so he should be spilt; Together we agreed the same; Yourself also. You were not faint then to him defame, You said he was a traitor false. PILATE: Yeah. And as a false traitor, Yourself you did fully defile him. Oh, that was the trick of a traitor, So quickly to go to beguile him. 1 SOLDIER: What, now you'd have us let him go, You cursed creep, who wrought such wrong? We will not lose our bargain so, And lightly just let him be going. Why should we? If we let that scoundrel live for long, It will be found in faith, folly. 2 SOLDIER: This dolt so foolish shall not find us; We all know full well how it was. When first on treachery, his mind was, He prayed, good lord, "let him not pass"! PILATE: Nay, certainly, he'll not pass free, For whom our pennies have paid. JUDAS: Take it again, that which you paid me, And save him from that bitter trade: Then I were fain. ANNAS: It serves of naught, what you have said: And therefore, take it tight again. PILATE: Tight again, traitor, you take it; We will not feel it here in our fold. Little saintling, you'll not thus soon forsake it; For I'll search him myself, whom thus you have sold. CAIAPHAS: Forsake it? In faith, not this he shall; For we will hold onto him that we have. For that, this payment's your chain and ball. No other covenant there now crave, Nor mercy none. JUDAS: Since you assent him to slay, Vengeance I cry on you each one! To each I cry, "the devil undo you"! And that I might both hear and see. Hard vengeance I wish now unto you, For the sorrow unsought you see in me. CAIAPHAS: Why, fie on you, traitor attainted this tide! In treason you tricked him who trusted you true. Be going on your way wretch, no longer abide. If you remain, these responses full sorely you'll rue. Say, do you not know who am I? Now, in my notion, if I ever reach you, In certainty lad, for the truth I would teach you, To lords to speak courteously. PILATE: Go your way, gadling, and grieve us no more. Leave off your talk; by the devil be hung. JUDAS: That which you gave me, now take it there. There with your mastery, divide it among, And claim it clean. I loath all my life; I am living too long. My treacherous trick now torments me with teen. This for my treason I take unto me. I ask there no mercy, for none I may get. Therefore in haste now I go to undo me. Alas for this harshness, as long as I meat get. Thus scant, and yet worthy reward for my deed: I'll work my wreak with heart and will; To spill myself now I will speed; Full poor my service I've fulfilled, So well away. That ever I wished in wit or will, That trusty true one to betray. Alas, who may I move to, Since I may take no other reed? Myself in haste I shall undo, And take me now unto the deed. CAIAPHAS: Have done now, Sir Pilate - let's see what you say, As touching this money that we here have. Which Judas in wrath has thrown away, And crabbedly cursed us, that cursed knave: How say you thereby? ANNAS: Sir, since he's slung it, we should it save. CAIAPHAS: Quick, trust it to our treasury. PILATE: No sir, not so. CAIAPHAS: Why sir, how then? PILATE: This shall not encumber us, nor come in our cupboard then. CAIAPHAS: To further our treasury, it shall certainly not. PILATE: See to it yourself, for certain and skill; It is the price of blood that we bought. To some other point, I purpose it till, And this I devise: To buy a spot of earth, wait I will; To bury any pilgrim who dies. Pilgrims and palmers to put there. Sir Caiaphas and Annas, assent you thereto? And bodies of felons shall be buried there. ANNAS: As you deem lord, so we will do. KNIGHT: Hail, peerless Sir Pilate, the prince of this empire; Hail, gayest on ground in gold where you glide; Hail, loveliest lord of limb and of life; And these seemly sovereigns who sit here beside. PILATE: What would you? KNIGHT: One word, and I'll wend. PILATE: You are welcome indeed. Deliver now lightly, without any let; We have no time all day to attend unto thee. KNIGHT: A place very near here, to mortgage I'd set. PILATE: What title have you? Is it your own and free? KNIGHT: Lord, free to my freedom so falls it; This tale is full true that I tell you. And Calvary hill all men call it, I would take just a mortgage, I would not sell you. PILATE: What would you borrow, good sir, let me see? KNIGHT: If it likes you, your lordship, to lend it, I would thirty pence that you lent unto me. CAIAPHAS: Why yes, my good man, that you shall have. PILATE: Show us your deeds, and have here your money. KNIGHT: Have them here, my good lord, but look you them save. PILATE: Certainly, we shall save them full soundly, Or we've not duly done our endeavor. Now fast, freak, for your faith, find yourself on your feet: From this place, my good man, I forbid you forever! KNIGHT: Now sorrow for such succor I've sought; All my treasure through treason is taken. I've lost it untruly through treason. Therefore now on my way I will wend, For you do me no right for no reason, I curse you all now to the fiend! PILATE: Certainly, we are now served in all; This place is purchased properly. The Field of Blood you shall it call: Forthwith I bid each one I see. CAIAPHAS: Sir, as you command, we'll call it so. But my lord, with your leave, we may linger no longer, But fast let's go forth to resume with our foe. That ungodly scoundrel has brewed us great anger. ANNAS: Give way, Sir Bishop; be not abashed; For lost is our liking, he leapt out so light. CAIAPHAS: Nay sir, he'll not travel so quickly and that you may trust; For they win us no worship - the works of that wight, But great anger. Forthwith, let's address us his death to indict, And allow us this knave for to live here no longer. PILATE: Sir Caiaphas, through counsel, we command our knights, To watch on that warlock, which way that he wends: Address you now duly to that wretch you indict, And cease not to seek him wherever he lands, And leave him not lightly. 2 SOLDIER: In faith, we shall fetch him full far from his friends. PILATE: Now walk on in this waning and wend your way sprightly.
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