<County: Lancashire>
<Code: L0365>
<MS reference: London, BL Add. 32578>
<Text: Gospel of Nicodemus>


<Tranche 1>

<fol. 118r>Bot bedell to barr~ sen yu hym broght
yi-selue for to schilde fro schame
Fott forthe hym yat yu wyrschipp wroght
And loke yu calle hym in be name
Out of yat route Romayne
Jhesu our~ lorde he ledes
And calles hym a-gayne
als man yat pilat dredes
Of Emp~rours yt before had bene
yis was eu~rmore ye law3 in landes
yat four~ men at siche a Jugement kene
Suld at ye barr~ halde in yair~ handes
Mens heuedes sett on stakes schene
All of fyne golde blasand es brande
And so ye Juwes did yen J wene
Four~ men wt siche . iiij . heuedes gan stande
Bot when he yat all sall welde
Was broght in-to ye halle
yos heuedes of gold gan helde
To wyrschippe crist wt alle
yen sayde ye Juwes sturne & stoute
yis is a skorne till our~ semynge
yes boyes lat yair~ schaftes lowte
To do till ihesu wyrschippynge
And pilat asked yaime alle a-bowte
Whi ye schaftes made siche stoupynge
yai saide we dou 3owe out of dowte
yai lowtyd no3t at our~ wyttynge
We toke no hede yere-to
yat yes baners gan stoupe
What haue we for to do
vnto ihesu to lowte
We sawe yes baners stoupe wyterly
ye Juwes sware to pilate
Qd pilat yai say apertely
Jt was no3t so no gate
Bot take vs men more myghty
Stronge & stable of estate
To halde yes baners sikirly
yis stryfe yus sall we bate
<fol. 118v>And yen thurgh all Jury
Stronge men haue yai soght
To halde yaime myghtily
Four~ men yere-to yai broght
yen saide pilat vnto yaime yore
yat ye baners suld halde in hande
Jf yai lowte ihesu any-more
3he sall yere-fore lose life & lande
And yai yat stronge & myghty wore
Sayde To yi dome sir will we stande
Whas baner~ bowes for gods hore
Lat sle hym sone wt hyng-man hande
Lat haue hym out of ye halle
Sayde pilat for yis skille
And eftesonnes in hym calle
On what wyse so 3he wille
yis messager~ to ihesu knelid
And clothes be-fore his fete he spradde
Wt alle ye wyrschippes yat he couth welde
And ihesu efte to pilat ladde
yes baners sone gan helde
And bowed to ihesu vnbedde
ye Juwes yat yaime be-helde
For yat sight were all dredde
When pilat sawe yis sight
howe yos baners gan bowe
For drede he ros vpryght
A-gayne our~ lorde ihesu
Sir pilat wife so mot J go
Sent to pilat yus to say
Deme ihesu nouthir~ to ne fro
Bot wyrschip hym all yat yu may
J haue ben dreched wt dremes so
all yis nyght ye sothe to say
Jf yu hym deme to ded to go
Our~ wele J wot sall wast a-way
Pilat was all amayde
And saide to ye Juwes in hye
J am no3t wele a-payde
3he blame hym wrangwisly
<fol. 119r>My wife 3he wote scho is no Juwe
3he knawe scho is a sarasyne
Scho biddis yat J no bargayne brewe
To put ihesu to ded ne pyne
Sho says ihesu of treuth is trewe
Slepand scho sawe yis wt hyr~ yne
Jf we hym deme it sall vs rewe
For he of fayth is gud & fyne
yen sayde ye Juwes be-lyue
ye sothe yu may wele see
he has be-wyched yi wyfe
Jt may non outhir~ be
Pilat saide me thynk selcouthe
Jhesu whi yu standes so stille
To yis accusynge answer~ yu couthe
yat ye Juwes put ye vntille
Jhesu saide ilke man has mouthe
For to welde it at his wille
yair~ sawes to ye are knawen & kouthe
Whethir~ yt yai speke gud or ille
Jhesu lat be yi dynne
Saide alle ye Juwes on rawe
A horcoppe borne in synne
For sothe alle we ye knawe
We wot wele for yi sake was slayne
Alle ye childr~ in bedlem borne
To fle wt ye yi frendes wer~ fayne
And ellis yi life had bene for-lorne
When herode was ded is no3t to layne
yat bitterly yi ded had sworne
Jn-to yi contre yu come a-gayne
Fro yen as yu was fled be-forne
Pilat saide is yis he
yat herode pursewed soo
3ha yai saide par-dye
and 3it he skappid hym fro
When pilat wist yat he it was
Hit deryd hym yen mykill ye more
he chese a quest on hym to passe
Of men yat trewe & sothfast wore
<fol. 119v>yai saide to pilat & sayphas
ye certayne sothe we will no3t spare
Mary to Joseph weddid was
For at yair~ weddynge for-sothe we ware
Pilat saide to yaime yanne
yat blamed hade hym beforne
