The York Cycle, Play 26 Conspiracy to Take Jesus Cutteleres 001 Pilate. Vndir the ryallest roye of rente and renowne 002 Now am I regent of rewle this region in reste, 003 Obeye vnto bidding bud busshoppis me bowne 004 And bolde men that in batayll makis brestis to breste. 005 To me betaught is the tent this towre-begon towne, 006 For traytoures tyte will I taynte the trewthe for to triste. 007 The dubbyng of my dingnitémay noyot be done downe, 008 Nowdir with duke nor dugeperes, my dedis are so dreste. 009 My desire muste dayly be done 010 With thame that are grettest of game, 011 And theragayne fynde I but fone, 012 Wherfore I schall bettir ther bone- 013 But he that me greues for a grone, 014 Beware, for wyscus I am. 015 Pounce Pilatt of thre partis than is my propir name, 016 I am a perelous prince to proue wher I peere. 017 Emange the philosofers firste ther fanged I my fame, 018 Wherfore I fell to affecte I fynde noyot my feere. 019 He schall full bittirly banne that bide schall my blame, 020 If all my blee be as bright as blossome on brere, 021 For sone his liffe shall he lose or left be for lame 022 Žat lowtes noyot to me lowly nor liste noyot to leere. 023 And thus sen we stande in oure state 024 Als lordis with all lykyng in lande, 025 Do and late vs wete if yoe wate 026 Owthir, sirs, of bayle or debate 027 Žat nedis for to be handeled full hate, 028 Sen all youre helpe hanges in my hande. 029 Caiphas. Sir, and for to certefie the soth in youre sight, 030 As to yoou for oure souerayne semely we seke. 031 Pilate. Why, is ther any myscheue that musteres his myyot 032 Or malice thurgh meene menn vs musters to meke? 033 Anna. 3a sir, ther is a ranke swayne whos rule is noyot right, 034 For thurgh his romour in this reme hath raysede mekill reke. 035 Pilate. I here wele yoe hate hym; youre hartis are on heght, 036 And ellis if I helpe wolde his harmes for to eke. 037 But why are yoe barely thus brathe? 038 Bees rewly and ray fourth youre reasoune. 039 Caiphas. Tille vs sir his lore is full lothe. 040 Pilate. Beware that we wax noyot to wrothe. 041 Anna. Why sir, to skyfte fro his skath 042 We seke for youre socoure this sesoune. 043 Pilate. And if that wrecche in oure warde haue wrought any wrong, 044 Sen we are warned we walde witte, and wille or we wende. 045 But and his sawe be lawfull, legge noyot to lange, 046 For we schall leue hym if us list with luffe here to lende. 047 Doctor 1. And yf that false faytor youre fortheraunce may fang, 048 Žan fele I wele that oure folke mon fayle of a frende. 049 Sir, the strenghe of his steuen ay still is so strange 050 That but he schortely be schent he schappe vs to schende, 051 For he kennes folke hym for to call 052 Grete God son-thus greues vs that gome- 053 And sais that he sittande be schall 054 In high heuen, for there is his hall. 055 Pilate. And frendis, if that force to hym fall 056 It semes noyot yoe schall hym consume. 057 But that hymselfe is the same yoe saide schulde descende 058 3oure seede and yoou then all for to socoure. 059 Caiphas. A, softe sir, and sese, 060 For of Criste whan he comes no kynne schall be kenned, 061 But of this caytiffe kynreden we knawe the encrese. 062 He lykens hym to be lyke God, ay-lastand to lende, 063 To lifte vppe the laby, to lose or relesse. 064 Pilate. His maistreys schulde moue yoou youre mode for to amende. 065 Anna. Nay, for swilke mys fro malice we may noyot vs meese, 066 For he sais he schall deme vs, that dote, 067 And that tille vs is dayne or dispite. 068 Pilate. To noye hym nowe is youre noote, 069 But yoitt the lawe lyes in my lotte. 070 Doctor 1. And yf yoe will witt sir, yoe wotte 071 Žat he is wele worthy to wyte. 072 For in oure temple has he taught by tymes moo than tenne 073 Where tabillis full of tresoure lay to telle and to trye, 074 Of oure cheffe mony-changers-butte, curstely to kenne, 075 He caste tham ouere, that caystiffe, and counted noyot therby. 