Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/265

 ''here hedys a furryd cappe, with a gret knop in the crowne, and on stondyng beforn as a Saraȝyn, the wiche xal be his masangere. Annas thus seyng,''

As a prelat am I properyd to provyde pes, And of Jewys jewge the lawe to fortefye, I, Annas, be my powere xal comawnde dowteles, The lawys of Moyses no man xal denye. Hoo excede my comawndement anon ȝe certefye, If any eretyk here reyn to me ȝe compleyn, For in me lyth the powere, alle trewthis to trye, And pryncypaly oure lawys tho must I susteyn.

ȝef I may aspey the contrary, no wheyle xal thei reyn, But anon to me be browth and stonde present Before her jewge, wiche xal not feyn, But aftere here trespace to gef hem jugement. Now, serys, for a prose herythe myn intent, There is on Jhesus of Naȝareth that oure lawys doth excede, Yf he procede thus we xal us alle repent, For oure lawys he dystroyt dayly with his dede.

Therefore be ȝour cowncel we must take hede, What is be to provyde or do in this case; ffor yf we let hym thus go and ferdere prosede, Ageyn Sesare and oure lawe we do trespace. Primus Doctor. Sere, this is myn avyse that ȝe xal do, Send to Cayphas for cowncel, knowe his intent; ffor yf Jhesu procé and thus forth go, Oure lawys xal be dystroyed, thes so we present.

Secundus doctor. Sere, remembre the gret charge that on ȝow is leyd, The lawe to ke[pe] whiche may not ffayle; Yf any defawth prevyd of ȝow be seyd, The Jewys with trewth wyl ȝow asayl.