To wrange 3e put yis man
Jn wedloyke was he borne
Vp styrte a Juwe bitter & bolde
And yus he saide to sir~ pilat
ye tales yat we of hym haue tolde
We will a-vowe erly & late
By yis enquest no prisse J holde
yos caytif-es sayne bot as yi wate
yai are comlynges & fayne yai wolde
Mayntene ihesu & his estate
yis quest was trewe als stele
And sayde takes outhir~ twelue
We are Juwes wit hit wele
Als trewe als 3owr~-selue
Pilat a boke to barre has broght
yos two enquestes for to twynne
Wt swerynge sall ye sothe be soght
And badde ye trewe quest suld begynne
And yai saide yan ˆ [it] <exp>vs</exp> falles vs no3t
To swere . for swerynge is a synne
Lat yaime swere yat wrange has wroght
For alle yai knewe wele ihesu kynne
Gif we be fonden gilty
Jn yes sawes yat we say
We obblische vs to dye
Be-for 3owe here yis day
yen spak annas & cayphas
And yus yai saide to sir~ pilate
We trowe wele mary weddid wase
Vnto Joseph yat so hym gate
Bot to anothir~ poynt we passe
Mawgr~ alle yat mayntens his state
<fol. 120r>We say a spirit in close he hase
yat tellis hym all thynge erly & late
Pilat gart voyde yame alle
yat were wt-in yat house
And yat quest gart in calle
Sayde ihesu was borne in spouse
he saide J fonde 3owe trewe lange ore
And yere-fore telle me nowe 3our~ rede
Whi hate yes Juwes ihesu so sore
Be what skille walde yai haue hym dede
yai saide his wittes passes yair~ lore
For-yi to hym yai haue hatrede
And his myracles greues yaime sore
And 3it yai stande yaime ofte in stede
For-sothe saide pilat yan
Me thynke yis is envye
Walde yai yus deme a man
For his gude dedys to dye
Pilat hym hyede oute of ye halle
And sadly saide ye Juwes vntille
Lo here wytnes be-for 3owe alle
yat in hym can J fynde non ille
And yai answerde bothe gret & smalle
And saide sir pilat be yi wille
We gart hym no3t come to yi calle
Wyt it wele wyth-outyn skille
Pilat saide he monn dye
J se3 wele be 3our~ sawes
Takes hym to 3owe for-yi
And deme hym be 3our~ lawes
Yen saide yes Juwes sir wele 3he wate
yat god biddes vs we sle no man
To yaime agayne saide sir pilate
Biddes god yat J suld sle men yan
J wote full wele whi 3he hym hate
And howe 3our~ wrathe till hym began~
Be my wille sall he dye no-gate
For no crafte yt 3he alle cane
<fol. 120v>Jt is alle for hatrede
And yis were litill resone
To deme a man to ye ded
Bot yere were more encheson~
Pilat ladde ihesu ye Jewes fro
yat to hym had grete envye
And saide till hym betwyx yaime two
Jhesu yu art kynge of Jury
Jhesu saide whethir~ was it saide ye soo
Or of yin awen outorytye
Pilat said me were full wo
yi folke suld yus deme ye to dye
yi folke has taght ye to me
For to be dampned yis day
Kynge of Juwes if yu be
Answere to yis J ye say
Jhesu answerd mekly a-gayne
J wisse my kyngdome is no3t here
For if my kyngdome sothe to sayne
Wt-in yis wankill worlde nowe were
Or J a-monge yes Juwes were slayne
My men yat ar~ me leef & dere
Wald stand & fyght wt mode & mayne
And brynge wt yaime full grete powere
Yen art yu kynge all gate
Pilat saide sikirly
Jhesu sayde to pilate
Yowe says yat kynge am J
J am come to yis contre
And for yis skill yen was J borne
witnes of sothefastnes to be
yat has bene saide full lange beforne
And for to make ye peple fre
yat suld haue bene wt synne for-lorne
All yat is sothfaste likes me
And pleses me both euene & morne
And pilat asked efte
Say what is sothe-fastnes
Wt yat ihesu he lefte
Als man yat stonyed wasse
<fol. 121r>Pilat saide to ye Juwes y-fere
Lordynges if it be 3our~ wille
J haue enquerd of ihesu her~
And in hym can J fynde no ille
And yai answerde wt herdy chere
we blame hym no3t wt-outyn skille
Pilat saide wt-outyn were
3he will hym sle wt paynes grille
Bot J am oute of gilte <exp>als clene as</exp>
Als clene as Jnnocent
His bloude sall no3t be spilte
No3t als be myn assent
Yen answerd ye Juwes alle
and made yaime wondr~ kene & wrothe
yai saide is bloude mot on vs falle
and on alle our~ chyldr~ bothe
And pilat saide perchaunche it schalle