076 Caiphas. Loo sir, this is a periurye to prente vndir penne, 077 Wherfore make yoe that appostita, we praye yoou, to plye. 078 Pilate. Howe mene yoe? 079 Caiphas. Sir, to mort hym for mouyng of men. 080 Pilate. Žan schulde we make hym to morne but thurgh yooure maistrie. 081 Latte be sirs, and move that no more; 082 But what in youre temple betyde? 083 Miles 1. We, thare sir he skelpte oute of score 084 Žat stately stode selland ther store. 085 Pilate. Žan felte he tham fawtébefore 086 And made the cause wele to be kydde. 087 But what taught he that tyme, swilk tales as thou telles? 088 Miles 1. Sir, that oure tempill is the toure of his troned sire, 089 And thus to prayse in that place oure prophettis compellis, 090 Tille hym that has postéof prince and of empire; 091 And thei make domus domini that deland thare dwellis 092 Že denn of the derfenes and ofte that thei desire. 093 Pilate. Loo, is he noght a mad man that for youre mede melles, 094 Sen yoe ymagyn amys that makeles to myre? 095 3oure rankoure is raykand full rawe. 096 Caiphas. Nay nay sir, we rewle vs but right. 097 Pilate. Forsothe, yoe ar ouer-cruell to knawe. 098 Caiphas. Why sir? For he wolde lose oure lawe 099 Hartely we hym hate as we awe, 100 And therto schulde yoe mayntayne oure myght. 101 For why, vppon oure Sabbott day the seke makes he saffe 102 And will noyot sesse for oure sawes to synke so in synne. 103 Miles 2. Sir, he coueres all that comes recoueraunce to craue 104 But in a schorte contynuaunce, that kennes all oure kynne. 105 But he haldis noght oure haly dayes, harde happe myght hym haue, 106 And therfore hanged be he and that by the halse. 107 Pilate. A, hoo sir nowe, and holde in. 108 For thoff yoe gange thus gedy hym gilteles to graue, 109 Withouten grounde yoow gaynes noght swilke greffe to begynne; 110 And loke youre leggyng be lele, 111 Withowtyn any tryfils to telle. 112 Anna. For certayne owre sawes dare we seele. 113 Pilate. And than may we prophite oure pele. 114 Caiphas. Sir, bot his fawtes wer fele 115 We mente noyot of hym for to melle. 116 For he pervertis oure pepull that proues his prechyng, 117 And for that poynte yoe schulde prese his poostéto paire. 118 Doctor 2. 3a sir, and also that caytiff he callis hym oure kyng, 119 And for that cause our comons are casten in care. 120 Pilate. And if so be, that borde to bayll will hym bryng 121 And make hym boldely to banne the bones that hym bare. 122 For-why that wrecche fro oure wretthe schal not wryng 123 Or ther be wrought on hym wrake. 124 Doctor 1. So wolde we it ware, 125 For so schulde yoe susteyne youre seele 126 And myldely haue mynde for to meke yoou. 127 Pilate. Wele witte yoe, this werke schall be wele, 128 For kende schall that knave be to knele. 129 Doctor 2. And so that oure force he may feele 130 All samme for the same we beseke yoou. 131 Judas. Ingenti pro inuria- hym Jesus, that Jewe 132 Vnjust vnto me, Judas, I juge to be lathe. 133 For at oure soper as we satte, the sothe to pursewe, 134 With Symond luprus, full sone my skiffte come to scathe. 135 Tille hym ther brought one a boyste my bale for to brewe 136 That baynly to his bare feete to bowe was full braythe, 137 Sho anoynte tham with an oynement that nobill was and newe, 138 But for that werke that sche wrought I wexe woundir wrothe. 139 And this-to discouer-was my skill: 140 For of his penys purser was I, 141 And what that me taught was vntill 142 The tente parte that stale I ay still. 143 But nowe for me wantis of my will 144 Žat bargayne with bale schall he by. 145 Žat same oynement, I saide, might same haue bene solde 146 For siluer penys in a sowme thre hundereth, and fyne 147 Haue ben departid to poure men as playne pitéwolde; 148 But for the poore, ne thare parte priked me no peyne- 149 But me tened for the tente parte, the trewthe to beholde, 150 That thirty pens of iij hundereth so tyte I schulde tyne. 151 And for I mysse this mony I morne on this molde, 152 Wherfore for to mischeue this maistir of myne 153 And therfore faste forthe will I flitte 154 The princes of prestis vntill, 155 And selle hym full sone or that I sitte 156 For therty pens in a knotte knytte. 