And yt me walde 3it thynk full lothe
yere-fore haue hym out of ye halle
And do hym nouthir~ harme ne brothe
Ye Juwes saide wele 3he wate
we say bot skilfully
who presentes ye kynges estate
he is worthy to dye


<Tranche 2>

<fol. 134r>His fourty dayes yat he fast
J hym temped sikirly
J procurde alle ye Juwes full fast
Yat yai suld dresse hym for to dye
When Pilat wolde yat he had past
J stirde ye Juwes full egrely
Till he was hanged at ye last
Vpon ye rode full rufully
And yere-fore J ye say
Ordayne for hym a stede
He comes till vs yis day
Be yis J holde hym dede
And whille ye fendys made all yis dray
Yere spake a voysse bothe loude & clere
Yu prince J bidde wtouten nay
Vndo yes 3ates a-non right here
Ye kynge of blisse comes in yis day
And yen a-non spake lucifere
Sathanas sparr~ ye 3ates J ye pray
Lat hym no3t in be no manere
Ye prince of helle ye 3ates he sparde
And <exp>alle</exp> his felowes ˆ [gan] calle
Bot yes 3ates be wele bared
For-euere we mon be thralle
Yan said Dauid yere he lay
To yes sayntes gret & smalle
Jn erthe lyueand yen gan J say
Yat J saide yen nowe is be-falle
Jt is befallen yis day
Makys myrthe no3t one bot alle
For brasyn 3hates god brake for ay
And yrenen bandes brast wt+alle
Fro ways of wildrenes
His seruantes has he taken
J see nowe sothe it is
He has vs no3t for-saken
<fol. 134v>And after yis sayde ysay
Whiles J lyueand was in land
Ryght on yis wyse prophecyde J
Wha so it kan vndrestand
Dede men yt in yair~ graues lye
Rise yai sall & be lyueand
Alle shall make ioy & melody
Yat erthe thurgh ded yus has in hand
And 3hitte J sayde also
Ded wher~ is yi myght
Sen yu lyue takes vs fro
To lyue yu ledes vs ryght
Yan spake a voysse full hydousely
Ryght as it were a thonor blast
Vndo 3our~ 3ates delyuerly
For certes no langr~ sall yai last
Ye kynge of blisse here comes in hye
And helle a voysse a-gayne gan cast
What is yat kynge alle gan yai crye
Her~ he sall be sette full fast
Dauid sayde wt-outen were
As J prophecyde ryght
A lorde of gret powere
Jn batell mykill of myght
He is yat kynge yat J of telle
And at yes 3hates nowe standes her~
He be-helde fro heuene till helle
Ye sorowe of his seruantes dere
Vndo yes 3ates yowe fende so felle
Go & vnbarre ye 3ates sere
Ye kynge of blisse comes full snelle
To lyuer~ vs thurgh his gret power~
Wt ye myght of his godhede
Jhesu yaim helped so fast
Ye 3ates a-sondr~ 3ede
And alle ye barres to brast
<fol. 135r>He shewed yat he was mykill of myght
Ye fendes pousty~ yere he felled
All lightened yat be-fore laked light
Yat wt merkenesse be-fore had melled
When alle ye sayntes sawe yat sight
Yat in yat depe dongon~ duelled
Non durst speke on worde on hyght
Bot priuely yus ilk+one yai spelled
Lorde welcome till vs
Full lange vs has ye thought
Blessed be yu iesus
Full dere yowe has vs bought
And he vndide yair~ handes alle
Yat yai bonden by hade bene
He made yaim fre yat er~ wer~ thralle
And of yair~ kare yaim clensed clene
Ye fendes yat sawe hes workes alle
Yat neuere by-fore non~ siche had sene
Sayde we are venkesht gret & smalle
Wt 3ond warlow3 as we wene
Yen sayde ye fende yus nedys
What artowe shewes siche myght
Yat is so gret in dedes
And comes so small in sight
Yowe yt was man in what manere
Was godhede in ye hydde
Wastowe noght ded what dos yu her~
Neuere her~ siche maistry was kidde
We fendes were fayne alle y-fere
When yat ye Juwes to dethe ye did
Howe artowe put to siche powere
And siche tene has to vs be-tidde
Was neuere saule till vs sent
Yat yu ne hast fette a-way
Yu has vs shamely shent
And priued vs of our~ pray
<fol. 135v>And taken her~ sir~ sathanas
Yat er~ yis tyme was lorde & sire
And in thraldame thrist hym yu has
For to brenne in endelesse fire
Yan spake fendes yt wt hym was
Ful of Angir~ & full of ire
Sathan whi didest yu yus allas
Yu did right no3t at oure desire
We bad ye lat hym go
And no3t to lat hym in
Alle has he fette vs fro
Yis courte waxes full thynne
Yowe Duke of Dethe leder~ fro lyue
Out-castynge of alle Angelles
A-gaynes yat stronge whi woldestowe stryfe
Yat wt his myght vs alle yus felles
Yu saide he was yi pray full ryfe
Jt is no thynge as yu vs telles
For-euere to dole he wille vs dryue
And euere ilk+one yt wt ye dwelles
When yu ye Juwes gan stirre
Yat yai suld gar~ hym dye
Yu suldest enquire and spirr~
Jf he had bene worthy
And 3if in hym were fonden non ille
Yu suldest a gart yaim to blynne
Traytour whi hastowe brought vs tille
Hym yt neuere was fonden~ in synne
Alle hastowe lost nowe by yis skille
Ye saules yt were sumtyme her~-in
And nowe sall yu yair~ paines full-fille
Jn wo & neuere-more oute to wynne
Yt we wan thurgh ye tre
When Eue ye frute had eten
Euere ilk+a dele has he
Thurgh ye rode-tre fro vs geten
<fol. 136r>And yen said ihesu wt voysse full clere
To alle ye sayntes more and lesse
Comes to me my children dere
Yat are made to my likenes
3he yt for synne are prisoned here
Alle 3he sall haue nowe forgyfnes
Alle ye sayntes yen drow3 hym nere
And thanked hym of his gudnes
On adam handes he layde
And he on knees gan falle
Pees be to ye he sayde
And to yin children alle
Adam sayde & for ioy gret
Lorde gif me grace to worsshippe ye
Fro my foes yu has me fette
Yat were a-boute me gret plente
J cryed when J in payne was sette
And nowe lorde yu hast herde me
My saule yu lede wt-outyn lette
Fro yis dongon~ for yi pite
Kepe me yat J ne falle
No more in-to yis place
Makes ioy 3he sayntes alle
And thankes god of his grace
Yen many a patriake & prophete
And also outhir~ sayntes alle
Felle don~ on knees be-for his fete
Alle yt yere were bothe gret & smalle
And lorde our~ bales to bete
Yu art comen~ nowe lyue we shalle
Yat yu in prophecye gan hete
We thanke ye lorde nowe is it falle
Dede wt ded is distroyed
Lorde louynge be to ye
Alle arne eysed yat wer~ noyed
Thraldome is maked fre
<fol. 136v>By ye ryght hand god gan Adam take
And blissed hym wt-outen more
He ladde hym fro yat lothely lake
And alle yat euere yere wt hym wore
And yan Dauyd full baldely spake
Als he fro helle-warde gan fare
A newe songe nowe sall we make
To ihesu as J prophecyd are
For he has ben~ wirkande
Maruayles vnto vs here
He has saued his right hande
To hym and his powere
Mekely has he shewed his myght
Her~ vnto alle lyueand men
He has shewed to euere wyght
Yat yai his ryghtwysenes suld ken~
Alle ye sayntes thanked hym right
Yat siche a grace walde to yaim lene
Blissed be he yat comes as he hight
Nowe here in ye name of god amen
Jlke prophete yan gon telle
Jn his awen prophecye
Howe he suld herye helle
And for mankynde to dye
And as yai were to blisse wendand
Fro ye foule fende yair~ faa
Alle ye sayntes 3ede syngand
A songe yat hyght Alleluya
Jhesu toke Adam by ye hand
And wt saynt Michel gart him gay
And alle ye sayntes went folowand
To paradise for sothe to say
Michell receyued sone
Alle yat were hym bekend
Jn blisse he has yaim done
Yat lastes with-outen ende
<fol. 137r>Jn endeles blisse yat has no fere
When alle yes sayntes yere sette
Two gray-hored men of face full clere
Wt-in paradise yai mette
Yes sayntes asked what yai were
Howe yat yai fra helle ware fette
Bothe body and saule what don 3e her~
Fonde 3e no thynge yt myght 3ow lette
And yai a-gayne answerd
We are Enoc and Ely
We come fro mydill Erthe
As witnes wytirly
Neuere dyed we 3it we ben~ a-lyue
Wt ancrist 3itt shall we fyght
Jn i~rusalem yere mon we stryue
And yere to ded we sall be dyght
And thre days after a-gayne to lyue
We sall be raysed by gods myght
And stand as witnes when dome sall dryue
Who yat has don~ wrange or ryght
A pore man yan come yare
Whiles yai were spekand best
A crosse on his bake bare
A theFe he was likest
Leue frend what may yu be
Wt on voysse yai gan say
And he yaim answerd J am he
A theFe as 3e se may
J dyed wt crist vpon a tre
And yen of helpe J gan hym pray
He saide sothely yat J suld be
Jn paradise yis same Day
Yis crosse he gan me bede
And in yis way me sette
And sayd haue yu no dred
Yere sall no thynge ye lette