157 Žus-gatis full wele schall he witte 158 Žat of my wretthe wreke me I will. 159 Do open, porter, the porte of this prowde place 160 That I may passe to youre princes to proue for youre prowe. 161 Janitor. Go hense thou glorand gedlyng, God geue the ille grace, 162 Thy glyfftyng is so grymly thou gars my harte growe. 163 Judas. Goode sir, be toward this tyme and tarie noght my trace, 164 For I haue tythandis to telle. 165 Janitor. 3a, som tresoune I trowe, 166 For I fele by a figure in youre fals face 167 It is but foly to feste affeccioun in yoou. 168 For Mars he hath morteysed his mark, 169 Eftir all lynes of my lore, 170 And sais yoe are wikkid of werk 171 And bothe a strange theffe and a stark. 172 Judas. Sir, thus at my berde and yoe berk 173 It semes it schall sitte yow full sore. 174 Janitor. Say bittilbrowed bribour, why blowes thou such boste? 175 Full false in thy face in faith can I fynde. 176 Žou arte combered in curstnesse and caris to this coste, 177 To marre men of myght haste thou marked in thy mynde. 178 Judas. Sir, I mene of no malice but mirthe meve I moste. 179 Janitor. Say, on-hanged harlott, I holde the vnhende, 180 Thou lokist like a lurdayne his liffelod hadde loste. 181 Woo schall I wirke the away but thou wende. 182 Judas. A, goode sir, take tente to my talkyng this tyde, 183 For tythandis full trew can I telle. 184 Janitor. Say brethell, I bidde the abide, 185 Žou chaterist like a churle that can chyde. 186 Judas. 3a sir, but and the truthe schulde be tryed 187 Of myrthe are ther materes I mell, 188 For thurgh my dedis youre dugeperes fro dere may be drawen. 189 Janitor. What, demes thou till oure dukes that doole schulde be dight? 190 Judas. Nay sir, so saide I noght. 191 If I be callid to counsaille that cause schall be knawen 192 Emang that comely companye, to clerke and to knyght. 193 Janitor. Byde me here bewchere or more blore be blowen, 194 And I schall buske to the benke wher baneres are bright 195 And saie vnto oure souereynes, or seede more be sawen, 196 Žat swilke a seege as thiselff sewes to ther sight. 197 My lorde nowe of witte that is well, 198 I come for a cas to be kydde. 199 Pilate. We, speke on and spare not thi spell. 200 Caiphas. 3a, and if vs mystir te mell, 201 Sen yoe bere of bewtéthe bell, 202 Blythely schall we bowe as yoe bidde. 203 Janitor. Sir, withoute this abatyng ther houes as I hope 204 A hyne helte-full of ire, for hasty he is. 205 Pilate. What comes he fore? 206 Janitor. I kenne hym noght, but he is cladde in a cope, 207 He cares with a kene face vncomely to kys. 208 Pilate. Go gete hym that his greffe we grathely may grope, 209 So no oppen langage be goyng amys. 210 Janitor. Comes on bylyue to my lorde and if the liste to lepe, 211 But vttir so thy langage that thou lette noght thare blys. 212 Judas. That lorde, sirs, myght susteyne yooure seele 213 Žat floure is of fortune and fame. 214 Pilate. Welcome, thy wordis are but wele. 215 Caiphas. Say, harste thou knave, can thou not knele? 216 Pilate. Loo, here may men faute in you fele, 217 Late be sir youre scornyng, for schame. 218 Bot bewshere, be noyot abayst to byde at the bar. 219 Judas. Before you sirs to be brought abowte haue I bene, 220 And allway for youre worschippe. 221 Anna. Say, wotte thou any were? 222 Judas. Of werke sir that hath wretthid yoou I wotte what I meene, 223 But I wolde make a marchaundyse youre myscheffe to marre. 224 Pilate. And may thou soo? 225 Judas. Els madde I such maistries to mene. 226 Anna. Žan kennes thou of som comberaunce oure charge for to chere? 227 For cosyne, thou art cruell. 228 Judas. My cause sir is kene. 229 For if yoe will bargayne or by, 230 Jesus this tyme will I selle yoou. 231 Doctor 1. My blissing sone haue thou forthy- 232 Loo, here is a sporte for to spye. 233 Judas. And hym dar I hete yoou in hye, 234 If yoe will be toward I telle yoou. 235 Pilate. What hytist thou? 236 Judas. Judas Scariott. 237 Pilate. Žou art a juste man 238 Žat will Jesus be justified by oure jugement. 239 But howe-gates bought schall he be? Bidde furthe thy bargayne. 240 Judas. But for a litill betyng to bere fro this bente. 241 Pilate. Now what schall we pay? 242 Judas. Sir, thirti pens and plete, no more than. 243 Pilate. Say, ar yoe plesid of this price he preces to present? 244 Doctor 2. Ellis contrarie we oure consciens, consayue sen we can 245 Žat Judas knawes hym culpabill. 246 Pilate. I call yoou consent. 247 But Judas, a knott for to knytt, 248 Wilt thou to this comenaunt accorde? 249 Judas. 3a, at a worde. 250 Pilate. Welcome is it. 251 Miles 2. Take therof, a traytour tyte. 252 Miles 1. Now, leue ser, late no man wete 253 How this losell laykis with his lord. 254 Pilate. Why, dwellis he with that dochard whos dedis hase us drouyd? 255 Miles 1. Žat hase he done ser and dose, no dowte is this day. 256 Pilate. Than wolde we knawe why this knave thus cursidly contryued. 257 Miles 2. Enquere hym, sen yoe can best kenne if he contrarie. 258 Pilate. Say man, to selle thi maistir what mysse hath he moved? 259 Judas. For of als mekill mony he made me delay, 260 Of yoou as I resayue schall but right be reproued. 261 Anna. I rede noght that yoe reken vs oure rewle so to ray, 262 For that the false fende schall the fang. 263 Miles 1. When he schall wante of a wraste. 264 Doctor 1. To whome wirke we wittandly wrang. 265 Doctor 2. Tille hym bot yoe hastely hang. 266 Doctor 3. 3oure langage yoe lay oute to lang. 267 But Judas, we trewly the trast, 268 For truly thou moste lerne vs that losell to lache, 269 Or of lande thurgh a lirte that lurdayne may lepe. 270 Judas. I schall yoou teche a token hym tyte for to take 271 Wher he is thryngand in the thrang, withouten any threpe. 272 Miles 1. We knawe hym noght. 273 Judas. Take kepe than that caytiffe to catche 274 The whilke that I kisse. 275 Miles 2. Žat comes wele the, corious, I cleepe! 276 But yoitt to warne vs wisely allwayes muste yoe wacche. 277 Whan thou schall wende forthwith we schall walke a wilde hepe, 278 And therfore besye loke now thou be. 279 Judas. 3is, yois, a space schall I spie vs 280 Als sone as the sonne is sette, as yoe see. 281 Miles 1. Go forthe, for a traytoure ar yoe. 282 Miles 2. 3a, and a wikkid man. 283 Doctor 1. Why, what is he? 284 Doctor 2. A losell ser, but lewtéshuld lye vs. 285 He is trappid full of trayne, the truthe for to trist, 286 I holde it but folye his faythe for to trowe. 287 Pilate. Abide in my blyssing and late youre breste, 288 For it is beste for oure bote in bayle for to bowe. 289 And Judas, for oure prophite we praye the be prest. 290 Judas. 3itt hadde I noght a peny to purvey for my prowe. 291 Pilate. Žou schalte haue delyueraunce belyue at thi list, 292 So that thou schall haue liking oure lordschipp to loue. 293 And therfore Judas mende thou thy mone 294 And take ther thi siluere all same. 295 Judas. 3a, nowe is my grete greffe ouere-gone. 296 Miles 1. Be lyght than. 297 Judas. 3is, latte me allone, 298 For tytte schall that taynte be tone 299 And therto jocounde and joly I am. 300 Pilate. Judas, to holde thi behest be hende for oure happe, 301 And of vs helpe and vpholde we hete the to haue. 302 Judas. I schall bekenne yoou his corse in care for to clappe. 303 Anna. And more comforte in this case we coveyte not to craue. 304 Miles 1. Fro we may reche that rekeles his ribbis schall we rappe, 305 And make that roy or we rest for rennyng to raffe. 306 Pilate. Nay sirs, all if yoe scourge hym yoe schende noyot his schappe, 307 For if the sotte be sakles vs sittis hym to saue. 308 Wherfore when yoe go schall to gete hym 309 Vnto his body brew yoe no bale. 310 Miles 2. Our liste is fro leping to lette hym, 311 But in youre sight sownde schall ve sette hym. 312 Pilate. Do flitte nowe forthe till yoe fette hym 313 With solace all same to youre sale.